Information Center: Vehicle Rollovers
Vehicle Rollovers - An Overview
Every vehicle accident carries the danger of injuries. Accidents involving vehicle rollovers, however, are likely to produce catastrophic or fatal injuries. Even though only 3% of vehicle crashes in the US involve rollovers, 33% of deaths are due to rollovers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a vehicle rollover accident, speak with an attorney from Bell Legal Group in Georgetown, South Carolina, who can help you sort out whether you have a claim against the auto manufacturer for your damages.
SUV Rollovers
Litigation over sport utility vehicle (SUV) rollovers has taken off in the last two decades. This corresponds to the rise in popularity of SUVs in America. SUVs are generally more prone to rollovers than smaller passenger cars. They have a higher center of gravity than passenger cars, making them less stable in situations involving corrective steering action. Not only are SUV rollovers more common than passenger car rollovers; they are also more deadly, producing more than twice as many fatalities. SUVs are also involved in a higher percentage of single-vehicle accidents than passenger cars.
Vehicle Instability
Vehicles roll over for one of two reasons: either they "tripped" over something like an object in the road or a rut on the shoulder, or they "tipped" because of a maneuver the driver made on a smooth surface.
Ideally, when the driver of a vehicle is forced to swerve to avoid an object on the road, and then corrects the steering path to avoid driving off the road, the vehicle's four tires should remain on the surface of the road. This is not, however, always what happens. Sometimes, the vehicle tips and rolls over, causing devastating injuries. Because it is foreseeable to the manufacturer that a driver could encounter objects on the road, the driver may have a legal claim against the manufacturer because of a design defect in the vehicle.
When a vehicle trips and goes into a rollover, the vehicle manufacturer may not necessarily be at fault; this does not mean, however, that no plaintiff can recover after this occurrence. The crashworthiness of the vehicle may also come into play, as it may in accidents involving vehicle tipping.
Crashworthiness
No matter what the cause of the accident, manufacturers are responsible for making their vehicles reasonably safe for an accident. This does not mean that every vehicle has to protect everyone all the time, but the vehicle should not contain weak spots that unreasonably endanger the lives and health of the vehicle's occupants.
When a vehicle rolls over, its roof may crush, putting the occupants at great risk of head and neck injuries because the size of the cab is suddenly reduced. The seat belts may fail, leaving the occupants vulnerable to being thrown from the vehicle and suffering enhanced injuries. Other problems may also contribute to further injuries.
Contact an Attorney
A lawyer who is experienced in personal injury matters can advise you of your rights and options if you have suffered injuries in a rollover accident. Contact an attorney from Bell Legal Group in Georgetown, South Carolina, to discuss your situation.
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