Turning Turtle with SUV Rollover Injuries

By: Joan Guevarra
Submitted: 2009-10-20 17:53:28
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For some, it would feel as if their worlds have turned upside down, literally and figuratively.

Occupants of passenger vehicles like cars, minivans, and SUVs have the highest casualty rate in most accidents according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Of these vehicles, pickups and SUVs are proportionally more likely than cars to be in fatal single-vehicle crashes, especially rollovers.

2007 Crash Data from the Fatalities Analysis Reporting System show that the proportion of vehicles that rolled over in fatal crashes (21.5%) was nearly 4 times as high as the proportion in injury crashes (5.8%) and nearly 17 times as high as the proportion in property damage- only crashes (1.3%).

Rollover crashes are particularly deadly for the occupants of the vehicle when compared to frontal, side or rear crashes, because in normal passenger vehicles, the roof is likely to collapse in to the occupants and cause severe head injuries for them

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has pegged the rollover death toll in 2007 at 8,940, with SUVs taking the price for the highest rollover involvement rate of any vehicle type in fatal crashes at 34%. Likewise, SUVs also had the highest rollover rate for passenger vehicles in injury crashes at 10%.

While it is more common to believe that the driver was driving too fast before making a sharp turn, there are several factors that may contribute to a rollover accident:

•    Tire tread failure and tread separation
•    Weak brakes
•    Poor suspension
•    Top heavy vehicles that do not respond to evasive maneuvers
•    Sudden braking and other similar emergency traffic situations

Rollover accidents, once begun, cannot be stopped. The momentum and impact of a car rolling over can lead to multiple injuries, such as spinal cord and/or back injuries, a roof crush can cause traumatic brain injuries. There is also a huge possibility than passengers would be thrown out of the vehicle in a rollover accident as majority of the fatalities in a rollover crash, (72%) are not wearing safety belts.

There are a lot of personal and property issues that arise following a rollover accident. From dealing with physical injuries, recovering from emotional and mental trauma, and handling property damages such as a wrecked car, the aftermath of a rollover accident can sometimes be overwhelming.

For Los Angeles SUV rollover injuries, it is best to confront the mishap head on and victims should not play turtle. The primary consideration in rollover accidents is of course, getting appropriate medical intervention. But following that, it is best to consider legal options in order to recover medical expenses, loss of income, property damage, and pain and suffering damages.

Aside from insurance claims, or suits of negligence against the other party who may have caused the rollover accident, SUV rollover lawsuits, may also hold vehicle manufacturers liable for injuries caused by faulty SUV design.

SUV rollover accident injuries do not just have an effect on your life, it also bears legal consequences for the actions of others which may be attributable to the rollover accident. Turning turtle in SUV rollover accidents is a big mistake, those at fault for the SUV rollover injuries you or a loved one may have suffered should be held responsible.

Article source: Expert Articles