Every vehicle on the road today has the potential to rollover. However, most rollover accidents today involve some type of sport utility vehicle. (“SUV”) There are now over 20 million SUVs on our nation’s roads. Most SUVs have a higher center of gravity than ordinary cars and the center of gravity rises with each additional passenger. There is a direct relationship established with a vehicle’s center of gravity and a vehicle’s potential to rollover. The higher the center of gravity, the more likely the vehicle is to rollover. Passengers of SUVs are often ejected due to the lack of laminated glass in the side and rear windows. Those who are not ejected can be paralyzed or killed as the roof collapses during the rollover.
Automakers are well aware of safer alternate designs that would significantly reduce the risks of serious injury or death in a rollover. However, most automakers have not implemented the safer designs. The question becomes: Could the injury or death have been prevented by use of a safer alternative design?
Since each accident is different, it is important to have the accident reconstructed and analyzed by experts in accident reconstruction, automotive design, biomechanical engineering , glazing engineering and medicine.
Over the years, our firm has built relationships with experts across the nation in each of these areas who help us to evaluate your case.
Time is of the essence. Many cases require immediate preservation of evidence. It may be necessary to purchase and store the vehicle involved in the rollover. If evidence is improperly stored, it will start to decay.
Many times accident vehicles are salvaged or crushed and the evidence is destroyed. If it is a product liability case, a lack of evidence could prevent you from even filing a law suit. The accident scene may also change over time, which makes the reconstruction much more difficult.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a rollover accident, please contact one of our attorneys to discuss your case. For a free confidential consultation call 1-888-687-2400 or visit the Contact Us page.
