SUVs, pickups and vans involved in vast majority of rollovers

While all vehicles have the potential to roll over, there are certain types that are especially prone. According to information released by Texas A&M’s Passenger Safety program, passenger cars are the least likely to roll and are involved in only 12 percent of rollover accidents. This percentage stands in stark contrast with other types of vehicles.

For example, 28 percent of rollover accidents occur in SUVs and 27 percent involve pickup trucks. Vans are somewhat less likely to roll over, but still constitute 22 percent of such accidents.

These statistics are not surprising when you consider that SUVs, pickup trucks and vans all typically have higher centers of gravity than your average passenger vehicle. In addition, these vehicles are often used to carry higher volumes of cargo or more passengers. This additional weight can make a vehicle more top-heavy, presenting a greater risk for rolling over.

The Texas A&M Passenger Safety program has several recommendations for drivers. The most effective recommendation is also the easiest: wear your seatbelt. Your chances of being killed in a rollover are reduced 75 percent simply by buckling up. In fact, most rollover fatalities occur when a victim is ejected from a vehicle and is thrown against a stationary object or is run over by the vehicle as it rolls.

Rollover accidents can cause all manner of serious injuries, but brain and spinal injuries can be especially devastating. If you or someone you love has been involved in a rollover accident, you may need compensation for more than hospitalization and property damages. Depending on the severity of injuries, you may need funds to cover time lost from work and even long-term treatment.

In the interest of receiving a level of recompense appropriate your needs, you may wish to have a California personal injury attorney act on your behalf. The attorney could help determine liability as well as assess the extent of your financial requirements.