Roof Crush / Roof Collapse in Rollover Accidents
Roof crush injuries are usually the result of a rollover accident, and oftentimes cause catastrophic injuries. During a rollover accident, a vehicle flips over, leaving the weight of the vehicle and its occupants to be only supported by the roof. In poorly designed vehicles, under the strain of the unexpected weight, the roof caves in and enters the passenger area of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the results of a roof collapse in a rollover accident can be devastating as the metal from the roof and the glass from the windshield hurl inward towards the vehicle’s occupants. Injuries commonplace in rollover accidents involving roof crush include traumatic head injury, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and death.
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 216 requires a standard strength for the roof of a vehicle. However, only vehicles under 6,000 pounds must adhere to this standard. Heavier vehicles, including some trucks and rollover-prone SUVs, do not have this requirement and may not adhere to the safety standards of lighter vehicles. Many consumer groups have been lobbying the government for an increase to 10,000 pounds.
Between 1988 and 1999, rollover accidents caused over 10,000 deaths and 16,000 serious injuries ANUALLY in light vehicles. Of the 13,000 injured occupants that were not ejected from the vehicle, over 53% of the occupants were injured from roof contact with a roof crush present. Between 1995 and 1999, the number of automobile fatalities was over 32,000 people per year. Of these more than 32,000 deaths, 10,149 were annually killed in rollover accidents (a similar figure to the 1988-1999 data). These rollover accidents account for about 32% of all fatalities. However, of the more than 5 million annual crashes, only 418,371 were rollover accidents, or 8% of crashes. While only happening in 8% of vehicle accidents, rollovers cause 32% of all vehicle accident fatalities. Victims of car accidents are nearly 6 times as likely to be killed in a rollover accident when compared to a frontal collision and more than 4 times as likely when compared to a side impact collision.
Add up all the data, and anyone can see that a lot of injuries could be prevented if roof crush was taken out of the equation. Dr. Martha Bidez of the University of Alabama at Birmingham explains in an independent analysis on roof crush that a 26% involvement of visible roof crush in all serious injuries and deaths may even be too conservative a number. Using this conservative estimate and taking the unlikely assumption that prevalence of injury in relation to fatality is static in roof crush incidents, an accident involving a roof crush is responsible for over 1 in every 7.5 auto accident deaths. Another study adds to the story. When involved in a rollover accident, pickup trucks (12.9%) and SUVs (13.7%) are more then twice as likely to suffer a roof crush than a passenger car (6.3%).
If you or a loved one has been involved in a rollover accident with a roof crush or visible roof intrusion, The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker wants to help. A defective roof can cause unnecessary pain and suffering in the misfortune of an auto accident. Our team of dedicated attorneys have the experience and resources to represent your best interests and make sure that you are fairly compensated.
Please contact us immediately if you or a loved one is or has been involved in a rollover accident with a roof collapse. To make sure that you are treated fairly, it is very important that the vehicle and the evidence are secured as quickly as possible. There may also be a statute of limitations with your accident. Time is a factor, and we do not want you to lose your rights.
Larry H. Parker and his team of attorneys form an experienced law firm with the experience and resources to give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Larry's team of attorneys has helped over 100,000 of our clients receive financial compensation. To schedule a free, confidential, no obligation consultation, contact us by phone at (800) 333-0000 or by email using our case submission form. With our firm, you pay no upfront charges or fees. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker represents clients throughout all of California and Arizona with offices in Long Beach, Los Angeles, Riverside, Bakersfield, Fresno, Phoenix, and Tucson.
