Vehicle Electrical System and Method for Protecting a Vehicle Electrical System

An electrical system for a motor vehicle includes a current distributor; a plurality of first lines which are designed to connect a corresponding plurality of electric components to the current distributor; a plurality of semiconductor-based first switch elements, wherein a specified first switch element of a specified first line is designed to interrupt said specified first line; a second line which is designed to connect the current distributor to the electrical system; a limiting unit which is designed to limit or prevent a second current on the second line; and a control unit which is designed to determine that the specified first switch element does not open although a first current running through the specified first switch element exceeds a first current threshold and, in response to said determination, to trigger the limiting unit to limit or prevent the second current on the second line.