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Williams Law Group
137 Public Square
Lebanon, TN 37087
local: 615-444-2900
toll free: 866-820-4457
fax: 615-444-6516

Nashville City Center
511 Union Street, Suite 1850
Nashville, TN 37219
local: 615-313-3999

Roughly 10,000 people are killed each year in rollover accidents and many more suffer catastrophic injuries, including brain inuuries and spinal cord injuries. Meanwhile, the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) has become the vehicle of choice for many families and individuals. One in every four new vehicles sold in America today is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Unlike cars, which tend to slide sideways when they go out of control, due to their higher center of gravity SUV's are prone to rolling over even in an accident that may have seemed minor. These rollover accidents can cause severe injuries and death not just because of the rolling action, but because of defective and unsafe materials and designs that may be incorporated into the SUV’s roof and roof supports.

Based on studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), 79 percent of fatalities in a single-SUV crash involve a rollover compared to only 45 percent for passenger vehicles. The estimated risk of rollover in an SUV is 30 percent compared to only 16 percent risk of rollover in a passenger vehicle.Statistics show that whenever a rollover happens, the occupants are more likely to suffer traumatic injuries or death.

For example, 22 percent of car accident deaths and 62 percent of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) deaths occur during vehicle rollover.

Some models of pickup trucks share this proensity to rollover because of their higher center of gravity.

Roof Crush Injuries / Crashworthiness

To be "crashworthy," a vehicle needs to be designed in such a way as to protect occupants in the event of a crash. That means, among other things, designing pickup trucks and SUVs with strong-enough roof pillars and support structures to keep the top of the vehicle from collapsing into the passenger compartment in a rollover accident. Hundreds of people suffer paralysis and other catastrophic injuries from roof crush accidents every year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that roof crush injuries sustained during a rollover cause thousands of deaths and serious injuries per year -- among passengers wearing seat belts. The numbers are even higher for those who did not wear their seat belts. For both groups, the roof of the vehicle is literally pushed at high speeds toward their vulnerable and sensitive heads and necks.

Because of the horrifying frequency of these injuries, the NHTSA in 2005 proposed more stringent standards for the roofs of the sport-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and other heavier vehicles, which are much more likely to roll over.

Evidence shows that the auto industry has known for years that the roofs it puts on rollover-prone vehicles could not stand up to the very kinds of deadly rollover accidents which the vehicles were likely to be involved. In 2005 the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that there was a definitive link between a car’s roof strength, crushing and injuries. Several other studies have shown that stronger roofs save the lives of everyone in the car, even during a rollover or other traumatic accident.

12 and 15 Passenger Vans

Twelve (12) and Fifteen (15) passenger vans are used by various groups and organizations due to their ability to transport a large amount of people and their accompanying cargo. Many people who driver or are passengers in these vans are unaware of the risks of rollover accidents and subsequent injuries involved.Confounding this problem, the rate of safety belt use among occupants of large vans involved in fatal crashes is very low compared to other types of vehicles.

The U.S Government has estimated that there have more then 1,200 fatalities as the result of passenger van accidents throughout the country since 1990.

These types of vehicles have a higher likelihood than any other vehicle to be involved in dangerous rollover accidents, many of which are single vehicle accidents. This is due to the design of the large vehicle, which when it is fully loaded with passengers and cargo becomes unstable because of their very high center of gravity.

If you or a family member thinks damage has been caused by a Vehicle Rollover or a Roof Crush Injury please contact the attorneys at Williams Law Group.