Hybrid Vehicles & Car Accidents: Words of Caution from Tampa Automobile Accident Attorney Dale Appell, P.A.

With their combination gas-electric engines, hybrid vehicles are able to achieve significantly better fuel efficiency than traditional gas or diesel vehicles, making hybrids a popular alternative for Tampa, Florida area residents who want to save money at the pump and help the environment, too. However, whether you drive your hybrid for your daily commute on I-275 or you use it to tool around downtown Tampa, there are some issues to be aware of when it comes to hybrid technology and auto accidents.

The first issue involves the role of hybrid vehicles in pedestrian accidents. As every Tampa automobile accident attorney already knows, the roads in our area are quite congested, making it risky to be a pedestrian in Tampa, Clearwater, St Petersburg, and surrounding communities. Surprisingly, it turns out that hybrid vehicles may play a role in increasing the chance of pedestrian accidents.

The reason that hybrid vehicles pose a risk to pedestrians is because the electric motor in these cars is silent. While many pedestrians—especially pedestrians with sight disabilities—depend on a vehicle's sound to alert them to its presence, hybrid vehicles on “electric mode” cannot be heard at all, even when they are inches away from hitting a person. This is such a safety concern that consumer advocates are pushing the government for regulations requiring auto manufacturers to make hybrids and all-electric vehicles loud enough to be heard by pedestrians.

The second issue with hybrid vehicles is how to rescue vehicle occupants if they are involved in an automobile accident. This issue would be important for your Tampa automobile accident attorney because hybrid vehicle accident rescues often take more time than gas vehicle accidents, meaning hybrid accident victims may have to wait longer before they are taken to the emergency room. For instance, if a hybrid vehicle is in a serious accident with injuries on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, and emergency workers are called to the scene, there may be some unique obstacles to removing hybrid vehicle occupants from the car and taking them to the hospital, such as:

1. Is the hybrid vehicle turned off? Hybrid vehicles are silent when only their electric motor is running. After an accident, emergency responders cannot tell if the hybrid is running or if it is in gear. This means there is always a danger that the hybrid could lurch forward and cause further injuries.
2. What about voltage? Hybrid vehicles pack hundreds of volts of electricity within their engines. If first responders fail to verify that the hybrid is disabled before they attempt to rescue injured victims, the electric power of a hybrid could easily injure or kill someone.
3. Is it a hybrid? Hybrids look like any other car in the Tampa, FL area—the only thing that sets hybrids apart is perhaps a small logo or tag. If the hybrid logo is damaged in an automobile accident, emergency crews are trained to go through a multistep process to check if the car has a hybrid engine. This process takes precious time away from rescuing and treating the injured.
4. How do they turn the car off? As soon as emergency workers have determined that the accident vehicle is a hybrid, then comes the process of making sure the car is turned off so that there is no danger of electrocution. Turning off the ignition is the easiest way to disable a hybrid car, but if the accident has made the ignition unreachable, the next step is to disconnect the hybrid's batteries. Unfortunately, each manufacturer has different instructions for doing this. Plus, even once the hybrid is turned off, the electrical system can carry a deadly charge for 5-10 minutes.

Therefore, while hybrid vehicles have the advantages of getting high gas mileage and being environmentally friendly, hybrids are not necessarily friendly when it comes to automobile accidents. And, while emergency responders throughout the Tampa, FL area are receiving special training to deal with hybrid automobile accidents, the fact is that rescuing accident victims from hybrid vehicles often takes extra time. During that time, an injured person's condition may worsen. This wait could even mean the difference between life and death.

If you have been injured in any type of car accident in the greater Tampa, Florida area—including an accident in or with a hybrid vehicle—please call Tampa automobile accident attorney Dale Appell, P.A. for a free initial evaluation of your case. Our law firm is pleased to provide superior, compassionate service to all communities in Tampa Bay including Sun City, Lutz, Town & Country, and Ybor City.