Rollover Avoidance and Technology
Rollover accidents can be a danger to anyone, but those who drive SUVs, trucks, and vans are at heightened risk. In fact, SUV, van, and truck rollover fatalities make up a full third of all fatalities for accidents in these vehicles, according to data recorded in 2000 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Recently, new safety measures and technologies have been implemented for some of these vehicles with the hope that they will reduce the number of rollovers.
If you or someone you love was injured in a rollover accident, the Willis Law Firm may be able to help you seek compensation from the vehicle’s manufacturer and others whose negligence may have led to the incident. For a free consultation, contact our office at 800-883-9858.
Rollover Prevention and Safety
Rollovers continue to be a problem for vehicles with top heavy designs, but there are some innovations which may help save lives and prevent injuries due to rollover accidents. These include:
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – Also known as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), is a rollover prevention technology. Available on many new vehicles, ESC is designed to help vehicles avoid the spinning out effect which often happens in sudden maneuvers. While a professional driver may be able to implement techniques to avoid over-correcting in a sudden maneuver, the average driver is not likely to have these skills. With ESC, the average driver is kept on course in the same way a professional driver would be able to do manually.
- Rollover Airbags – Rollover airbags are designed to give the driver and passengers airbag protection specifically for rollover accidents. With the latest technology, the car can sense an oncoming rollover and deploy airbags downward from the side roof rail. This cushions occupants from potential head injuries and helps (with the assistance of automatic locking seatbelts) keep occupants from being thrown from the vehicle.
- NHTSA Rollover Roof Crush Safety Standard – One of the most dangerous aspects of rollover accidents is the crushing of the roof inward. While the roofs of most vehicles are able to withstand the weight of the vehicle in a rollover and not collapse, many SUVs, trucks, and vans are have roofs that cannot support the greater vehicle weight, potentially crushing in on the occupants and causing serious head and neck injuries. Tragically, such a failure may prove to be fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new standards for roof integrity on all vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds. According to their own estimates, these new features could prevent 13-44 deaths per year and 500-800 injuries.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one was injured in a rollover accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation if that accident was caused by another person or company’s negligence. For more information, contact the Willis Law Firm by calling 800-883-9858 today.