Frequently, we discuss the nature and dangers of rollover motor vehicle accidents. Oftentimes these accidents involve SUVs and trucks so our attorneys thought we should remind readers of the dangers associated with rollover crashes, what makes them occur, and why trucks and SUVs are more likely to roll over than other vehicles.
According to WGNTV, a recent SUV rollover crash outside of Chicago killed four people and left one in critical condition. According to Lasalle County Sheriff’s Department, the driver lost control of the SUV, hit a mailbox, and sped across the road. She then slide sideways in the SUV down an embankment while at a high speed, and became airborne. The SUV ultimately landed in trees nearby. All of the passengers were thrown from the vehicle. Friends of the victims say that alcohol may have been a major factor in this crash.
In another recent instance of a rollover crash, a man was killed after his vehicle rolled over, according to an article by MLive. According to police, the man drifted off the road and hit a rock. His vehicle then flipped over several times. Authorities are investigating as to whether alcohol was a factor involved.
In both of these examples, the vehicles involved went off the roads and flipped over several times. What causes vehicles to flip and roll over during motor vehicle accidents is a more common trait in SUVs and trucks than other vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicle type plays a major factor into the likelihood of a rollover crash. Tall and narrow vehicles like SUVs and trucks have high centers of gravity and are more susceptible to roll over. Usually a rollover occurs when a driver loses control of the vehicle and it slides sideways, according to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. Rollovers can occur when a driver tries to turn a vehicle too sharply or aggressively, such at a high velocity with a tight turning radius. In a scientific explanation, the frictional force between the tires and road surface can cause the vehicle to tip and then roll.
Continue reading ›