SUV Rollover Accidents Still an Issue

By Mitchell Proner

Published on November 03, 2010

In the early part of the 21^st Century, the United States was consumed with SUV-mania. These large, powerful sports utility vehicles were seen by many as ideal both for sports-minded drivers and families who wanted a larger vehicle without investing in a full-size van. By combining some of the most attractive and convenient characteristics of a car and a truck, SUVs revolutionized the driving experience, despite their gas-guzzling reputation. Unfortunately, however, most SUVs had extremely high centers of gravity, making them far more likely than more traditional cars to roll over, especially when making sharp, fast turns. Indeed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that, on average, there are 280,000 rollover accidents each year, involving more than 10,000 deaths.

The popularity of SUVs has recently waned, largely because of the increasing cost of gasoline. This, in combination with stricter safety regulations and structural improvements made by SUV manufacturers, has led to a decrease in the number of SUV rollover accidents. Nevertheless, the risk of injury and death in such accidents remains very real.

Of important note in SUV rollover accidents is the concept of crashworthiness. Crashworthiness refers to the amount of force the roof of a vehicle is able to withstand in the event of a rollover. By far, the majority of deaths and serious injuries resulting from SUV rollovers involved SUVs that were not sufficiently crashworthy; while they may have met minimum standards for roof crush, the failure of manufacturers to surpass these standards has had catastrophic consequences. Although more recently manufactured SUVs tend to be more crashworthy, the many older models still on the roads continue to offer insufficient protection to their occupants.

For further information about SUV rollover accidents or to schedule an evaluation of your rollover case, please contact Mitchell Proner, a premier car accident attorney in Manhattan, New York.

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