SUV Rollover Accident Lawyers in Illinois

More households than ever before are purchasing Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), which has increased the number of SUV accidents nationwide. SUV manufacturers design these vehicles with narrow or tracks and a higher center of gravity, making it more likely to roll over than any other vehicle classification.

An SUV rollover accident tends to be more dangerous than traditional automobile crashes because of the increased chance of head injuries involved, which produce fatal and non-fatal injuries.

Chicago SUV Rollover Injury Attorney

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC secures the most favorable recovery for our clients injured in Chicago SUV rollover accidents. Our personal injury attorneys will investigate the circumstances behind your accident to determine if bringing a case against another driver or vehicle manufacturer is warranted.

Regardless of the parties involved, you can rest assured that our law firm works with your best interests in mind. All our Illinois sports utility vehicle accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis where a legal fee is charged only when there is a recovery for you.

SUV Rollover Accident Injury FAQs

Unknowing of Risks Associated With SUV Rollovers

Many purchasers of SUVs enjoy the experience of sitting higher in the driver seat when compared to most automobiles. However, sitting taller provides a false sense of security that often leads drivers to speed dangerously in poor weather conditions. Heavy cargo or too many passengers in an SUV can raise the center due to the excessive top-heavy weight.

Statistics from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) tend to exemplify the seriousness of an SUV rollover accident. Their statistics state:

• SUV rollover accidents tend to generate approximately 11,000 fatalities each year
• A rollover crash in an SUV increases the chance of severe injuries by more than 36 percent
• Rollover accidents and SUVs accounted for more than fifty percent of all deaths involving a single-vehicle crash
• Ninety percent of all single-vehicle accidents involve rollovers

Insufficient Roof Safety in SUVs

Even though SUV statistics indicate that sport-utility vehicles are more prone to a rollover than other automobiles, not many manufacturers install a roll bar in the car. Consequently, any time a sports utility vehicle flips, the roof tends to collapse through the brute force of the accident.

To date, many SUVs built in the United States have been recalled due to the ongoing likelihood of rolling, or as a result of not meeting the roof safety standards set forth by the NHTSA.

Run Off the Road Accidents

Because of their ability to roll, SUV accidents with a high number of fatalities and serious injuries are the result of run off the road crashes. Many of these accidents happen due to wet or icy roads, poor weather conditions, speeding, ditches, or varying pavement materials that change the traction of the road surface.

Typically, SUVs involved in "run off the road" accidents tend to fishtail, causing an uncontrollable scenario where the driver loses the ability to steer the passenger vehicle. Often, the motorist will over-correct their steering, and the SUV will run off the road with increased potential of rolling over.

The most common types of vehicle rollovers produce potentially fatal and dangerous scenarios. The four specific kinds of rollovers include:

• Ramp Rollover - The SUV will roll when one side drives up a ramp or other high object
• Lateral Force Rollover - When the SUV is traveling at high speeds around a curve, the vehicle often is forced into a roll due to its high center of gravity
• Sideways Skid Rollover - The SUV can easily spin the rear end when traction is lost on the rear wheels or a tire blowout. This action results in tires hitting objects, including curbs and guardrails that cause a rollover
• Site-Slop Rollover - Driving the SUV off-road in dangerous road conditions, or unintentionally leaving the road, can roll the vehicle when the surface becomes uneven

An SUV rollover can cause catastrophic injuries, especially if the victims were not wearing seatbelts when the crash occurred.

SUV Rollover Injuries

Because of its poor roof design and construction, when an SUV rollover crash happens, the vehicle's roof tends to collapse inward, causing severe harm to the passengers and driver, or death. Drivers and passengers who are fortunate enough to survive the passenger car accident often suffer lifelong disabilities and injuries that could include:

• Back injuries
• Lower cervical neck fractures
• Spinal cord injuries involving partial or full paralysis
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Wrongful death

SUV manufacturers are responsible for their design and safety defects. Automobile makers can be held liable for designing a weak roof structure and a high center of gravity on their SUVs.

Chicago SUV Rollover Accident Lawyers can Help

The auto accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC protect client's rights when involved in a Chicago SUV rollover crash that involved a safety design defect or driver negligence. If you, or a loved one, were injured in an SUV rollover accident, our car accident lawyers can help.

Our skilled attorneys will hold manufacturers responsible for failing to provide a safe vehicle. Contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form to schedule a free case evaluation and provide legal advice after your comprehensive personal injury case review.

All discussions with our personal injury lawyers remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship.