Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Battery Fires Prompt NHTSA to Investigate the Chevy Volt | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

The National Highway Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the lithium-ion batteries used in the Chevrolet Volt. This news comes after a second crash test car caught fire in a closely monitored test by the safety administration. Authorities report that another battery emitted smoke and sparks.

That fire joins a growing list of accidents involving the gas-electric hybrid vehicle. A car being stored in a parking facility in Wisconsin caught fire in June, damaging several other cars parked nearby. Thankfully, no Volts have been involved in roadway crashes resulting in fires. But with more than 5,000 of the vehicles sold, the fear of fire is all too real for many consumers.

As NHTSA continues to investigate the fires, they stand by the electric vehicle, and say “they have incredible potential to save consumers money at the pump, help protect the environment, create jobs and strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on oil.”

Electric cars have been regarded as some of the safest cars on the road, so as a personal injury attorney, this news is troubling. President Barack Obama has personally endorsed electric cars, hoping to put 1 million of them on the road by 2015. Still, safety must be a priority, and if these car batteries are dangerous, Chevrolet needs to address the problem.

If you are the owner of a Chevrolet Volt, keep your eye on our blog and the national news. We’ll be sure to update when the NHTSA has finished its investigation.

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