Barbecue Grill Explodes in Central Florida SUV

A Central Florida couple were injured last weekend when a barbecue grill they were transporting exploded in their rented SUV. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the couple had the grill in the back of their red Kia Sorento and were traveling near the entrance of the Central Florida Fairgrounds near Colonial Drive and Pete Parrish Boulevard. 

The grill, most likely unbeknownst to the couple, was turned on and the propane tank was open and connected. When the wife lit her cigarette, the SUV exploded. After the explosion, the vehicle continued to travel heading westbound until it crashed into a pole.

According to FHP, both the husband and wife were burned, but luckily their injuries were not life threatening. This may come as a surprise to anyone who saw pictures of the SUV on the news. Pictures show a severely damaged vehicle with its roof partially blown off, the windshield missing and dents all over the car’s body.

The explosion also caused damage to another vehicle, which was driving alongside the SUV at the time of the incident. It is unknown whether any of that vehicle’s occupants were injured.

In the case at hand, depending on the facts, several lawsuits could come out of this unfortunate incident. First, the occupants of the second car, if injured, could seek compensation for their injuries. They also likely have grounds to seek compensation for the damage done to their vehicle. Whether they receive compensation will depend heavily on whether or not the couple of the SUV were acting negligently by driving with a grill turned on and connected to a propane tank in their car. This determination, however, will likely depend on whether or not the couple knew that the grill was turned on and connected to the gas tank. Perhaps they were renting the grill from a company and the company is the one who negligently left it turned on and connected. Then the company could be held negligent for not only the couple’s burn injuries, but also any injury sustained by the occupants of the second vehicle.

To learn more about your right to compensation following an Orlando automobile accident, contact James O. Cunningham today.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.