There are over 250,000 rollover accidents and 10,000 deaths each year that can be attributed to rollover crashes. It is amazing that rollovers, account for about one-third of motor vehicle fatalities, despite that rollovers are such a small percentage of motor vehicle crashes, according to reports they make up four percent of motor vehicle crashes.

It is a widely held belief that rollover crashes and roof crush injuries do not need to be deadly and with the addition of a vehicle improvement of approximately $50 per vehicle, lives could be saved. In rollovers, the motor vehicle crash forces occur over a span of several seconds and are somewhat less severe than crash types such as frontal and side impact crashes. However, poor vehicle design including seat belts, seat structures, and poor roof design also leads to deaths and serious head, neck and spine injuries for rollover crash victims.

According to the NHTSA, there are two types of rollover crashes: tripped and non-tripped. The most common of the two types, accounting for 95% of single motor vehicle rollover accidents. A tripped rollover occurs when a motor vehicle suddenly leaves the road and slides sideways. The three types of tripped rollovers include steep slope, gaurdrail, and soft soil rollovers.

The creation of safety standards, mandatory crashworthiness protections, and consumer vehicle-specific information on rollover statistics at the point-of-sale can improve the severity of rollover and roof crush injuries. The National Non Profit Public Interest Organization, Public Citizen has a list of suggested safety measures that can help prevent deadly rollover and roof crush accidents:

• Roof structures should also be equipped with interior, energy absorbing materials to reduce damage to the occupant should any body part of the occupant contact the roof;
• Safety belts that employ sensors which trigger pre-tensioning in a rollover crash; currently belts remain slack in a rollover from the lack of pressure;
• NHTSA should require advanced window glazing for impact protection in side windows and should require installation of side curtain air bags;
• NHTSA should mandate improved seat structure and belt placement to contain and protect occupants by integrating safety belts into the seat structure; and
• NHTSA should eliminate the prohibition on the belt use warning buzzer beyond 60 seconds.

If you (or someone you love) have been injured in a Florida rollover crash, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified Florida Rollover Attorney. Our attorneys, paralegals, and case managers represent rollover accident victims (or their loved ones) throughout Florida, including Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Treasure Coast, Broward County, St. Lucie County, Jupiter, Boynton Beach, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs and Wellington, Florida.