Let’s start by explaining that it is mathematically probable that you will rollover if all of the conditions to have an accident come together to your disadvantage. The good news is that you can control your speed, and this is the single most important factor that will determine whether an SUV or truck, will actually rollover in an accident. Those conditions that you cannot control will be the arc of the curve, the weather, the slickness of the road, the traffic conditions, the amount of light available to see the road, or other factors and conditions that are out of your hands. Now that you know that you can control your speed, let’s figure out if you are at risk for rollover in a short example. School is “in,” you will need to pay very close attention to the following example. We will take it one step at a time, and I guarantee you that it will be worth it to follow this example.
If you are able to determine your vehicle speed per second, which is how fast you are going per second, you are on your way to understanding about rollover accidents.
The first step is deciding how fast you were going yesterday, when you were rushing home in the rain, and felt that you might have lost control of your car. You didn’t that time, but you are worried that it could happen in the future.
If you were driving at 70 mph, then you need to multiply the mph by a factor of 1.47. So, 70 x 1.47 equals 102.9 which we will round up to 103. We next need to square this number, so 103 times 103 equals 10609.
Next, you have to estimate the radius of the curve in the road. If you take the curve and make a complete imaginary circle with it the radius is a line from the center to the perimeter. Or, said another way, you are cutting the entire circle of the curve in half. If you guess it is around 200 feet then you will divide your 10609 by 200 which equals 53. The 53 is your lateral acceleration. Remember this number, you will use it shortly.
You are almost there. If you measure your vehicle track, which is the distance between the two rear tires on the axle (60 inches, for example) and the center of gravity height (measure from the top of wheel area down to the ground, for 30 inches, for example) you will do one last bit of figuring. You take the center of gravity number times 2 (so, 30 * (times) 2 divided by 60 inches or 1.0). Then, take this number and multiply by the lateral acceleration number you got above, which was 53 * (times) the number 1 and the final answer is 53.
The good news is that if you do this calculation, and your final number is below the number 32, your SUV or truck is not as likely to roll over. The bad news is that if your final number is over the number 32, you will be at a high chance of rolling over.
Do you remember your number? Yes, it was a whopping 53, which means you might be at risk of rolling over. What might have given you a lower number? If you had been traveling at 60 miles an hour, instead of 70, it might have made all the difference in the world, in determining the likelihood of rollover per these figures.
If you have experienced a rollover accident, call the law offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001, or email us online at www.ledgerlaw.com.
