SUV Rollover Accidents
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Stay ahead of the curve in SUV rollover cases; when the defense claims that driver error caused your client’s crash, be prepared. The culprit is often the vehicle’s design.: An article from: Trial $5.95 This digital document is an article from Trial, published by Association of Trial Lawyers of America on February 1, 2003. The length of the article is 3284 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation Details… |
Rollover crashes result in 36% more passenger injuries than non-rollover accidents, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The reason is that rollover crashes result in more head injury and vehicle ejections. In the early 1980’s Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) became known for a higher incidence of rollovers. A reason for this higher incidence is due in part to the higher profile design of SUVs.
By manufacturer’s adopting new SUV standards, auto industry and federal government data shows that the risk of rollovers could be substantially decreased. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that when auto makers lower SUVs from the ground by just an inch, deaths decrease by almost half.
Common Causes of SUV Rollovers
Combine a high center of gravity with a comparatively narrow wheel-to-wheel ratio and you have an SUV rollover accident waiting to happen. It’s simple physics. Considering the state of the auto industry in today’s economic climate, it’s not likely that auto makers will be making many redesigns. So, here’s a look at other causes for SUV rollovers:
- Auto parts malfunction
- Tire blowouts
- Driver error
Rollover Tips That Could Save Your Life
Many catastrophic personal injuries can occur during an SUV rollover crash, including spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures and brain injuries. Roof collapse, along with window and windshield failure, can exacerbate the extent of rollover injuries. However, here are a few tips to help prevent an SUV rollover crash:
- Buy smart – check rollover statistics of the SUV you are considering and avoid buying a taller vehicle with narrower distance between the back two tires
- Drive an SUV like an SUV – passenger vehicles don’t drive like SUVs, so take the time to learn the braking, handling and acceleration on an SUV
- Drive safely – most rollover crashes occur when an SUV leaves a main road, so drive with caution and avoid any cell phone use that is not hands-free
- Be weather aware – driving in snow, rain or fog, as well as driving on rural roads with more potholes will increase your chances of a rollover
- Avoid over correction – over steering when you run off the edge of a road may cause your SUV to lose balance and roll
- Maintain your SUV – tire maintenance is especially important on an SUV, so check tire pressure often for a balanced air fill on all tires
- Balance your load – if you carry heavy or large items in your SUV, make sure that they are balanced from one side of the car to the other, because centrifugal force is a big factor in rollover crashes
- Always wear seatbelts – when an SUV rolls, your chances of serious injury or death are higher with any full and partial vehicle ejection
About the Author:
If you live in the Melbourne or Orlando area of Florida and need more information on choosing an SUV rollover accident lawyer, please visit our website today. The Florida personal injury attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter have a strong reputation for helping clients obtain compensation.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Causes of SUV Rollover Accidents