Hundred of vehicle rollovers occur every day in the United States, the majority of them involving SUVs, passenger vans and light trucks. Rollovers are second only to frontal crashes in their level of severity, and more deaths result from rollovers than from side and rear crashes combined. Some of the causes for rollovers include tire failures, tire tread defects (detreading or delamination), poor design stability, poor suspension system design and inadequate brakes. Once a rollover occurs, the occupants face further danger from a variety of potential sources; the following is a list of vehicle components whose poor manufacture or design can cause serious injury during a rollover:
- Aggressive Airbags
- Car Seats
- Roof Supports
- Headrests
- Head Restraints
- Seatbelts
- Lap-Only Belts
- Seat Belt Buckles
- Window Glass
- Windshields
- Fuel Tanks
- Fuel Systems
- SUV Rollovers
The greatest number of rollovers occurs in sport utility vehicles. SUVs have a rollover rate that is 2-3 times higher than the average passenger car. In 2000, SUVs had the highest rollover involvement rate of any vehicle type in fatal crashes: 36 percent, as compared with 24 percent for pickups, 19 percent for vans and 15 percent for traffic cars. SUVs also had the highest rollover rate for passenger vehicles in injury crashes -- 12 percent, as compared to 7 percent for pickups, 4 percent for vans and 3 percent for passenger cars.
If you believe you may have a vehicle rollover injury case, contact us today for more information.
