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15-Passenger Vans

Similar to trucks and SUVs, 15-passenger vans are more likely to rollover in auto accidents due to their high center of gravity and sensitive handling. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that not only does the design of a 15-passenger van lend to its instability, but having 10 or more passengers in the vehicle, or placing heavy objects on the roof of the van, also increase the risk of rolling over. The increased number of passengers and weight in the van causes the center of gravity to shift toward the rear of the vehicle, creating even more potential for a rollover accident to occur.

To lessen the chances of a rollover accident, it is recommended that no more than 15 passengers ever ride in the van at one time, and that when the van is not full, passengers should sit toward the front of a 15-passenger van to balance the axles of the vehicle.

Airbags

Since 1998, all passenger cars are required to have airbags for the driver and front passenger. Airbags are designed to deploy upon impact of an accident in a fraction of a second to ensure passenger safety.

Although designed as a supplemental safety device, when airbags fail to deploy properly, serious injuries, especially to a person’s head and face, can occur. There are two types of defective airbags: airbags that fail to deploy and airbags that accidentally deploy. An airbag that fails to deploy in a collision leaves passengers at risk of being tossed around in the vehicle, while an airbag that deploys accidentally could become a hazard to drivers and cause them to lose control of their vehicle.

Door Latches

In collisions and rollover accidents, door latches are designed to stay locked to reduce the risk of passengers being ejected from the vehicle. An improperly working latch that fails to remain locked, allowing the door to fly open in the collision, increases the occupant’s chances of being severely injured in the accident.

Fuel Systems

The impact of vehicle collisions can sometimes cause a car’s fuel tank to become damaged and leak fuel, increasing the chances of a fire igniting. Even though a vehicle’s fuel tank is positioned in the rear, fuel system fires can occur in head-on impacts, side-impact collisions, rollover accidents, and rear-end collisions. Some common causes for a fuel leak in a collision include: improper construction of the fuel tank, a separation of fuel lines, and a lack of anti-siphoning devices that prevent continuous gas flow after an accident.

On top of injuries suffered in the accident, fuel fires can cause devastating fire and burn injuries. In 2007, the NHTSA reported that more than 3,000 people were injured in vehicle fire incidents.

Rollovers

Any automobile can roll over in an accident, but vehicles with a smaller track width between tires and a higher center of gravity, such as SUVs, conversion vans, and pickup trucks, are more susceptible to rollover in a crash. With a higher fatality rate than other auto accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that rollover accidents account for 33 percent of all passenger vehicle fatalities, totaling nearly 10,000 deaths a year. Also, according to a Static Stability Factor test conducted by the NHTSA, SUVs have nearly a 30 percent chance of rolling over if involved in a single-vehicle crash.

Roof Crush

In rollover accidents, vehicles that have a weak structural design are at risk of having the roof cave in on the occupants. If held to federal standards, roofs are supposed to withstand a force of 1.5 times the car’s weight. Flimsy roofs that are unable to hold their weight due to defective pillars or headers can collapse under pressure, causing serious head trauma or spinal cord injury to passengers in the vehicle.

Seat Belts and Child Restraints

In 2009 more than 30,000 child restraints were recalled because they failed to properly secure passengers.

When seat belts and child restraints work properly they can help save lives but, when a seat belt malfunctions because of a design defect, the results can be severe, if not fatal. Defective seat belts allow passengers to be tossed around and ejected from the vehicle, increasing the occupants’ chances for serious injury. Examples of seat belt malfunctions include: seat belt latches unlocking, restraint anchors breaking loose from their base, and seat belt spools releasing too much slack in the event of an accident.

Tires

In 2007, an estimated 1,000 people were injured as a result of tire explosions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA also estimates that 400 fatalities occur each year as a result of tire failure.

Tire explosions, or blowouts, can be caused by underinflation and bad treading.  Bad treading in tires can be caused by a number of things, including poor tire design and belt placement, improper use of adhesives, and old age. The loss of treading on a tire can reduce a driver’s control over his vehicle and can increase the chances for a rollover accident to occur.

Contact Daniel Stark auto accident injury lawyers today for a free initial consultation or call us toll free at (866) 241-4861.

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