15-Passenger Vans

Large Van Rollovers

In the United States, there are more than 1 million 15-passenger vans on the road, transporting various groups of people from college athletes to elderly citizens. These large vans are used for church activities and sporting events because they are fairly inexpensive, can transport a moderate group and anyone with a valid license is permitted to drive them.

Many groups that choose these large vans as their method of transportation are unaware that 15-passenger vans have been involved in hundreds of deaths and injuries, which have sparked in-depth investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

These investigations revealed that when the vans are loaded with at least 10 occupants, the rollover rate in a single-vehicle crash is three times higher than if the van has less than five passengers. This is because a fully-loaded van moves the center of gravity rearward and upward, making the vehicle hard to handle. This gravitational shift also makes 15-passenger vans more prone to rolling over due to loss of control in panic maneuvers, emergency braking and accident avoidance situations.

The main reason for the danger and instability is because the 15-passenger van's design is based on the model of eight and nine-passenger vans. The manufactures merely added another passenger compartment to the back of the vehicle instead of altering the wheelbase for increased safety and stability.

Some of the primary models in question are the Ford Econoline or E-Series, such as the Ford E350 and Club Wagon E350, the Dodge Ram Wagon B350 and Ram Van/Wagon B3500, the Chevrolet Express 3500 and the GMC Savana 3500 and Rally/Vandura G3500. Ford builds and sells a majority of the 15-passenger vans in the United States. Unfortunately, despite studies and fatal accidents, some manufacturers refuse to retrofit their vehicles to make them safe when loaded to their intended capacity. Others manufacturers assure their vehicles are safe despite reports, and advise drivers to avoid making abrupt turns and sharp maneuvers.

Though anyone with a valid license is allowed to drive a 15-passenger van, the task requires skill and experience from the operator, with very little margin of error. These vehicles must also be in mint working order to reduce the likelihood of a rollover crash. The vehicles must also undergo formal inspections to ensure hidden defects are identified that could contribute to the risk of vehicle accident.

But passengers can also do their part to increase their individual safety. According the NHTSA, almost 80 percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers nationwide between 1990 and 2003 were not wearing seatbelts. As all safety studies reveal that buckling up drastically increases the chance of survival during a rollover accident.

According to government statistics, over 1,200 fatal crashes involving 15-passenger vans have occurred since 1990. However, fatalities from 15-passenger van rollover crashes have declined 35 percent since advisories began in 2001. Here are some ways to reduce your risk:

Screen all drivers. Ideally, you should hire someone with a commercial driver's license.
Limit the capacity to nine passengers (driver included).
Check and maintain proper tire pressure.
Load forward seats first at all times, and remove the rear seat to reduce loading behind the vehicle's rear axle.
Never tow anything behind the vehicle or load the roof.
Never use the back cargo area.
Conduct a full safety inspection of the vehicle, including all tires, before and after a trip.
Require passengers to wear seatbelts at all times.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or a loved one killed in a rollover accident involving a 15-passenger van and you believe that defective design of the van or the negligence of others caused your injuries or losses, contact our experienced lawyers today.