The SUV Rollover

An SUV rollover refers to a car accident in which the SUV rolls onto the roof one or more times. This can occur as a single-vehicle crash or as part of a multi-vehicle collision. SUV rollover accidents are the leading cause of SUV traffic fatalities in the United States, according to statistics from Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety.

Rollover accidents are especially deadly for vehicle occupants because of the significant danger of sustaining a neck or traumatic brain injury or experiencing vehicle ejection.

Below are a few rollover accident statistics that highlight the concerns:

• More than 10,500 people died in rollover accidents in 2004
• Though rollover accidents comprise only 3% of traffic crashes, they are responsible for 31% of non-pedestrian or motorcycle traffic deaths

U.S. SUV Rollover Statistics

Statistics, drawn from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, indicate that a disproportionate number of people are dying in SUV rollover accidents in comparison to other types of vehicle crashes.

• When looking at single-vehicle crash numbers, 79% of SUV accident fatalities occurred in an SUV rollover accident.

• This adds up to represent more than 50% of the total number of SUV fatalities.

• The figures for cars (19%) and trucks (34%) are noticeably smaller.

Issues of SUV Safety

The Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, using facts drawn from the NHTSA, state:

“The SUV is the only vehicle type in which the number of occupant deaths in rollovers exceeds the number of occupant deaths in non-rollover crashes. In 2002, almost two-thirds of occupant fatalities in SUV crashes occurred in rollovers.”

When faced with those figures, there is no denying that Virginia drivers should be aware of and concerned about the dangers of SUV rollover accidents.

If you’ve been injured in a Virginia SUV rollover crash, it is important to understand issues of negligence and how to identify the party or parties responsible for your SUV accident.

In order to best protect your legal rights, you should consult with a Virginia personal injury attorney that specializes in Virginia SUV rollovers. It is important that the accident lawyer you choose to represent you has handled cases like yours and understands SUV rollover crashes.