With the prominence of SUVs on the road, there is a growing concern regarding rollover accidents. Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle flips over on its side or roof. Vehicles, such as SUVs, with a high center of gravity and narrow tire track are more prone to this type of accident especially when speeding on icy or slick roads.
Rollover collisions account for 35 per cent of all passenger car deaths, and over 10,000 people a year die in these types of accidents. Rollover accidents came to the forefront awhile ago when the Ford Motor Company recalled Ford Explorers that utilized Bridgestone tires. These tires failed during highway speeds and resulted in accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) prioritized rollover safety as a major problem. Safety experts and engineers have since agreed that the best manner for manufacturers to make SUVs more stable—and less likely to flip over—is to make the center of gravity lower and make the tire track narrower. However, as changes in the manufacturing of cars gets costly, automakers were slow to institute these changes.
Yet, the consumers acted, and their message is being felt in the marketplace. Big, truck-style SUVs are not selling as well as they had been—especially with rising fuels costs. This has resulted in the safer and more fuel-efficient crossover vehicles which are thinner, lower to the ground and combine SUV and car features.
Aware of the possibility of rollover accidents in SUVs, manufacturers have since equipped them with safety features intended to decrease injury and death during a rollover accident. The Electronic Stability Control utilizes automatic computer-generated braking of individual wheels to help the operator control the car in circumstances where a vehicle with no ESC would skid off the street and likely flip over. A 2004 NHTSA study revealed that ESC reduced fatalities in single vehicle crashes by 30 per cent for passenger cars and 63 per cent for SUVs. Since 2004, some manufacturers have of their own accord installed ESC on new car models—only 29 per cent of all 2006 models—57 per cent of SUVs—come installed with ESC. When you are purchasing an SUV, you may want to ask the salesman if it comes with ESC. Its effectiveness has spawned a new federal rule which will require ESC in all cars, SUVs, pickups, and minivans by the year 2012. Under the final ruling issued by NHSTA in April 2007, 75 per cent of 2010 models, 95 per cent of 2011 models and 100 per cent of 2012 models will require ESC.
Obviously, seat belts help in reducing the risk of a fatality due to a rollover accident by 75 per cent. Moreover, some side-impact head air bags or “curtains” can also prevent head injury and ejection during a rollover collision.
No matter how fully your car is equipped with safety devices and electronic features, accidents can occur. We see ugly rollover crashes on the highways and wonder if the persons survived. Some miraculously do while others do not. It may not be your fault. If you or a loved one are involved in a rollover accident or accident of any kind, it is wise to consult a qualified personal injury attorney. And we at Ledger and Associates are just that. With years of experience, we will give you the personal attention you need. Call us at 800 300 0001 for a free consultation.
