SUV Rollover Lawsuit Information

Some sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are prone to rollovers under conditions that cause other vehicles to merely slide out. The main reason SUVs and pickup trucks are more likely to roll over in a collision, sudden movement or accident compared to other vehicles is because SUVs have a higher center of gravity. An SUV’s center of gravity is higher from the ground than passenger cars.

SUV Rollovers occur when the SUV becomes unstable and the vehicle’s center of gravity is displaced. This instability is typically caused by a driver quickly swerving to avoid an object or another car. There are thousands of SUV rollovers every year, mainly because standard safety precautions are not implemented. In fact, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2002 alone, over 50,000 people were injured in SUV rollovers, while close to 2,500 people died as a result of SUV rollovers. Interestingly, while rollover accidents represent about 3% of all crashes in the U.S., almost 33% of deaths on highways occurr in rollover crashes.

Various tests have demonstrated that SUVs with new stability control systems demonstrate a lower likelihood of rollover accidents. However, the majority of SUVs sold in America lack these stability control systems. An SUV’s stability could be increased if their center of gravity was lowered or the wheel track was widened. These design changes are costly to SUV makers, and these automakers often choose less expensive design modifications.

An experienced SUV rollover attorney can demonstrate that minor modifications such as lowering the center of gravity or widening the wheel base, can be the difference between an SUV that is prone to a fatal rollover or an SUV that merely slides out.

The most significant factors involved in an SUV Rollover include:

The speed that the SUV was traveling prior to the rollover
The area of the accident – the majority of fatal SUV rollovers occur in rural areas where the roads have no protective barriers
Weather conditions such as rain, snow, or wet leaves may cause the SUV driver to lose control of his or her SUV
The quality and age of the SUV’s tires can produce a rollover.
Whether the SUV driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

An experienced SUV rollover attorney knows that the best evidence of a rollover can be found at the scene. Typically, the path of the skidmarks, as well as gouging and scraping on the roadway can illustrate what led to the SUV rollover.

If you or someone close to you has been injured or killed in an SUV rollover accident, contact an experienced SUV rollover attorney today.