Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
SUV manufacturers: Take responsibility!
SUVs should be safe, right? They’re big and sit high off the road, so the occupants should be protected in an accident. Not so.
SUV Rollover Statistics
- More than 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents each year and this doesn’t even show how many are killed in other types of collisions.
- This statistic also doesn’t tell you how many people are injured, some very seriously.
SUV Design Flaws
There are several design flaws in all SUVs, no matter who the car maker might be. Here are some defects you should be aware of (the car manufactures are):
- SUVs were originally designed for off-road use, not everyday driving.
- The wheelbase is too narrow for stability.
- The vehicles sit too high off the ground, making them unstable.
- The supports in the roof are not adequate, causing “roof crush” in a rollover accident.
- Once the roof is crushed, the windows and doors are also crushed by the impact, allowing occupants to be ejected from the vehicle.
And, how’s this for a scary statistic: The safety and design requirements for SUVs were formulated in 1994 and have not been upgraded since then.
Much of the testing is paid for by the manufacturers and doesn’t really represent the dangers. Because of this, the statistics are skewed to make the performance of SUVs look safer than it really is.
The statistics from these tests often also don’t show the whole picture-they are focused on head-on collision and as we all know, a lot of accidents occur when someone swerves to avoid another accident or the SUV is struck from the side.
Seeking Legal Help
If you are injured, or a family member is killed in an accident, who can help you?
The most important thing you can do to protect your rights and the rights of your loved one is to consult an experienced personal injury attorney.
There are personal injury attorneys who specialize in class-action lawsuits. Class-action lawsuits mean that many people have been injured by the same product. Special knowledge is required for these types of lawsuits, since they involve many different claimants and insurance companies, rather than just one.
You need to remember that when you are in an accident, the injuries may be longer-lasting than you think and the costs might be more than what you anticipated.
An experienced attorney knows this and will take it into account when settling your claim.
But, the insurance company is willing to settle?
DON’T TRUST THE INSURANCE COMPANY!
Their job is to settle claims as quickly and for as little money as they can.
Protect yourself and the ones you love. Kiley Law Group will protect your interests and the interests of your family members during this difficult time.
FREE Consultations
Call our Boston defective vehicle lawyers at 1-888-208-1695 for a FREE evaluation of your case.
