Increased Roof Standards on SUVs Saving Lives in SUV Rollover Accidents
SUV rollover accidents are commonly life-altering accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. SUVs with roofs that do not meet minimum safety standards have long been a cause of rollover accident victims suffering more serious injuries. A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which analyzed the impact of roof strength in SUV rollover accidents concluded that increases in SUV roof strength reduces injury to SUV occupants during SUV rollover accidents.
The NHTSA examined the degree SUV roofs were crushed into the passenger compartment of an SUV in actual SUV rollover accidents and found that SUVs with greater roof strength held up better. SUV rollover accidents involving SUVs without adequate roof strength frequently result in serious injuries to the head and neck including traumatic brain injuries. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we represent victims of SUV rollover accidents in the Atlanta area and throughout ALL of Georgia.
During an SUV rollover accident, the impact of the roof with the ground causes the roof of the vehicle to deform and crush. SUVs with more reinforcement of their roof reduces the risk that occupants will be killed or severely injured by an SUV's collapsing roof. An SUV with greater roof strength also reduces the risk of occupants being ejected through windows, windshields, or doors that have broken or opened because the roof of the vehicle has been deformed. Stronger roofs keep SUV occupants inside the vehicle, which reduce both the frequency and severity of injuries.
The recent study follows the NHTSA's decision last year to increase roof safety standards. According to the increased NHTSA standards, vehicles must have a ratio of 1.5 for vehicles with gross weight ratings from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds. The NHTSA projects that this increase will result in fewer fatalities and less catastrophic injuries including head, neck and spinal cord injuries. The recent study by the NHTSA reinforces the conclusions of prior studies by the insurance industry that concluded vehicles with the strongest roofs had lower injury and lower death rates than SUVs with weaker roofs.
Although SUV rollover accidents are less common than accidents involving pickups and passenger vehicles, they account for a disproportionate number of fatalities. Single-vehicle rollover crashes account for nearly 50 percent of fatalities in SUVs compared with 36 percent of fatalities in pickups and 20 percent of deaths in cars. If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed during a rollover accident involving a crushed car roof, the experienced roof collapse attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, can help. We have over 39 years of experience handling personal injury, products liability and wrongful death claims. We are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, our experienced Georgia SUV rollover accident attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.