Personal InjuryCalifornia SUV Rollover Attorneys
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are some of the most popular automobiles on California highways. It seems that all car manufacturers have their own versions of this type of vehicle, and consumers have snatched them up as quickly as they leave the assembly lines. Very often, consumers looking for family vehicles turn to SUVs because they have the room a growing family needs and their large dimensions give the appearance of safety. The frightening truth, however, is that many of these SUVs are designed poorly and that they are prone to accidents, especially California SUV Rollover Accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown that SUVs roll over almost three times as often as passenger cars and it is estimated that more than 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents each year.
Sport Utility Vehicles were initially designed for off-road driving. Because of this, most SUVs have high suspensions and a small wheel base to allow the autos to navigate rugged terrain. These factors, along with the SUVs size, result in a higher center of gravity, which when paired with highway speeds and sudden turns can be a recipe for disaster. In 2003, 35.7 percent of fatal SUV crashes resulted in a rollover. That same year just 15.8 percent of fatal passenger car accidents resulted in a rollover. The NHTSA has concluded that rollover accidents are one of the most significant safety problems for all classes of light trucks. For the years 1992 through 1996, there were an average of approximately 227,000 rollover crashes per year which resulted in an average of 9,063 deaths and over 200,000 injuries per year.
Sub-par safety standards can contribute to the dangerous nature of rollover crashes. Rollover accidents are especially dangerous because of the blunt force trauma the passengers experience during the crash. Passengers involved in rollover accidents are often thrown from the vehicles during the crash, resulting in catastrophic injury. Occupants in a rollover accident can also be injured by weak roof support reinforcements that collapse under the weight of the vehicle. Roofs that collapse can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries which can result in paralysis, and even fatalities. Defective seat belt buckles, door locks or latches that fail to stay locked, seatback failures, airbag deployment failures, post collision fuel fed fires, and seatbelt buckles that open during a rollover can also all result in additional injuries during an Orange County SUV Rollover Accident.
If you have been involved in a serious Southern California SUV rollover accident, you are entitled to ask a court for compensation for your injuries and those of your family. The experienced attorneys at Bisnar Chase can guide you through the process of pursuing justice and help you get the best results in your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. For a free consultation, call us today at 1 (866) 909-6161.
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