Taxi Cab Defective Fuel System

AUTO PRODUCTS LIABILITY SETTLEMENT
Jaime D. Jackson, Esquire recently settled a case on behalf of a severely burned client involving the defective design and modification of a handicap accessible minivan. Our client, who was a taxi driver, was driving the modified handicap accessible minivan taxi to the airport when it suddenly burst into flames. Plaintiff alleged that the design of the modified taxicab’s fuel system was dangerous and posed the risk of a fuel leak and fire because of the location of the fuel tank, the fuel filler pipe that brings the gas from the gas cap to the fuel tank, and the fuel delivery lines which bring the gas from the fuel tank to the engine. The modifications to the minivan were made by several conversion companies who put little thought into the design and modifications to the fuel system, which creates the risk of a fuel leak and fire. One gallon of gasoline is the equivalent of eight sticks of dynamite and all possible steps must be taken to protect and keep the gasoline within the vehicle’s fuel system.