During the early 2000s, SUV rollover accidents were so common and so distressing that politicians, consumer advocates, and policymakers obsessed over the problem. Many SUVs manufactured in the 1990s and early 2000s had a high center of gravity. In other words, even though many of those SUVs were massive and far heavier than “less rollover prone” sedans and small cars, their mass was concentrated at a higher point, which made them more likely to tip or rollover.
This point is very counterintuitive. Even if you’ve studied SUV rollovers and you understand the risks on paper, you may not have a visceral sense for the terrible instability of these big vehicles. After all, when you look at an old model Ford Explorer, the SUV looks sturdy and strong.
Understanding Rollovers
Picture in your mind’s eye a bookshelf stacked with lots of heavy books on the bottom shelf. The top shelves are empty. How hard do you think it would be to knock over this bookshelf? The answer: probably pretty hard, given the heaviness of the bookshelf and the massiveness of the books stored on the bottom shelf.
Now imagine moving all those books from the bottom shelf to the top shelf. So that all the bottom shelves are now empty and the big massive books are on the top shelf. Now can you imagine pushing the bookshelf over a lot easier? Chances are, you can. Even though the total mass of the bookshelf did not change, the distribution of its mass did.
The higher center of gravity made the second bookshelf far easier to tip over. The same basic concept is at work with SUV rollovers.
SUV rollover accidents can cause serious and even fatal injuries, including whiplash, crushing injuries, traumatic brain injury, damage to the spinal column and spinal cord, musculoskeletal trauma, lacerations, bruises, and heavy bleeding.
Identifying Liable Parties
Just because your SUV flipped over and caused injury does not necessarily mean that the manufacturer, designer, or engineer of the SUV are liable for what happened to you. Even if a thorough evaluation reveals that the SUV’s “high center of gravity” was not to blame, you can still use the resources you collected to build a case against another liable party, such as a negligent driver, a careless motorcycle operator, or even a municipality that failed to maintain safe road conditions.
Liability depends intimately on the details – the specific physics of the accident. That’s why victims who act quickly after their accidents set themselves up for better results. If you can collect information such as a police report, pictures of the accident, witness statements, pictures of the vehicle after it rolled over, and so forth, your attorney can work with a lot of substantial, objective material to build a case to hold wrongdoers liable.
A Louisville, KY SUV Rollover Accident Lawyer Ready to Help You
If you have been involved in an SUV rollover accident and are searching for legal assistance, connect with Louisville, KY SUV rollover accident lawyer Tad Thomas. Mr. Thomas is a former Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the state of Kentucky. He has the experience, connections, and leverage you need to build a great case to help you receive the compensation you need to help you recover. Call (502) 473-6540 for information now.
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