Electric vehicles are all the rage. The media confidently predicts that in 2040 virtually every vehicle sold on the planet will be an EV. For now, most of the sales are happening in urban and suburban areas around the country, such as San Francisco. But even Glens Falls should see more electric vehicles in the future. The current challenges include building out sufficient infrastructure for recharging EVs, but those challenges are not insurmountable.
At Larson & Gallivan Law, we are always interested in motor vehicle trends. But we are especially concerned with helping accident victims seek justice following a collision with a negligent driver. As we have seen, EVs tend to cause more serious injuries due to their size and weight. Anyone struck by one of these cars could have catastrophic injuries that leave them permanently disabled and in need of ongoing care. The risk of a fatal accident is also much higher with heavier vehicles.
Contact our law firm today. AGlens Falls car accident attorney can go over your rights in a consultation.
Why Are Electric Vehicles So Heavy?
EVs are much heavier than cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs) primarily because of the weight of the battery. The battery is what powers the vehicle, and it needs to be sufficiently large so that the EV has a reasonable range before it needs “refueling.”
The battery packs in EVs typically weigh at least 1,000 pounds, sometimes more. AsStreets Blog NYC reports, a Volkswagen Golf weighs 2,755 pounds, but the EV version comes in at 3,637 pounds, almost a third heavier. And other electric vehicles are much heavier than the Golf, including the Tesla Cybertruck, which weighs in at over 6,800 pounds. This Cybertruck “destroyed” a Toyota Corolla in a head-on collision which madeinternational news in December 2023.
Lighter ICE vehicles are exposed to higher loads in any collision with an EV—and the results are tragic, as the smashed Carolla shows. Of course, manufacturers could make the battery smaller, but that would reduce the range of the vehicle, which is already a sensitive issue for many car buyers. Virtually no one wants to buy an EV if you need to recharge the battery every 40 miles.
Technology continues to evolve, and advances could reduce the size and weight of the battery in the future. But for now the sheer bulk of an EV is a definite risk.
Are EV Drivers More Dangerous?
Some evidence shows that EV drivers cause more accidents. One reason is that EVs have greater torque. They accelerate much faster with a slight push on the accelerator. The vehicle can speed up in a jerky fashion, making it harder to control.
Insurer Axa studied itsown data on car accidents and found that those driving EVs caused 50% more accidents than motorists driving a car with an internal combustion engine. They blamed driver behavior.
Of course, this is only one study. As more people purchase EVs and become comfortable with them, then more cautious drivers will end up behind the wheel, likely bringing down the rate of accidents for EVs. For now, though, there’s a risk that the driver will end up hitting an innocent motorist.
Serious Injuries
Anyone involved in a collision with an EV could suffer some alarming injuries. For example, the batteries used in EVs are notoriously difficult to extinguish when they catch on fire. A lithium-ion battery can burn for much longer than gasoline—sometimes for days. The fires are so hot that firefighters can get injured when they try to douse the flames.
There is good news: electric vehicles aren’t more prone to fires than gasoline-powered vehicles. Arecent study looked at the number of fires per 100,000 cars sold and found that hybrid vehicles had the most fires, followed by cars with internal combustion engines. The rate of fires for electrical vehicles was much lower.
Nonetheless, lithium-ion batteries are so dangerous that burn injuries, when they occur, could be much more serious. A motorist could suffer fatal burns covering a larger portion of their body. And because these fires require thousands of gallons of water to douse, the fire could spread, especially in congested traffic.
Pedestrians are also at greater risk of fatal injuries in a collision with an EV. They are completely undefended when crossing a road. Given the additional weight of an EV, pedestrians could suffer horrifying injuries in any type of crash.
Seeking Compensation after a Collision with an EV
In most respects, obtaining compensation following a crash will remain the same. New York motorists must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, which they can access without proving fault. Motorists with substantial injuries or expenses might seek compensation from the other driver. But you’ll only receive benefits if you prove the driver shared some degree of fault for the crash.
After a collision, remember to:
- Get to safety, which means getting quickly away from any vehicle which is on fire.
- Call emergency services, so the police and possibly the fire department will come out to the scene.
- Swap insurance and personal information with the driver of the other vehicle. This information assists with making a claim.
- Document your accident scene, if possible. We recommend pictures of the vehicles immediately after the crash. Also touch base with anyone who witnesses the accident and ask for a method of contacting them.
- Avoid accepting fault at the scene of the accident or giving a recorded statement after the collision.
- Seek medical attention as soon as you can to treat your injuries, even if you think they are “minor.” Even relatively mild injuries can worsen with time.
- Consult an experienced car accident lawyer about your case. Your legal team will have more useful advice for how to firm up your legal case.
Speak with a Glens Falls Car Accident Lawyer
Larson & Gallivan has helped Glens Falls car accident victims seek compensation after a crash. We are well-positioned to help anyone hurt by an electric vehicle. Please contact us today to start thinking about your claim.