North Carolina Product Liability Blog : North Carolina Product Liability Lawyer & Attorney : D. Hardison Wood : Toy Safety, Child Restraint, Car Seats

Though it has faded from the spotlight in breaking news stories, the risk of SUV rollover remains a serious threat. Drivers and passengers of these vehicles, as well as those of vans and mini-vans, are all potential victims of rollover accidents. These accidents have been and continue to be responsible for loss and damages to property, as well as thousands of deaths and injuries each year. All this, despite efforts to push car manufacturers to make these vehicles safer.

In 2002, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that “rollover crashes constitute about one-fifth of all fatal crashes”, and that “the number of fatal SUV rollovers has more than doubled since 1991”. Many times blame tends to shift from the lack of safety in the vehicle to the carelessness of the driver or passenger for neglecting to wear a seat belt. However, data also shows that “22,000 people who were wearing a safety belt died in rollover crashes in the U.S. between 1992 and 2002”. Clearly, this is not a problem that can be resolved simply by telling people to wear their seat belts.
 

Since 2001, more and more pressure has been put on SUV manufacturers to put safer cars out on the road, thereby saving the lives of those purchasing their products. Some improvements have been made possible through legislation such as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005. The SAFETEA-LU called for new roof crush resistance standards, improved head protection, improved side air bags, safety glass, and a rollover prevention standard, among others.

It was hoped that new standards such as these would prevent thousands of injuries and fatalities nationwide. While they have helped, vehicles are still rolling over, continuing to create thousands of injuries, deaths, and grieving families each year. Even more improved standards are still needed. Raising the expectations of car manufacturers is crucial.

It is the responsibility of automobile manufacturers to create vehicles that are safe for consumers and do not malfunction. Until these expectations are fully met, and preventable catastrophic accidents cease, manufacturers must be held accountable. When companies fail to put safe products on the market, the consumer has legal rights against the manufacturer if they become injured by the faulty product.

If you or someone you love has been injured or suffered loss as a result of an SUV rollover accident or other vehicle malfunction, we want to help ensure your legal rights are protected. Please contact our office immediately at 1-877-829-7211 to speak with an SUV rollover accident attorney who will fight to protect your rights.
 

Some helpful links:

NHTSA 
Seat belts in Rollovers
CBS News
SUV Rollover News
 

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Due to the crashworthiness and products liability focuses at our law firm, we unfortunately hear about deaths caused by rollovers quite often and even more often deaths caused by SUV rollovers. The grief a family mist endure is heart wrenching. However, once in awhile we hear about or read about someone taking such a tragedy and doing something to move forward in a positive way. These stories provide a sense of hope and also keep the focus on working towards tougher safety in vehicles.

After everything that he has been through, Lee Wagner has decided to go for a walk. 

Not a routine stroll, but a 380-mile journey on a surgically repaired knee in an effort to raise money for the scholarship fund that bears the names of his two children. 

The walk will take him through Georgia and both Carolinas. As he walks, he will share his story, his wife Debbie Wagner’s story and most importantly, the story of their beloved children, Jillian and "Little" Lee Wagner, with anyone who cares to join him for a mile or two along the way.

Lee Wagner will walk because he wants to raise awareness about traffic accidents and SUVs.  He will walk because people grieve in different ways. He will walk because after four long years, “The pain is still fresh,” as he continues to search for moments of peace. Read the entire article

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We have been hearing about and have been contacted about  car fires. Now it appears the government is investigating fires in certain GM SUVs.

The government is investigating reports of engine fires in General Motors’ full-size sport utility vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received two reports of fires on 2007 model year Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs.
Both reports allege that the vehicles were parked in a home garage with the engine shut off when the fires occurred, causing significant property damage.
The investigation, which also includes the 2007 GMC Yukon SUV, involves about 423,000 SUVs. Read the article

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