SUV Rollovers Injury Lawsuits

SUV Rollovers Accident Lawsuits. The manufacturers of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) are under increasing criticism for not improving the safety of these popular vehicles.

SUV rollover accidents accounted for just 3 percent of all U.S. auto accidents in 2001, but caused nearly a third of all vehicle-occupant fatalities, and an SUV occupant was more than three times as likely to die as a result of a rollover as an occupant of a passenger car.

Jeffery Runge, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the top U.S. auto-safety regulator said sport/utility vehicles and pickup trucks aren’t safe enough due to rollover risks and consumers should think twice about buying them.

Runge added that fatalities in single vehicle rollovers increased 22.3 percent from 2000 to 2001 and now account for 8,400 fatalities. Runge, who served as an emergency room physician for 20-years before becoming head of the NHTSA, said SUV drivers are especially vulnerable to fatal rollovers because the vehicle’s high center of gravity makes them more likely to tip during sudden maneuvers.

If automakers don’t take steps to make SUVs safer, Runge warned that the government could step in to demand changes.

More than 30 of the 2002 SUVs tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration earned just one or two stars, including the top-selling SUV, Ford Explorer, and other popular models such as Chevrolet Tahoe, Toyota 4Runner, and Nissan Xterra.

Need Legal Help Regarding SUV Rollovers?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

Our SUV Accident lawyer is here to help you when you need it the most.