Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Defective Vehicles? SUVs and Rollover Accident Injuries
- “A 16-year old boy died of injuries from a sport utility vehicle rollover.”
- “1 Dead 2 Hurt in SUV Rollover Crash on Bridge.”
- “Girl dies of injuries from SUV rollover.”
These headlines are not uncommon or shocking as death occurs in 59% of all SUV rollover accidents, according to a recent report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The report, released last year, details the high incident rate for death and injury as a result of accidents involving SUVs.
The popularity of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) has grown exponentially since the 1980s.
SUVs account for nearly 25% of all vehicle sales in America but many buyers fail to heed the warnings that consumer and safety advocates have given about the possible risk of death and injury associated with SUVs.
Research reveals that the benefit of a roomy interior and all the “bells and whistles” carmakers have added to these “rugged” vehicles may not be worth the high safety risk to your loved ones.
SUV Injuries and Deaths
- Rollover accidents in SUVs seriously injury or kill more than 10,000 Americans each year.
- Approximately 25% of occupant deaths in cars and minivans involve a rollover compared to a 59% death rate in SUV rollovers.
- Lighter SUVs have a rate of death 6 times as high as a heavy car. Unfortunately, heavier SUVs don’t fare much better when it comes to rollover safety.
- Nearly 4 out of every 5 occupant deaths in a heavy SUV occurred in a single-vehicle rollover.
According to the Advocates for Highways and Safety, a disproportionately high number of rollover deaths occur in SUVs, and the SUV is the “only vehicle type in which the number of occupant deaths in rollovers exceeds the number of occupant deaths in non-rollover crashes.”
In addition to the high rate of death associated with SUV rollovers, catastrophic injuries can occur which will likely have long-term health consequences.
Common injuries from SUV rollovers include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head Injuries, including Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Limb Injuries due to partial or full ejection from the vehicle
Design Flaws in SUVs
Why do SUVs have a higher rollover fatality and injury rate than cars and pickup trucks?
Experts cite several design flaws in SUVs that contribute to the sobering statistics above. SUVs are tall and have a narrow wheelbase, with a high center of gravity.
When drivers turn sharply, even at moderate speeds, the top-heaviness of an SUV can cause it to topple.
Many SUVs lack a roll bar and may contain defective air bags, which can also lead to serious and catastrophic injuries.
Roof crush injuries are probably the most common injury cause, as roof pillars are typically just columns made of hollow sheet metal that easily crush upon impact.
Additionally, tire blowouts like those brought to light in the Firestone tire recall a few years ago, can also lead to instability and loss of control which results in a rollover.
Seatbelt failure is another problem. About 400 people die each year after being ejected during an SUV rollover even though they were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
Minimize Injury and Risk
According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Advocates for Highway and Safety, 71% of those surveyed are concerned about the danger of SUVs and 85% support federal regulations that would make these popular vehicles safer.
You can take measures now to decrease you, and your family’s, risk of catastrophic injury and death by following a few simple tips:
- Be aware of the risk of SUV tipping and avoid sharp turns at high speeds
- Request installation of a roll bar from the manufacturer
- Don’t take your SUV “off roading” – most aren’t designed for true all-terrain use
- Maintain tires properly
- Load vehicles properly – avoid adding more cargo (weight) to the roof
If you have been injured, we can help!
If you, or a loved one, has been injured in an SUV rollover accident, we can help.
Call our Boston car accidents attorneys at the Kiley Law Group to schedule a FREE EVALUATION of your case.
We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for the medical bills, and pain and suffering, you may have endured as a result of this type of crash.
FREE Consultations: 888-208-1695.
