Oakland SUV Rollover Attorneys
In a vehicle rollover accident, your life is literally in your vehicle's hands. You depend on the roof to not cave in and crush you; you depend on your door latches to not fail and eject you; you depend on your seat belts to keep your body inside the vehicle. After a rollover accident resulting in life-changing injuries or the death of a family member, victims and their families often wonder: in designing the vehicle, did the manufacturer do everything it could to make it as safe as possible?
Experienced Advocates For Rollover Victims
The Oakland traffic accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger are advocates of rollover accident victims. We have represented victims of serious and catastrophic injuries in rollover accidents, as well as family members in wrongful death claims. Our attorneys work with a network of auto design experts, accident investigators, and medical consultants. From years of experience in SUV rollover cases, Oakland our attorneys understand the dynamics of rollover accidents, including vehicle stability, steering effects, and suspension design.
Rollover Accident Statistics
Statistically, you are much more likely to suffer serious injuries in a rollover accident than in a collision not involving a vehicle rollover. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rate of serious injury in passenger vehicle rollover crashes is 36 percent higher than in crashes where there is no rollover. The most common fatal and non-fatal injury in a rollover crash is a head injury, including traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, and concussions.
Automotive Product Liability Claims
When a crash, or the injury or death of a vehicle occupant in a crash, can be attributed to a defect in the design of a vehicle, the manufacturer of the vehicle or vehicle part may be liable in a product liability claim. The dangerous product lawyers at Estey Bomberger have successfully represented victims of crashes caused by a number of auto defects, including airbag defects, seat belt defects, roof crush, tire blowout, and door latch failure. Our Oakland personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements against major automakers, including Ford Motor Company.
Tire Tread Defects and SUV Rollovers
Tire defects, tire failures, and tire blowouts contribute to a large number of rollover accidents. While some blowouts and failures are due to excessive wear on a tire, others occur due to defects in the tires themselves. Unfortunately, not all tires meet standards set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA). Every year, dozens of tire manufacturers recall tires due to defects in the tread, belt, bead wire, and sidewall. While some of these tires are pulled off vehicles and replaced, many stay on the road and some contribute to serious rollover accidents on California highways and freeways. You can check for recalls and subscribe to email notifications about tire recalls by clicking on the defects and recalls page of safercar.gov. If you have been in a rollover accident and the tires on your vehicle had previously been subject to a tire recall, you should contact an attorney right away.
Unique Issues in Rollover Accidents
After any vehicle rollover accident involving serious injuries, it is important to look at whether the vehicle itself contributed to the crash or the victims' injuries. Before you accept compensation from an insurance company for your injuries or a loved one's death, talk to an Oakland personal injury attorney about the accident. You may be entitled to far more compensation than is initially offered to you. An experienced attorney can arrange to have the vehicle inspected to determine if the design of the vehicle contributed to your crash. To speak to a lawyer at Estey Bomberger about your potential case, contact us today.