Rollovers
Rollovers are the leading cause of death on America’s highways. Rollovers can be caused by defective tires, tire tread separation, defective design of the vehicle itself, or a combination of these and other factors.
While SUVs are among the most popular vehicles in America, they are also the riskiest when it comes to rollover accidents. Trucks, vans, and SUVs are far more likely to experience rollovers than a car because these types of vehicles typically sit higher off the road than cars. They are also not classified as ‘passenger vehicles,’ which means that they do not have to meet the same safety regulations as cars and station wagons.
Despite the high likelihood of a rollover accident, many SUV manufacturers fail to design sufficient safety measures into the vehicles. The lack of a roll bar and defective airbags in many models also increase the likelihood of death or serious injury during a rollover accident.
Even if the occupant is restrained by a well designed seatbelt system, the occupant faces the danger of roof crush. (See the “Roof Crush” subtopic link for more information)
