Far and away the greatest danger that a driver of a minivan, SUV, or pickup truck faces is the possibility of a rollover accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, reports that almost 300,000 of these incidents occur annually, with a death toll totaling over 10,000 lives.

The problem in these cases is that top-heavy vehicles have a higher center of gravity, making them extremely vulnerable to tipping over when traveling even at moderate speeds. With the percentage of fatal SUV rollovers being more than double that of other passenger cars, the risk for driver and passenger alike is clear.

Causes

Rollovers are caused by the ratio of track width, or how far about the vehicles’ wheels are apart, to center of gravity as it applies to stability during turns. Trucks and SUVs are designed with a premise of off-road capability in mind that translates into a narrow track in conjunction with a high center of gravity for greater ground clearance.

Unfortunately, on the open road, this means that when a vehicle starts to skid, it is much more likely to tip over. Other factors that seem to contribute to the likelihood of a serious event include age and gender demographics, with males under the age of 25 most frequently behind the wheel in a single-vehicle accident.

Responses

The disproportionate number of rollover incidents involving SUVs has come to greater social attention as these types of vehicles have soared in popularity in recent years, resulting in pressure on the federal government to implement safety regulations. While no enforced standards exist as yet in terms of rollover prevention, the NHTSA has introduced a five-star safety rating system to keep consumers alert and informed.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has been involved in a rollover accident and you believe another party’s negligence was at fault for any injuries, contact the experienced Chicago car wreck lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C., today by calling 312-466-82000 for help during this difficult time.