Tips on Rollover Prevention

Rollover accidents almost always involve vehicles with higher center of gravity such as vans, SUVs, and trucks. This is because the higher the chassis components are, the harder to control and less stable the vehicle gets.

This poses a great threat to families heading for long trips on their RVs and vans. According to a study, these vehicles are three times more likely to be involved in rollover crashes compared to regular vehicles and that these accidents are also accountable for taking 10,000 lives each year.

To avoid this, here are some helpful tips and reminders to drivers and occupants:

• Put seatbelts on – Most of the deaths from rollover accidents are caused by the ejection of the occupant from the vehicle and so the first thing that should be done after getting inside a vehicle is to strap in. Also, studies have shown that the use of seatbelts has greatly diminished the number of fatalities in accidents.

• Check tire pressure and condition – It is important that tires be checked before driving away to avoid possible problems that may arise while in the middle of the trip.

• Never overload – Overloading will upset the balance of the vehicle and make the maneuvering of the vehicle harder and will result to higher chance of being injured.

• Drive cautiously – Since driving vehicles with higher center of gravity is more dangerous and is prone to rollovers, drivers must be more careful in making turns or sudden lane shifting to avoid losing control.

• Maintain speed limit – With greater speed comes the difficulty of managing your vehicle. Motorists ought to be more careful and be wary of approaching road conditions so that they can prepare and be alert.

Aside from the reminders above, drivers must also never risk the lives of their passengers by driving while intoxicated. Driving under the influence of alcohol will further increase the possibility of rollover accidents as the driver will have a compromised sense of judgment because of the drugs or the alcohol intake.



Other Factors in Rollover Accidents

Aside from driver’s negligence, there are other factors that could cause injuries and even fatalities in rollover accidents. Here are some of them:

• Roof crash – Occupants often rely on the crashworthiness of their cars to protect them if ever their vehicle would turn over. However, studies show that some roofs of vans and SUVs are not designed to protect occupants from outside impact and be more harm than good as roof crash can also cause serious injuries such as head trauma.

• Seatbelt malfunction – Many people have died because the restraint of the seatbelt that they expect to keep them in their seats is not strong enough which can get them ejected. These safety belts and buckles must undergo tests before the public can access it so that they won’t cause life-threatening injuries.

• Child seats – There are instances when a child’s safety seat malfunctions causing the child to be thrown away in a crash even after their parents have tucked them in safely.

If victims of a rollover accident experienced any of the above problems, they may be eligible to file product liability claims from manufacturers and distributors. It would be wise to immediately consult with a personal injury lawyer.