Why Do They Roll?

What Causes SUV Rollovers

From coast to coast, SUVs are the vehicles of choice for many Americans. But because their center of gravity, these vehicles are prone to rolling over, even in accidents that appear minor. These rollovers can cause serious injuries and death due to the rollover action, and also because of defective features that manufacturers sometimes incorporate into the vehicle's design. While SUV rollover crashes account for only about 3 percent of the crashes in the United States, almost 33 percent of highway deaths occur in rollover accidents.

Rollovers are influenced by a vehicle's stability when it makes turns. This stability is directly related to the relationship between its center of gravity and the distance between the left and right wheels (called its track width). A high center of gravity and narrow track width can make a vehicle unstable during abrupt turns or sudden changes in direction. This increases the odds that the vehicle will tip over as it begins to skid sideways.

The problem with most SUVs and pick-up trucks is that they are purposely designed with a higher center of gravity, which allows for off-road driving, but may ultimately prove fatal instead of accommodating.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an SUV rollover accident, please contact an experienced rollover accident lawyer today.