Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Design Flaws Increase the Risk of SUV Rollover Accidents
No matter how careful a driver is, there is always a possibility for a Boston SUV rollover accident to occur. Compared to standard vehicles, sport utility vehicles present a dramatically higher risk for rollover accidents.
Whether the vehicle rolled over following a steering over correction or a tire blowout, its safety features should still protect you.
Unfortunately, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), 60% of SUV fatalities and 40% of SUV injuries are caused by rollover accidents.
How to Avoid SUV Rollover Accidents
The NHTSA offers several tips to reduce the risk of a rollover accident:
- Do not use excessive speed
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Do not drive when excessively drowsy
- Be careful on rural roads
- Avoid erratic steering
- Maintain tire pressure
- Load vehicles properly.
Design Flaws in SUVs
Many SUVs have high centers of gravity, top heavy wheelbases and a top heavy design, making them particularly susceptible to rolling over.
The effects of the manufacturer’s design flaws are often magnified when a driver experiences a high speed blowout. With such inherent design flaws, SUVs have become extremely dangerous vehicles to drive.
Personal injury attorney, Thomas M. Kiley, represents people in product liability claims in connection with rollover accidents and defects such as:
- High Center of Gravity
- Instability
- Lack of Roll Bar
- Engineering Design Flaws
- Steering Defects
- Defective Tires
- Lack of Side Air Bags
- Defective Air Bags
- Weak Roofs
- Failure of Safety Restraint Systems
- Failure to Include Electronic Stability Control
Although SUVs are safer today than they have ever been the fact that an SUV has a higher center of gravity and a longer wheelbase than a car still makes an SUV more prone to rollover in sharp turns. Unfortunately for many drivers and passengers, when they swerve sharply to avoid any road hazard, they end up in a far worse rollover accident.
If you or your loved one have been the victim of a rollover accident or a safety feature failure in SUVs, you will need to consult with an experienced Boston SUV accident lawyer.
Call 1-888-208-1695 for a Free Case Evaluation.
