Rollovers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs): Some of the are the most popular cars on the market right now are SUVs. Automakers have marketed them as rugged and versatile yet safe cars. The truth is that SUVs are more dangerous for their occupants than ordinary cars, the main reason being that SUVs are much more likely to roll over than other automobiles. Rollover accidents have a much higher fatality rate than other accidents. SUVs are more prone to rollovers due to their higher center of gravity and narrower wheelbase, both of which make it harder for the vehicle to stay balanced during sharp turns or other quick maneuvers. During a rollover the occupants of the vehicle may also be injured by inadequately designed roofs that collapse, seat belts that do not function properly under stress, and windows that break and permit the passengers to be ejected from the vehicle.
15-Passenger Vans: Another type of vehicle very prone to rollover is the 15-passenger van. These vehicles were originally designed as cargo vans, but have become popular with organizations that need to transport large groups of people. Unfortunately, they are extremely dangerous, because the automakers never redesigned the vans to properly accommodate people. As a result, when more than a few people are in the van there is a drastic increase in the risk of rollover. Because the backs of the vans extend 4-5 feet beyond the rear wheels, they can become overloaded in the rear. Like SUVs, they are also top-heavy, so any emergency maneuver or sharp turn puts them at a much greater risk of rollover or loss of control than other kinds of vehicles.
Post Collision Fires
Every year thousands of passengers suffer severe and even fatal burn injuries from post-collision fires. Many of these fires are started because of improperly designed fuel systems, which are not prepared to handle what are often relatively ordinary accidents. A faulty fuel tank could lead to a fuel leak that may catch fire after the collision. An improperly placed or insufficiently shielded fuel tank could explode from impact.
Truck Accidents
Nearly 3700 people die each year in collisions with heavy trucks (tractor-trailers or semis) and ninety-eight percent of the fatalities from these collisions are the individuals in the passenger car. Most trucking companies pay their drivers by the load, so they have a financial incentive to cut corners regarding safety. Sometimes this means driver fatigue is to blame - many tractor-trailer drivers work for long hours and little sleep when they are delivering cargo because they are paid per mile or per load. In others a faulty brake design is the cause. Heavy trucks require a longer braking distance than most cars, and if the brakes are poorly designed or not properly maintained, even a well-rested and experienced driver could cause an accident. Since the companies are trying to cut costs they often do not properly maintain their trucks. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, brake problems account for about 30 percent of heavy truck accidents.
Common causes of Truck Accidents: - Unlicensed driver
- Speeding
- Disobeying Safety Procedure
- Motor Vehicle Inspection Failure
- Repair & Maintenance Failure
- Failure to Yield The Right of Way
- DUI / DWI
- Driver Fatigue
- Trucker Overturns
- Backing
- Vehicle Collisions
- Mechanical or Brake Failure
- Tires Blow Up
- Transporting Equipment with Trailers
- Overloaded Trucks or Trailers
- Loads That Shift Weight
Seatbelt Failures
Automobile accidents can be thought to have two parts: The "first collision" is the impact of the automobile, either with another car or an object. The "second collision" is the resulting impact of the passenger with the car interior, or outside the car if the passenger is thrown from the vehicle. Injuries are most likely to occur when the seat belt fails to protect or properly restrain the passenger during the "second collision".
With the increased number of SUVs and trucks on the road, rollover injuries have become increasingly common in recent years, accounting for nearly one-third of all fatal accidents. Unfortunately, seatbelt design has not begun taking into account the extra stress of a rollover incident. In nearly 20 percent of fatal rollover accidents, the deceased was wearing a seat belt that failed to perform properly.
Faulty design can lead seat belts to become unlatched during impact, to rip apart, or to fit too loose and therefore not perform properly; that is, the belt fails to restrain the passenger during the accident and the passenger is injured due to collision.
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