SUV Rollover, Warnings & Recalls
Rollovers are dangerous car accidents that have a higher fatality rate than other types of crashes. Of the nearly 11 million passenger car, SUV, pickup and van crashes in 2002, only 3% involved a rollover. However, rollovers account for nearly one-third of all deaths from passenger vehicle crashes. In 2002 alone, more than 10,000 people died in rollover crashes. Rollovers are complex crash incidents and are particularly violent in nature. Rollovers, more so than other types of crashes, reflect the interaction of the driver, road, vehicle, and environmental factors.
All types of vehicles can rollover. However, taller, narrower vehicles such as SUVs, pickups, and vans have higher centers of gravity, and thus are more susceptible to rollover if involved in a single-vehicle crash. NHTSA data indicates that 95% of single-vehicle rollovers are tripped. Tripping occurs when a vehicle leaves the roadway and slides sideways, digging the tires into the roadway or striking an object such as a curb, guardrail, snow bank or other object. The high tripping force applied to the tires can cause the vehicle to roll over. SUVs' size, high center of gravity, narrow track width, and top-heavy designs make them up to three times more prone to rollovers than other vehicles. Further aggravating the problem is that SUVs manufactured for consumer use on streets and highways fail to include important anti-rollover features (such as roll bars) found on their off-road counterparts. Additionally weak roof designs (prone to collapsing on occupants in rollovers) and inadequate safety restraint systems increase the risk of severe injury.
According to a report by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 9,000 people die each year in 227,000 rollover accidents. Moreover, rollovers accounted for more than half of all single-vehicle crashes and that the rate of serious passenger injury in rollover crashes in 36% higher than in non-rollover crashes. Additionally, the NHTSA warns that vehicle rollover crashes are much more likely to result in serious head injuries than other types of accidents.
|
Friday, 02 December 2011 17:47 | Written by Automobile Recall Lawyer |
 |  | 
The victims of the 2004 Ford rollover accident in Fair Oaks, Calif. received $50 million in punitive damages and $20 million for medical and automobile expenses from a Sacramento jury last month. The jury found Ford Motor Co. "59% responsible" for the accident after learning that Ford was aware of the possible tire blow-out issues, which caused the accident, and did nothing to recall the tires or warn consumers. Two people were injured and one person, who was not wearing his seat belt, was killed in the accident. The passengers, part of a Presbyterian musical group, were heading home from a statewide tour in the Ford 15-passenger Econoline van when the tread separated from one of the tires, causing the blow-out. Before the verdict, Ford insisted that Goodyear was responsible for the accident, and Ford continues to insist that its E-350 van series is "safe", even though the Econoline has been the subject of many FDA advisories. Last Updated (Friday, 02 December 2011 18:02) |
|
Tuesday, 05 April 2011 02:25 | Written by Mercedes-Benz Recall Lawyer |
| |
Last Updated (Tuesday, 05 April 2011 02:46)
Tuesday, 08 February 2011 03:47 | Written by Ford Recall Lawyer |
| |
February 7, 2011 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced yesterday that Ford will be recalling certain model year 2011 Explorers that were manufactured from July 15, 2010 through December 13, 2010. These vehicles are equipped with second row seats that fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. In the event of an accident, these seats, which may have faulty manual recline mechanisms, could lead to serious injuries or deaths.
Friday, 14 January 2011 20:04 | Written by Rollover Attorney |
| |
Yesterday, the largest settlement in San Diego County history - a pre-trial settlement of $8,300,000, and a verdict of $14,465,000 - was levied against Mossy Ford Motor Corporation, after a husband and wife were killed in 2006 from a rollover accident in their Ford Sportsmobile. The couple was driving along a rural Arizona highway when the tread separated from the vehicle's right, rear tire, which caused the van to roll numerous times before coming to a stop. The couple had reportedly taken their vehicle into a Ford Dealership previous to the accident to repair puncture damage to that same tire. Instead of dealing with the problem correctly by replacing the tire, Ford performed a shoddy repair job, which inadvertently led to the fatal accident. The driver, Casey Barber, died at the scene, and his wife, Melanie died in the hospital a few days later. Their three sons, ages 3, 5, and 7, survived. Last Updated (Friday, 25 February 2011 01:53)
Thursday, 17 November 2005 00:00 | Written by Ford Rollover Lawyer |
| |
Nov. 17, 2005 - A jury ordered Ford Motor Co. to pay $61 million to the parents of a 17-year-old who died when the Ford Explorer, in which he was riding, rolled over. The ruling was one of the first to overturn the assumption of a sport utility vehicle's good handling and stability. For the past several years Ford has argued that rollover accidents where due to driver error or defective Firestone tires and not due to a problem with the vehicle's stability and handling. The ruling is expected to clear the way for similar trials against Ford in Florida, Mississippi, and California. Last Updated (Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:42)
|
According to a recent National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration report, Mercedes-Benz recently announced that they would be recalling certain 2008-2011 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles after studies showed that the second row passenger seats may have seat belts that do not comply with vehicle safety standards.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011