Personal InjuryCalifornia 15 Passenger Van Accident Attorneys
Fifteen-passenger vans are popular small vehicles for organizations that need to transport small groups over long distances -- groups like school sports teams, church youth groups, senior center groups or summer campers. But even though thousands of organizations entrust these vans with their members' safety each year, we now know that the vans don't deserve our trust. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15-passenger vans are more likely to be involved in a single-vehicle rollover accident than any other type of vehicle.
A 2005 study by the NHTSA shows that 15-passenger vans are more than twice as likely to roll over when filled to above half their capacity than when they're at or under half of their capacity. That is, when used for their intended purpose -- carrying large numbers of people -- the vans are significantly more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. That's because their center of gravity shifts upward and backward, a design flaw that makes the van more difficult to control in an emergency.
Mistakes made by the driver and organizers of the van's trip may also be a factor in crashes. According to the NHTSA, the following are mistakes that increase the chances of a rollover accident:
- Overloading the van with more than 15 passengers.
- Not requiring everyone to wear a seat belt or age-appropriate child restraint.
- Not requiring passengers in a partially empty van to sit in front of the rear axle, preventing dangerous changes in the van's center of gravity.
- Storing luggage on the roof.
- Overinflating or underinflating tires, which can cause the vans to handle differently.
- Not leaving enough space and distance between the van and other vehicles to accommodate the van's large size and weight.
If you or a loved one have been in an accident involving a 15-passenger van and are considering legal action, you need an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney. The lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE have decades of experience aggressively representing victims of 15-passenger van accidents and auto accidents. They have recovered tens of millions in settlements with major automobile manufacturers and others for auto accident victims their and families. For a free, confidential case evaluation, click here to fill out our online form, or call 1 (866) 909-6161 for a consultation.
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