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Injuries for Rollover Accidents Minimized Using Stronger Roofs

Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it will soon be requiring stronger roof strength standards. A new study shows that the agency’s decision to require stronger roofs to minimize the severity of rollover accident-related injuries is a timely one.

The study was conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the results have been published by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The study is far from the first one to prove a link between stronger roofs and a minimized risk of injury to the head and neck. Earlier research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had shown that stronger roof strength leads to reduced risk of injuries and rollovers. This newer study looked at results of roof strength tests of various models of cars, and compared these with real-world rollover accidents. The researchers found a direct correlation between the results of the tests and the number of centimeters the roof of the vehicle was pushed into the occupant during an actual accident.

The roof strength tests are conducted by pushing a heavy metal plate into the roof of a stationary vehicle, and determining the amount of force the roof can withstand before it begins to cave in. The current federal rules only mandate a ratio of 1.5 for vehicles with gross weight ratings up to 6,000 pounds. The new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rollover strength rules will require a ratio of 1.5 for vehicles with gross weight ratings from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds. These new standards will begin to be phased in from the beginning of 2012.

California car accident lawyers believe that the new rules will lead to a decline in the number of fatalities in <strong>rollover accidents</strong> every year. However, these estimates don’t include the number of passenger vehicle occupants who are not wearing seat belts, and other occupants who may be at risk of ejection. The actual number of lives saved every year from stronger roofs, therefore would be much greater.

Rollover accidents account for a small percentage of the number of accidents that occur every year in the United States, but account for a significant percentage of the fatalities. For instance, rollover accidents involving SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans account for just 3% of all traffic accidents in the US, but the fatalities from these accidents comprise 30% of the total crash fatalities in the country every year.

The number of people being killed in rollover accidents every year has been on the decline, especially because electronic stability control systems are now a part of almost every automobile. The systems have been mandated in all new automobiles, and have considerably reduced the incidence of tragic rollovers. Many models of SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans and other vehicles with a high center of gravity that may be more susceptible to rollovers, also now come with increased roof strength that can prevent crushing injuries during an accident.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of vehicle rollovers. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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