Suv Rollover Accidents
SUV Rollover Accidents
Sport Utility Vehicles, or SUV’s, are popular automobile choices for families in Jackson, Mississippi and across the nation. They’re perfect for large families or anybody who hauls around a good deal of cargo on a regular basis. Unfortunately, they’re not without their own set of risks. Even though these large seemingly well-protected vehicles feel pretty safe, drivers and passengers need to be aware of the safety hazards associated with SUV’s. These vehicles are at a higher risk for rollovers in the event of an accident for a variety of reasons. If you or a loved one has been injured in an SUV rollover accident, you need to speak with an attorney about your options as soon as possible.
SUV Design and Construction
The design and construction of SUV’s puts them at a higher risk of rollover in the event of a crash. These vehicles have a higher center of gravity than other smaller cars and light trucks on the road. This means they could tip more easily during an overcorrection, tire blowout or some other type of roadway emergency. They’re also more prone to being improperly loaded, due to all of the additional space available to owners, also contributing to the higher center-of-gravity problem. Many of these vehicles are also built on narrower tracks or frames, which only makes the possibility of having a rollover accident even greater.
False Sense of Security
Another problem associated with SUV’s are the false sense of increased safety and security they give drivers and passengers. They’re large, bulky, heavy and seemingly well constructed to the uninformed eye. They put drivers and passengers higher up on the road than other vehicles contributing to this false sense of security. Drivers and passengers may be more inclined to driver these vehicles like sportier or safer smaller sedans or mid-sized cars without thinking about the design differences and limits in performance capabilities. Additionally, people might be more likely to go without buckling up if they have a false sense of safety, putting them at a higher risk for injury or death in the event of a crash.
SUV Performance Capabilities
To put it simply, one cannot driver an SUV like a sedan, mid-sized, compact or even mini-van type vehicle. They simply don’t have the same performance capabilities. The problem is that not enough people know about the performance limits and capabilities of SUV’s. They’re marketed along with the rest of the family-safe vehicles with hardly even a second thought given to the safety of potential drivers and passengers. These vehicles can’t turn as safely at certain speeds. They don’t handle tire blowouts as safely as cars with lower centers of gravity. They need to be driven much more conservatively than smaller cars.
Roof Strength of SUV’s
One of the most serious problems associated with SUV rollover accidents is roof collapse. If your vehicle rolls over, and the roof is crushed, you might be lucky to get out alive. Although roof-crush regulations have been semi-recently updated, there is still so much room for improvement. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that roof collapses causes about 600 deaths each year and about 900 injuries, even when victims were buckled up.
Inadequate Government Rollover Standards
A large part of the problem is inadequate government standards for rollover safety. This isn’t a new issue. We’ve known about the dangers associated with SUV’s and other higher center of gravity vehicles for years, but still, little has been done to increase safety, promote awareness and reduce preventable deaths and injuries each year.
SUV Rollover Accident Injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones
- Neck injuries
- Abrasions
- Bruising
- Concussions
- Facial injuries
- Lung punctures
Injuries Associated with SUV Rollover Accidents
Injuries associated with SUV rollover accidents can vary from seemingly minor bruises and abrasions to incredibly severe traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and fatal injuries. The rate of speed, amount of cargo and a variety of other factors can impact the severity of your rollover crash, and every crash has its own unique set of circumstances. Listed below are a few different types of injuries that are commonly associated with SUV rollover accidents.
What to do After a SUV Rollover Accident
If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a SUV rollover accident in or around the Jackson Metro area, contact the skilled lawyers at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC at (601) 265-7766 for an immediate free case consultation.
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