Bernstein & Maryanoff

Florida Auto Accident Lawyers
Helping Victims of SUV Rollover Accidents

SUV’s have been extremely popular over the last decade, and despite a slight downturn in their sales in recent years as fuel costs have gone up, they remain one of the most popular styles of vehicle chosen by the American consumer. Generally, people choose SUV’s for several reasons, including the perception of increased safety, increased utility and the combination of size and comfort. Unfortunately, the prevalence of SUV’s on the market has also led to a high number of fatal SUV rollover crashes.

Below you’ll find information regarding some basic SUV rollover statistics, the leading causes of SUV rollover crashes and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been harmed in an SUV rollover aciddent and you need the help of an experienced Florida auto accident lawyer.

SUV Rollover Statistics

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, or NHTSA, keeps statistics regarding auto accidents from across the United States. According to the agency’s records:

1. SUV rollover crashes accounted for more than one-third of all fatal crashes in SUV’s, which is more than double the rate of fatal rollover crashes for passenger vehicles, which stood at approximately 15 percent, in 2006 alone.
2. Single-vehicle rollover crashes were responsible for almost half of all SUV deaths in 2006, compared to 39 percent for pickup trucks and 21 percent in sedans.
3. More than 8,000 people died in SUV’s in 2006.

Leading Causes of SUV Rollover Crashes

There are several causes of SUV rollover crashes that have been identified, and a few examples appear below:

1. The generally narrow wheel base leads to a tendency to roll over when an SUV attempts to negotiate a tight curve or to make sudden maneuvers to avoid unexpected dangers on the road.
2. The problematic weight distribution of SUV’s makes them somewhat top-heavy, which increases the chance that they will roll over.
3. Improper loading of SUV’s by occupants can artificially create a more severe weight imbalance, unbeknownst to most SUV passengers.

Unfortunately, SUV’s are not as safe as many think they are. When an SUV rollover crash occurs, there are different legal options that arise for those who have been injured or killed in such a crash. However, these options depend on the facts of a particular SUV rollover crash which should be carefully analyzed by an experienced Florida auto accident lawyer. If you or someone you love has been harmed in an SUV rollover crash, contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.