Engine Overheating Dangers: How It Leads to Accidents and What Drivers Can Do

An overheated engine is a serious issue on any vehicle. Unfortunately, this is one hazard that many drivers ignore or misunderstand until it is too late. These issues can lead to a host of problems, including the total failure of your car’s engine. If your engine shuts down while you are driving, it could be impossible to avoid a collision with the other vehicles on the roadway.

While overheating can happen as vehicles wear down over time, it is possible in some cases for negligence to be to blame. Anything from a defective vehicle part to a bungled repair job could result in an overheated engine. If these actions lead to a crash, you might be entitled to financial compensation.

At Mabra Law, we understand how to navigate these complex legal cases and get to the bottom of how they happened. We can answer your questions regarding filing a lawsuit or proving that your engine overheated through no fault of your own. Call today to discuss your case with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer.

Why Engines Overheat

An overheating engine can be a sign of deeper issues with your vehicle, as opposed to a minor inconvenience to bring up during your next oil change. If left unaddressed, your overheating engine could result in catastrophic failure and even lead to a dangerous accident. Getting to the bottom of why your engine is overheating is invaluable, not only from a repair perspective but also to determine if someone else is ultimately to blame. Some factors that lead to overheating include:

Low Coolant Levels

Coolant, also known as antifreeze, plays a vital role in your engine by regulating the temperature and dissipating heat. When coolant levels drop too low, the system can no longer control the temperature effectively. This can happen naturally over time, although low coolant is often the result of negligence. If a mechanic fails to top off your antifreeze or repair an obvious leak in the system, they could be liable for the resulting damage to your vehicle.

Broken Thermostat

A car’s thermostat controls the flow of coolant through the engine, but problems can quickly arise if it becomes defective. If the thermostat is stuck in the closed position, coolant can’t circulate, allowing heat to rapidly build up. This part is critical for maintaining your engine at the proper temperature, and a failing thermostat could lead to an accident in a matter of seconds.

Clogged Radiator

Over time, debris or rust can clog the radiator or other parts of the cooling system. When this happens, air and coolant can’t move freely, reducing the system’s ability to dissipate heat. Clogged systems are particularly dangerous because the problem develops slowly and often goes unnoticed until the engine reaches a critical temperature.

Hot Weather

Atlanta’s summer heat, combined with gridlocked interstates, creates ideal conditions for overheating. Prolonged idling, reduced airflow through the radiator, and high ambient temperatures put added stress on cooling systems. Even well-maintained vehicles can overheat when forced to run for long periods under extreme conditions.

Neglected Maintenance

Perhaps the most preventable cause of overheating is simple neglect. Old hoses, worn belts, and low fluid levels can all contribute to heat buildup. If vehicle owners fail to keep up with routine inspections, issues can silently build up until it is too late.

How Overheating Contributes to Car Accidents

When an engine overheats, the consequences extend far beyond the mechanical issues within your vehicle. It is not uncommon for overheating to occur while you are driving, which can dramatically increase the risk of a crash. An overheated vehicle can quickly lose power, making it impossible to navigate Atlanta’s heavy traffic safely. These sudden failures can also cause a driver to panic, leading them to make choices behind the wheel that increase the risk of colliding with another motorist.

If your overheating engine causes a sudden stall, it can leave you stranded in high-speed traffic or at busy intersections. When a vehicle stops functioning without warning, nearby drivers may not have time to react, leading to rear-end or multi-car crashes. Stalls are particularly dangerous on highways or during rush hour, when vehicles are traveling closely together, and visibility may be limited. The driver of the stalled vehicle may also attempt to swerve to the shoulder, sometimes crossing lanes abruptly and causing secondary collisions.

The vital functions of your car or truck can also fail when your engine overheats. As the temperatures rise beyond the safe range, engine parts begin to warp, causing your critical systems to fail. You might no longer be able to steer or even apply your brakes as your vehicle continues to move forward.

The situation becomes even more hazardous if the overheating leads to an engine fire. Thick smoke can obscure visibility for both the affected driver and those behind them. Nearby vehicles may swerve to avoid the hazard, increasing the risk of chain-reaction collisions.

In all these scenarios, what may appear to be a random mechanical failure is often preventable. When negligence plays a role in your engine overheating, an Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help build the strongest possible case for compensation.

What to Do If Your Car Starts Overheating While Driving

Engine overheating can happen suddenly, and while you are behind the wheel. Because there is the immediate risk of losing control over your vehicle, it is important to be aware of the steps you should take when your engine overheats while driving. They include:

Recognize the Warning Signs

The first indication of overheating is usually a rising temperature gauge or a dashboard warning light. You should always pay attention to these lights, as they can warn you of a potentially dangerous situation.  You may also notice steam escaping from under the hood or smell a sweet, burning odor, which is a common sign of leaking coolant. If any of these symptoms appear, you should act quickly to avoid an accident.

