When lawyers confront a case like the Bellis,’ the most important thing is the first thing: recognizing the problem. Although the driver of the vehicle that struck the Bellis was a proximate cause of the wreck, he was not the sole proximate cause of the Bellis’ deaths. Had the fuel tank been in a safe location, there would have been no fire. The tank has been painted white in this photograph for ease of identification. Belli died after eleven days in a hospital burn unit.Ībove is a rear view of a Jeep with a rear-mounted fuel tank. Belli and her daughter died on the scene, and Mr. As a consequence, when the Bellis’ Jeep was rear-ended on Interstate 85, the tank ruptured and the Jeep burst into flames. Specifically, Chrysler placed the fuel tanks in the Jeep Cherokees (and several other Jeep models) behind the rear axle and next to the rear bumper where it was vulnerable to rupturing in rear impacts. Tragically, Chrysler chose option number two in many of its Jeep-branded vehicles. Like all automobile manufacturers, Chrysler has a choice with regard to where it places the fuel tank: Chrysler can place a fuel tank someplace that is protected from impact, or someplace that is vulnerable to impact. Like all automobile manufacturers, Chrysler recognizes that the vehicles it makes will be involved in wrecks. The consequences need not be-and normally are not-catastrophic.īut for the Belli family, Chrysler’s design decisions changed those consequences. Rear-end collisions like this occur every day on American roads. The Bellis slowed down to avoid hitting the parked car and when they slowed, another vehicle struck their Cherokee in the rear. A wreck had occurred ahead of them and a vehicle was parked on the side of the road. The Belli family was driving south on Interstate 85 through Atlanta, Georgia in their Jeep Cherokee. Excepting the fiery consequences, the scene was unremarkable.
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