A mechanical malfunction may have caused a serious Orange County car accident, which left two adults and two children with serious burn injuries the morning of October 18, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. The injury accident involved a van, which caught on fire and happened on the 5 Freeway in Irvine, California. California Highway Patrol officials say a defective tire or a gasoline leak may have caused the fire. The driver was able to get out of the vehicle, but two adults and two children – ages 3 and 6 – suffered first and second-degree burns.

I hope and pray all these injured victims, who were hospitalized following the accident, have a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.

Car Accident Investigations

Officials are apparently looking into how the car fire may have started. It could have been because of a vehicle defect, such as a problem with a rear tire or a fuel leak, but they aren't quite sure yet. It is critical to determine the cause of this accident. In cases where an auto product defect is suspected, it is best to preserve the crashed or burned vehicle in its current damaged state so an expert can examine it thoroughly for product defects, mechanical malfunction and other evidence. If a vehicle defect is involved, the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective product could be held liable for the accident and injuries. In such cases, injured victims could seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, medication, loss of wages and other related damages.

A Reputed Auto Product Defect Law Firm Can Help

It would be in the best interest of the injured victims to seek the counsel of a skilled Orange County personal injury lawyer, who is truly experienced in auto product liability cases. A skilled product liability lawyer will carefully investigate any possible defects and make sure that the injured victims receive fair compensation for their injuries and losses.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.