SUV Rollover Accident

Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are popular vehicles for families and sports enthusiasts alike. SUVs can hold a lot of passengers, and their large size makes them comfortable to passengers, especially on long road trips. Despite their growing popularity with families, SUVs have a narrower track width and a higher center of gravity than most other vehicles and trucks. An SUV may be at higher risk of rolling over in an accident, making passengers more susceptible to traumatic injuries or even death.

If you have suffered an injury in a North Carolina SUV accident, you may be entitled to compensation. In North Carolina, injured persons can bring a lawsuit against a negligent driver to seek compensation for their injuries. If you have suffered an injury, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of the date of the accident. If you do not, your claim may be barred by the statute of limitations. Our attorneys know how challenging it is to recover after an SUV accident. We focus on relieving some of the burdens our clients face by persuasively representing their interests from throughout the entire process.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that fatal SUV collisions are increasing at a higher rate than crashes involving other types of vehicles. The rate of fatal SUV involved accidents increased by 81% between the years of 2009 and 2016. SUVs are more likely than cars to roll over than cars because of their size and shape.

The large truck like the size of SUVs may give drivers and passengers a false or inaccurate sense of security. Rollovers accidents cause approximately 11,000 fatalities per year. Of those 11,000 deaths, 1,900 of them involve an SUV rollover.

Cars still account for the greatest share of pedestrian deaths, accounting for 45% of pedestrian deaths in 2016. Nonetheless, 25% of all pedestrian deaths resulting from motor vehicle collisions involved SUVs. It is not surprising that SUV collisions are more likely to result in pedestrian deaths. A 2004 study found that pedestrians struck by SUVs are twice as likely to die than those hit by cars. SUVs cause more pedestrian deaths in collisions due to the nature of SUVs, including the following reasons:

• SUVs are higher off of the ground than other cars making them cause more head or chest injuries than in collisions with other vehicles
• SUVs have a more square and blunt geometry than cars with sloping fronts, which can result in more blunt force trauma to pedestrians
• The shape and broad width of SUVs can contribute to more traumatic injuries

Pedestrian injuries caused by SUVs could increase soon. Ford Motor Company plans to phase out all cars and smaller vehicles by 2020. Chrysler and General Motors may cut down to only producing SUVs and trucks in the near future. The United States does not require US motor vehicle manufacturers to include safety devices that specifically decrease the risk of injury to pedestrians. All of these factors combined to demonstrate the dangers that pedestrians face from SUVs and large trucks. If you have suffered injuries after being hit by an SUV as a pedestrian, you might be entitled to damages. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC to learn more about the possibility of compensation for your SUV collision-related injuries in North Carolina.

Many drivers do not realize that driving an SUV necessitates a different type of driving style. SUVs maneuver differently than cars due to their considerable weight and body style. SUV collisions can result from a variety of causes, such as:

• A distracted driver who is talking, texting or handling an electronic device while driving
• Making too sharp of a turn in an SUV
• Losing control of an SUV resulting in the SUV veering off the road and colliding with another car or pedestrian
• Failing to drive more slowly or more cautiously during poor weather conditions

SUV accidents can result in mild injuries to severe injuries, and in the worst cases, even death. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an SUV collision, you may be entitled to compensation under North Carolina law. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our skilled personal injury attorneys can advise you as to your best legal options. Contact our law firm today to set up your initial consultation.