Electronic Stability Control - Rollover Accidents

Rollover Accident Injuries

Most rollover accidents result from a vehicle running off the road and striking a shoulder, guard rail or similar object that "trips" it. The Electronic Stability Control is a device designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicle during risky accident avoidance maneuvers.

When these devices sense the vehicle is starting to spin out of control, it reacts by reducing the engine power and selectively breaking certain wheels to bring the vehicle back in line. Some systems also slow the vehicle automatically with brake and throttle intervention. This feature works automatically: the driver does not have to do anything.

These electronic stability control devices are certainly a technological breakthrough, and can help prevent a driver from running off the road in an effort to regain control of the vehicle. Studies show that these devices can cut the odds of fatal single-vehicle accidents in half, and are particularly effective on wet and snowy roads.

However, these electronic stability devices cannot keep a vehicle on the road if it is going too fast for the available traction or if the driver flies off the side of the road because he or she is not paying attention. In these cases, a single vehicle crash is often inevitable, regardless of the electronic stability safety feature.

In 2002, more than 60 percent of all SUV fatalities and almost 50 percent pickup-truck deaths resulted from rollover accidents, compared to only 22 percent of passenger car fatalities stemming from rollovers. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety concluded that the widespread use of electronic stability devices could save more than 7,000 lives annually.

The Electronic Stability Control device has been on the market for over a decade. By the model year 2012, the government wants to require that all new vehicles come equipped with these devices. Installing this safety feature could reduce single-vehicle SUV crashes by 67 percent, studies reveal. However, these devices are not perfect. Their failure during a critical moment of control loss can make an SUV or pick-up truck susceptible to roll.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a rollover accident and you believe that your Electronic Stability Control device failed or was never installed as it should have been, contact our knowledgeable lawyers today. We can help you recover the damages you deserve.