VEHICLE ROLLOVER LAWYER SAN DIEGO

Vehicle rollovers are a very real and significant safety problem for all classes of light vehicle trucks, including pickups, SUVs, and vans (LTVs).  For the years 1982 – 1996, there were approximately 227,000 rollover crashes per year.  Such rollovers resulted in an average of 9,063 fatalities per year.  In 1999, SUV rollover accidents accounted for more than 10,000 fatalities in the United States, which is more than side and rear crashes combined.

One of the most important factors in determining whether a vehicle has a potential for rollover is its center of gravity and/or its narrow track width.  Because SUVs do have a higher center of gravity than other vehicles, it makes them top heavy.  Any corrective action on the part of a driver will put such a vehicle in a rollover position.  Contrary to what most people believe, more weight in the vehicle increases the chance of a rollover (rather than increasing stability).  Most rollovers occur after a driver has run off the road.
There are certain vehicles that have a higher incident of rollovers than others, however.  This is the case with the Ford Explorer, for example.  There have been as many as 500 lawsuits claiming defects in Ford Explorers that have been filed against Ford, and internal company documents (and employee depositions) may end up putting Ford's potential liability at over $1 billion according to recent data.

Some other important SUV Rollover Crash Facts you may find interesting:

• Vehicle rollover crashes are especially serious because they so often result in head injuries. Head trauma is the most frequent type of fatal and nonfatal injury in rollovers. (NHTSA)
• The rate of serious injuries in passenger vehicle rollover crashes is 36 percent higher than in crashes where there is no rollover. (NHTSA)
• More than 90 percent of passenger vehicle rollover crashes are single-vehicle crashes, and 8,345 of the 10,142 occupant deaths occurred in single-vehicle rollover crashes. (NHTSA)

Remember, too, that when these vehicles roll over, the problem of roof crush enters in.  When the roof collapses in these vehicles there is nothing left holding the seat belts in place.  Statistics show that approximately 7,000 people are killed or severely injured each year in vehicle accidents in which the roof crushes or caves in. 
Currently, after much controversy and thousands of deaths due to SUV rollover related accidents, automakers are beginning to make changes to these vehicles.  In an important 2003 agreement, 15 domestic and foreign-based automakers agreed that by late 2009, all SUVS and light trucks would be built lower to the ground or built with an energy-absorbing bar that should help to prevent vehicle rollovers.  Automakers also agreed to install side air bags to help in the protection of occupants' heads and necks should an accident occur.  For now, however, there are literally millions of SUVs on the roads that do not meet these safety standards. In recent years, auto makers have been forced to pay millions of dollars in wrongful death and catastrophic injury suits due to defects in their vehicles.  The courts have found that the plaintiffs in these cases were entitled to compensation for their losses, medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity due to the negligence of these companies who refuse to protect consumers.

If you or someone you love is injured in a vehicle rollover related accident, contact the California personal injury attorneys at Estey & Bomberger today.