SUV Rollover Accident

Have You or a Loved one Been Injured in an SUV Rollover Accident?

Drivers across the country and especially here in Nashville enjoy the comfort, size, and expectation of safety in sport utility vehicles (SUVs). While many believe that larger vehicles such as SUVs provide more protection from other drivers, that unfounded belief may not always be the case. Unfortunately, SUVs can be just as dangerous to operate as other vehicles because of their propensity to roll over. SUV rollovers can result in severe injury or even death to those inside the vehicle. If you or a loved one has been injured in an SUV rollover accident, contact our experienced Nashville SUV rollover accident attorneys at The Higgins Firm. We are here to answer any potential questions that you may have.

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in an SUV Rollover Accident?

While other vehicles may be prone to rollovers, SUVs have the highest rate of rollovers. Nearly 10,000 fatal SUV rollover crashes occur each year. Most SUV rollover accidents occur off-road. This occurs when a driver loses control of his or her SUV and rides off of the pavement. The ground or a curb can subsequently tip the SUV, thereby flipping the vehicle over. Although this occurs more easily at a higher rate of speed, SUVs are also known for flipping even while traveling at low speeds. The slightest impact or maneuvering error may cause an SUV to become unstable and roll because of the track width to height ratio.

What Injuries Can Occur in an SUV Rollover Accident?

Many of the injuries sustained in SUV rollover crashes can be devastating and even fatal. Limited roof protection can make many of these injuries even worse. Passengers can experience head and neck trauma because of a flimsy roof collapsing during a rollover. Unfortunately, seat belts and airbags will not provide adequate protection if any during a rollover because of the placement of the safety devices within the vehicle. Other injuries that may occur during a SUV rollover include full or partial ejection from the vehicle. Whenever an SUV rolls over, those within the vehicle can have their limbs and entire bodies flung from the vehicle.

What Causes SUV Rollover Accidents?

Although SUVs are a very popular type of vehicle, the design of SUVs contains inherent structural flaws. These flaws create a higher propensity for the SUV to rollover in an accident. Design flaws include:

• Higher center of gravity: SUVs typically have a narrow base width and are much taller than other vehicles causing a higher center of gravity.
• Greater vehicle weight: Although many people may believe that extra vehicle weight leads to greater stability, the extra weight increases the tendency to rollover.
• Missing safety features: SUVs were originally intended for off-road use. However, as SUVs were adapted to on road use, safety features including roll bars were left off of the design.

Litigating an SUV Rollover Accident Claim

When it comes to legal action involving SUV rollover accidents, there have been a large number of class action lawsuits against popular makers like Ford, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Jeep. Some of these lawsuits have been attributed to issues like:

• Failure to have a strong enough roof
• Failure to take correct measures to improve vehicle safety
• Failure to install advanced traction technology
• Failure to lower the center of gravity

In the 1990s Mitsubishi developed a system that provided better traction in vehicles, particularly that were traversing icy or slippery roads. Despite the success and availability of the system, it was not made standard on SUVs until 2008. Over the course of the period of time in which the system was created and made standard, many people were injured or died because of an SUV rollover accident.

Available Damages

If you or a loved one was injured in an SUV rollover collision, it may be possible to recover damages, including:

• Medical treatment
• Future medical care
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Lost wages and loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Loss of consortium

These cases can be rife with challenges, especially when there is an automaker or manufacturer involved. It is recommended that you have a leading lawyer for SUV rollover accidents on your side. Your lawyer will need to build a strong case that may include expert witness testimony, and more.

When the accident involved a death, the surviving spouse, children, or other applicable defendants, may be able to file a wrongful death claim. This claim will likely include compensation for funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of affection, and so forth. Any medical care given prior to the death, and related to the accident, may also be included.

The Higgins Firm in Nashville Will Help You With Your SUV Rollover Accident Claim

You or a loved one may have been injured as a result of an SUV rollover accident. If so, you may need the help of our experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer. At The Higgins Firm, we are here to help you and answer any questions that you may have. We want to help you receive the compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you have suffered.

Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.