Turn On the Heat

It may sound counterintuitive, but turning off your air conditioning and turning on the heat can help reduce engine temperature. This trick draws heat away from the engine and into the cabin. While not a long-term solution, it may buy you enough time to find a safe place to stop.

Pull Over Safely

You should pull over and shut off your engine as soon as it is safe to do so. Avoid stopping your car in a place where it is likely to block traffic or be dangerous to exit. If at all possible, find a nearby parking lot to pull into and turn off your vehicle as soon as you can. If it feels safe to do so, open your hood to let heat escape unless there is steam or smoke rising from your engine.

Do Not Open the Radiator Cap

Never open the radiator cap while the engine is hot. Doing so can cause pressurized coolant to spray out and cause severe burns. Your best bet is to wait at least 30 minutes, or ideally, allow a professional to handle this for you.

Call for Roadside Assistance

Once you’re safely parked and the engine is off, contact roadside assistance to have your vehicle towed. Unless the issue is minor, you should have the vehicle taken to a mechanic to have your problem addressed. Depending on the scope of your insurance policy, there might be a specific towing company you are expected to use.

Who is to Blame When Cars Overheat?

It can be a challenge to determine if an individual or entity is responsible for your vehicle’s engine overheating. There are numerous factors in play, and getting to the bottom of what happened with your car requires input from experts in the field. When an overheating engine results in a driver losing control of their vehicle and crashing, most people will look to other factors before assuming overheating was to blame. The good news is that an Atlanta personal injury attorney can help you get to the bottom of what really happened.

In some cases, the driver of the overheating vehicle may be liable for the crash. This is especially true if they ignored warning lights or signs that something was wrong. Signs of mechanical trouble or failure to maintain their car properly. For example, if a vehicle had a known coolant leak or faulty thermostat and the owner neglected to repair it, that failure may be considered negligent. Georgia law requires drivers to keep their vehicles in a safe working condition. When someone fails to meet that duty and causes an accident, they may be held financially responsible for resulting injuries and damages.

Liability can also extend to commercial vehicle operators and their employers. Delivery vans, trucks, and other fleet vehicles often spend long hours on the road in tough conditions. Companies are responsible for ensuring regular inspections and maintenance. If a business cuts corners by skipping safety checks, using worn-out parts, or delaying repairs, it could be liable if one of its vehicles overheats and causes a crash. These cases may also involve violations of federal or state safety regulations.

Auto repair shops and technicians can also be at fault if their negligent work contributes to the incident. A mechanic who installs the wrong part, fails to diagnose a failing water pump, or overlooks a dangerous coolant leak may share in the liability. These professionals have a duty to perform their work to industry standards, and errors that lead to overheating-related crashes may support a claim for damages.

In some cases, the vehicle manufacturer or a parts supplier may be responsible due to defective components. If a known defect played a role and no recall was issued, a product liability claim may be appropriate.

How We Can Help

If you believe another party is to blame for your vehicle overheating and subsequently crashing, pursuing a case for compensation on your own can be difficult. Here are a few ways an Atlanta personal injury lawyer could help:

Thorough Investigation and Evidence Preservation

When you work with our firm, we begin by quickly preserving and collecting critical evidence related to your accident. That may include a host of records related to towing or repair work on your vehicle. When possible, we will also secure evidence related to how your accident occurred. It is not enough to build a case on how your accident happened, as you will also need proof that you were damaged. We can evaluate your losses and help you understand what your case might be worth.

Technical Analysis

Vehicle engines are complicated, and most people lack the technical understanding of how they work. In order to get a clear picture of what happened, our firm relies on experts who can evaluate your vehicle and determine the cause of your overheating engine.

Identifying the Liable Parties

There could be more than one person to blame for your injuries, especially if an accident was involved. Our attorneys can identify each of the potential defendants in your case and hold them accountable.

Handling Insurance Companies

Insurers often try to minimize payouts when it comes to allegations of mechanical failure allegations. Our attorneys can negotiate with the insurance adjuster after providing the evidence that supports your claim. While many of these cases settle, it can take time and effort to get a fair offer from the other side.

Preparing for Litigation

If insurers refuse to offer reasonable compensation, we will prepare the case for trial. In fact, it is in your best interest that we treat your case as if a trial is unavoidable, even when most cases ultimately settle. An Atlanta personal injury lawyer with trial experience can ensure you are prepared for every outcome while working towards a fair settlement until the last minute.

Talk to Mabra Law Today

Dealing with an overheating engine is more than a nuisance in most cases. It can lead to costly repair bills and the sudden loss of your primary form of transportation. These issues are made worse when they result in a motor vehicle crash. If you were injured in a collision due to an overheating engine, call Mabra Law today to discuss your options.