San Francisco SUV Rollover Accident Attorneys
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) sales have soared in the United States in the past decade. Despite the popularity of these vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that SUV rollover accidents account for more than 10,000 deaths each year. An SUV’s large size and higher center of gravity make it easier for the vehicle to rollover. The SUV was originally designed as an off road vehicle and not intended for what it has become today, a family vehicle. Even though some improvements in safety have been made, sport utility vehicles continue to contribute to the untimely deaths and serious injuries of many drivers and passengers in rollover accidents.
After an accident, victims of SUV rollovers and their families should consult an experienced San Francisco traffic accident lawyer. A qualified attorney at Estey Bomberger may help the injured party receive financial compensation for any expenses related to the injury including hospital stays, medical costs, earnings lost due to the inability to work, pain and suffering and other accident-related expenses.
SUV Design Flaws
Driving any vehicle presents a certain amount of risk to an individual, but drivers are not always aware that those risks increase when operating an SUV. Manufacturers are required to put a warning label in each sport utility vehicle, outlining how the multipasseneger vehicle operates differently from a standard passenger car. Manufacturers should also include how the center of gravity, passenger and cargo weight, and lack of roll bar protection, contribute to rollover accident and injuries.
Center of gravity
The high center of gravity (narrow track width) makes an SUV top heavy, and is the most common factor in SUV rollovers. The vehicles top heavy nature and large width, compromise stability. If a driver makes a quick, fast turn, or loses control of a vehicle due to a tire blowout, the lack of stability may cause the SUV to rollover. The higher an SUV’s center of gravity, the more likely a vehicle is to overturn, especially at high speeds.
Passenger and cargo weight
The large interior of an SUV can hold many passengers and a lot of cargo, which has added to the popularity of it as a family car. Despite the belief that more weight will add stability, the heavier the SUV is, the higher the likelihood of a rollover accident occurring.
Roll bar protection
Manufacturers do not add roll bars in order to accommodate more passenger and cargo space. The lack of a roll bar causes the roof to easily collapse in rollover accidents, which can crush the passenger and increase the possibility of a catastrophic injury.
SUV Rollover Injuries
Trauma to the head is the most common fatal and non-fatal SUV rollovers injury, reports the NHTSA. If you or a loved one has endured a head injury or any of the following serious injuries, contact a San Francisco personal injury attorney. Serious injuries that can be sustained in SUV rollovers are:
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Types of Sport Utility Vehicles
The Estey Bomberger law firm has represented victims of SUV rollovers in numerous sport utility vehicle types, including:
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If you have been seriously injured or know someone that has been injured in an SUV rollover accident, contact Estey Bomberger to discuss your case with an experienced attorney. Call (415) 877-1334 to speak directly with one of our San Francisco accident lawyers. Don’t wait; you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim. At Estey Bomberger, all consultations are free, with no obligation.