SUV Rollover, Van Rollover, Truck Roller Accidents

SUV Rollovers, Van Rollovers and Truck Rollovers are serious auto accidents that occur when the vehicle wheels leave the ground and the vehicle rolls from side to roof to side. Rollover fatalities in Texas and throughout the United States are a major concern for the federal government agencies, including the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.). According to statistics from the NHTSA, in 2002, vehicle accidents that included a rollover accounted for 3% of the 11 million, car, SUV, van and pickup accidents. However, accidents that included rollovers accounted for 33% of the traffic accident fatalities. Indeed, over 10,000 people died in accidents that involved a rollover in 2002. The vast majority of these fatalities (72%) occurred for vehicle occupants who were not wearing seat belts. Typical injuries during serious automobile accidents caused by rollovers include head injury, paralysis, spinal cord injury, brain injury and death. The lawyers of the Law Offices of Pat Maloney are skilled personal injury lawyers in San Antonio Texas who have experience helping victims who have suffered personal injuries related to SUV rollovers, van rollovers and truck rollovers.

Injuries and Fatalities During Rollovers

Injuries and fatalities occur during vehicle rollovers for a number of reasons. First, as the vehicle is rolling and if the occupant is not held firmly in place by a seat belt and shoulder restraint, the occupant's head, chest and arms are thrown against the side and top of the vehicle. Second, if the occupants are not wearing seat belts or if the seat belt system fails, then fatalities often occur as the occupants are thrown from the vehicle as it rolls. Once outside the vehicle, severe bodily injuries often occur. Third, injuries or fatalities occur in rollovers because as the vehicle rolls, the vehicle roof collapses, severely injuring the occupant's head, spine, back or other major organs. Roof crush is a major source of injuries in rollovers.

Vehicle Rollovers

While any vehicle can roll over given the right circumstances vehicles with higher centers of gravity are more susceptible to rollovers in single car accidents. These highly susceptible vehicles include SUVs, pickup and vans. Vehicles moving at higher rates of speed are also more susceptible because there is more force to flip or roll the vehicle. Almost 40% of rollover fatalities occur with vehicles traveling at excessive speed and 75% of rollovers occur on highways where the posted speed is 55 miles per hour or higher.

Causes of Rollovers

Statistics show that nearly 85% of rollover fatalities are the result of single-vehicle accidents. The driver may be making a routine turn at too high a speed or for some reason the driver is trying to avoid an obstacle or animal in the road. The rapid turning motion puts the vehicle in danger of rolling over. In many cases alcohol use is involved. Rollovers fatalities on rural roads are common because of poor lighting and visibility conditions and because of the need for the driver to make avoidance maneuvers more often in rural setting. In most cases, driver error is involved, that is the vehicle is traveling too fast for the vehicle to make a turn safely without rolling over.

Most rollovers are classified as a "tripped rollover." A tripped rollover occurs when the vehicle is sliding sideways and the wheels hit an obstacle, such as a curb, or soft shoulder material. The vehicle tires are "tripped" and the vehicle then rolls. Untripped rollovers account for only about 5% of rollovers and occur when a vehicle is so top heavy that the vehicle rolls without being "tripped." Untripped rollovers normally occur during high-speed collision avoidance maneuvers.

Rollover Safety Standards

Although there are rollover safety standards for vehicles, additional design specifications could help reduce the number of fatalities. Specifically, car industry seat standards could be improved so that the occupant is held more firmly in place during the rolling motion, thus being less likely to be injured. Also, injuries from roof collapse could be improved if stronger designs were implemented and roofs could provide more protection during a rollover. Stronger designs would also prevent collapsing roofs from breaking windshields and side windows. When these windows are gone, it creates ejection portals for the passengers. Finally, weak seat belt systems could be improved so as to better withstand the forces of a rollover, prohibiting occupants from being thrown from the vehicle. In many cases auto manufacturers have been negligent in upgrading the crashworthiness of vehicles to prevent deaths or serious injuries from rollovers. If a person is seriously injured or killed due to a preventable crashworthiness defect related to rollovers, then the victim or the family members may be entitled to compensation. Rollovers can lead to serious personal injury and is an important part of crashworthiness.