Roof Crush

Roof crush occurs during SUV rollovers, truck rollovers and van rollovers as the car weight causes the roof to collapse. Roof crush is a major cause of fatalities and personal injuries in Texas and throughout the United States. These injuries occur as the roof collapses to a level where it comes in contact with the vehicle occupants, compressing or crushing the passenger's head, spine and back. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 600 deaths and 800 serious injuries occur a year due to roof crush when the vehicle passengers are wearing seat belts and these passengers come in contact with the vehicle roofs. In other words, many roof crush deaths and injuries occur even though the passengers are properly wearing their seat belts. They are seriously hurt or injured in an accident because the roof was not strong enough to keep the passenger compartment in tact as the vehicle rolls. Typical injuries during serious automobile accidents 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 roof crush during SUV rollovers, van rollovers and truck rollovers.

Rollover Accidents and Roof Crush

Rollover accidents are one of the most common vehicle accidents where a fatality occurs. Rollovers account for only about 3% of the total highway types of collisions, but over 30% of accident related fatalities. Rollover crashes are the most dangerous collision type for light duties vehicles. Roof intrusion or roof crush are common factors in these rollover accidents. Rollovers occur most often in rural areas where the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour or higher. Texas has a lot these types of rural roads.

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Roof Crush Standards

In the early 1970's, the NHTSA was responsible for this county to become the first in the world to address standards related to reducing deaths and injuries that occur in vehicle rollovers during roof crush. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no 216, or known as FMVSS 216 Roof Crush Resistance, became effective on September 1, 1973.

Unfortunately, FMVSS 216 Roof Crush Resistance standard is a minimum requirement. The auto industry has defended its roof designs based on this minimum standard of strength proposed by the government over 3 decades ago. Of course, many of the popular vehicles that are driven today by families with kids, such as the SUVs and vans, were not being produced in 1973 when the standard was created. This thirty-year old standard relating to older model cars should be upgraded in order to provide the proper protection for passengers of vehicles. But regardless of whether the government changes its standards, the automotive companies have no reason not to increase roof strength. Automotive companies are aware of the dangers of roof crush during rollovers and can take additional steps to strengthen the roof and protect vehicle passengers. If someone is injured or killed due to a preventable roof crush incident, then the victim or family members may be eligible for compensation. Roof crush is an important part of crashworthiness.

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