The first Chevy Blazer was created in 1969, while the newer Blazer, originally called the S-10 Blazer, was created to compete with Ford's Bronco II.
The Chevy Blazer's top heavy design and narrow wheel base contribute to the difficulty which would be encountered if having to evasively maneuver the vehicle. The outdated roof structure standards that the Chevy Blazer is designed by make it hardly enough to withstand a serious rollover, and the chances for serious injury to the brain, spinal cord and death are high in a rollover accident
"The two-door, two-wheel-drive Chevrolet Blazer had the highest rate of driver death from 2000 through 2003, according a study released Tuesday by the insurance industry." -Detroit News
In 2001, a jury awarded $15 million to the driver of a 1992 S-10 Chevy Blazer after the roof of the vehicle imploded during a rollover. The man was left a quadriplegic after the accident. This could have been avoided had GM spent around $10 more per vehicle in metal reinforcement.
"Models of the Blazer built from 1999 through 2002 had 308 driver deaths per million registered vehicles of that make and model on the road annually during the four-year span, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found. The sport utility vehicle also had the highest rollover death rate at 251 deaths." -Detroit News
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rollover or roof collapse related accident, contact Miller Weisbrod, LLP, for a free case assessment.
