A car accident can be devastating, often causing serious injuries or even death. But a rollover accident, or “roof crush” accident poses the highest risk of suffering a traumatic injury.
The Denver injury lawyers at Lonn Heymann Law Firm, P.C. caution drivers that there are certain types of vehicles, as well as specific driving practices and conditions, which will increase your chances of being in a rollover accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has studied motor vehicle rollover accidents, and the types of vehicles that are involved. The agency publishes a report that lists the types of vehicles that are most prone to this type of tragic crash. They estimate that almost 215,000 rollover accidents happen annually. But the surprising number is in the category of what they term “untripped” rollovers – those that occur for no other apparent reason other than normal road friction. NHTSA estimates that 7.9% of rollovers are of the untripped variety.
The NHTSA also reports that rollover accidents are the second most common type of passenger vehicle crash, preceded only by head-on collisions. However, when ranked by the type of vehicle involved, rollover accidents are number one among the category of “light trucks”, which includes minivans, light trucks and the ever-popular SUV. This type of vehicle has a two to four times greater probability of rolling over, due to their higher center of gravity, than does a standard passenger car.
The agency estimates that between 55,000 – 60,000 serious injuries are caused each year in rollover accidents.
Several types of well-known vehicles in the light truck category have been reported as potentially susceptible to a rollover crash, the early Jeep CJ5 and the Ford Explorer among them. In addition to the NHTSA, watchdog organizations like Consumers Union, have published data that rates almost every passenger vehicle as it relates to its chances of being involved in a rollover crash.
Among the findings of Consumer Reports in its 2010 study, vehicles such as the Acura TL and TSX models, the Audi A4 and A3 and the Hyundai Genesis received the highest scores in rollover crash testing. These are small-to-mid sized passenger vehicles with a low center of gravity. Vehicles receiving the worst rollover probability ratings include the GMC Canyon, Scion TC and Hyundai Accent, which are all in the light truck category. To utilize Consumer Reports’ drop-down menu to enter your own vehicle information and review it’s crash rating online, click here.
The Denver injury attorneys at Lonn Heymann Law Firm, P.C. remind you that Colorado remains a deadly state for rollover crashes. In some cases, a car manufacturer should be held responsible for a vehicle defect. In other instances, a passenger in a rollover crash should seek compensation for his or her injuries, even if the driver is a friend or family member.
If a rollover accident has caused you serious injury or taken the life of a loved one, the Denver accident lawyers at Lonn Heymann Law Firm, P.C. have the resources and investigatory experience to review the cause of the crash and determine if you may have a right to take legal action. Call our office today to schedule a free, no obligation appointment to review your case, and to learn more about your legal rights.
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