Prevention Tips

Tips for Avoiding Rollover

While just about any vehicle can be involved in a rollover accident, light weight pick-up trucks, 15-passenger vans and SUVs are the most common. In fact, the most dangerous risk that faces these vehicles is the rollover accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 280,000 rollover accidents are reported each year-and claim more than 10,000 lives annually. Statistics show that most fatal SUV rollovers are single-vehicle accidents that occur on weekend nights. The drivers are most frequently males under the age of 25. Also, in three out of four fatal rollovers, the victims were ejected from the vehicle.

In 2000, a number of fatal SUV rollovers brought this issue to the public's attention. The Ford Explorer was implicated many of these accidents. Safety tests revealed that these vehicles are more likely to roll than their SUV relatives. However, these findings sparked more thorough investigations of other SUV models, and it was determined that many SUV rollover accidents involved tire similar problems, including tire defects, flimsy roofs and faulty seatbelt restraints.

Here are some tips to help you avoid a rollover accident:

• Drive slowly
• Always pay attention to the road and potentially hazardous objects/animals that might jet out in front of you.
• Be aware of the road conditions and any weather change possibilities.
• Avoid making sudden and jerky maneuvers.
• Never overload your vehicle
• Check your tire pressure and condition before and after your trip.
• Always wear your seatbelt.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a rollover accident, please contact our qualified attorneys today.