Rollover accidents, in which the vehicle flips upside down, are among the most dangerous types of vehicle accidents for many reasons; it is not the bio-mechanical force of the crash that makes them the most dangerous. They are made even more dangerous by poorly-designed and manufactured vehicle roofs that cannot withstand the force of the accident. The roofs can be crushed and cause severe injuries and even death to the driver and passengers inside. Common injuries that are caused by roof crushing are fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and paralysis and other severe spinal injuries, including quadriplegia and paraplegia. If a roof crush has contributed to your injuries in a vehicle accident, you will need a law firm with many years of experience helping accident victims in San Diego County and throughout California.
Accidents Involving by Roof Crush
Roof crush is one of the most dangerous types of vehicle defects because more than 26,000 people are injured in rollover accidents every year, and it is estimated that up to a quarter of these injuries is the result of roof crush. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roof crush causes 596 deaths and 807 serious injuries each year.
Rollover accidents are much more likely to happen in trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). Trucks and SUVs are both twice as likely to be involved in rollover accidents as cars, and federal regulations require a standard roof strength for vehicles under 6,000 pounds, but this requirement does not apply to heavier vehicles, including many trucks and SUVs. Therefore, many trucks and SUVs, even though they are more prone to rollover accidents, have roofs that are not built to withstand the pressure of a rollover accident.
One key factor in roof crush accidents is the integrity of the “safety cage” – the structural elements in the perimeter of the passenger compartment. The safety cage must remain intact to allow the other safety systems such as the seat belt and air bags to work properly.