Newark SUV Rollover Attorneys
SUV Rollovers in New Jersey
Sport-utility vehicles are by far the most popular new vehicle type of the last two decades, with some experts estimating that they account for a fourth of all new vehicle purchases. Because they're based on a truck's body, but have the passenger space of a car, many people believe SUVs are a safe and roomy family vehicle. But throughout the last decade, evidence has piled up to show that they may actually be less safe than a conventional passenger car, because of their tendency to roll over in an accident. That's a serious problem, because rollover accidents cause deaths, brain injuries and other very serious injuries.
The problem with SUVs is their center of gravity. A typical four-door passenger car has a low center of gravity and a relatively low weight. Because SUVs are based on truck beds, they have a higher center of gravity -- and also a higher weight. Combined, those two features mean an SUV is much easier than a car to tip over, even during routine driving maneuvers like making a turn or avoiding an animal in the road. Federal government statistics show that 35% of fatal accidents involving utility vehicles are rollovers, while that number for passenger cars is just 17%, and for large trucks, 14.7%.
That's a serious problem, because rollovers are one of the deadliest types of accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rollovers accounted for just 2.6% of all accidents in 2006, but 21.6% of that year's fatal accidents. By contrast, 5.3% of injury-only crashes and 1.4% of property-damage-only crashes were rollovers. SUVs had more than twice as many rollover accidents as passenger cars in every category. And 85% of rollover fatalities in 2002 came in single-vehicle accidents, reports the agency, meaning that most rollover deaths can't be blamed on other vehicles. Rollovers are deadly in part because they throw vehicle occupants around violently, significantly raising their chance of brain and spinal injuries. In vehicles with weak roofs and sides, they can also lead to crushed and jagged, broken metal and glass that can cause serious soft-tissue injuries.
If you lost someone you care about or were seriously hurt in an SUV rollover accident, you should call the New Jersey sport utility vehicle rollover lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein. Based in Princeton, we help people throughout New Jersey seek financial compensation for serious accidents, including SUV rollovers and other auto accidents. Whether your accident was caused by a defective part, a careless driver or another defendant, we can help you track down the responsible parties and hold them liable in a court of law. We can win compensation for your injuries, permanent disability or wrongful death; your medical costs, repair bills and other costs; pain and suffering; and other injuries the accident caused. And because we know accidents can be expensive, we promise that we'll never take legal fees until and unless you win your New Jersey auto accident case.
If you or someone you love was in a serious SUV rollover accident, call Lependorf & Silverstein today for a free consultation.