Estimates put the number of lives saved by airbags on a yearly basis between 3000 and 15,000—this statistic fluctuates depending on which agency is reporting. The NHTSA states that front airbags in vehicles have an effectiveness rate of 11 percent when the occupant is also wearing a safety belt. Vehicle airbags have saved many lives and are an important part of your vehicle’s overall safety mechanisms however there are instances in which a product which is specifically designed to keep you safe turns dangerous.

In 2004 alone there were nearly a million and a half safety recalls regarding airbags which deployed unexpectedly, when there was no crash involved. 2008 saw Honda manufacturers issuing a recall on 830,000 vehicles due to the fact that the airbags opened with so much force that some of the metal portions of the airbag were being expelled, causing extremely serious injuries to those in the vehicle. Ford Motors recalled over a million F-150 trucks in 2008 because of airbags which deployed unexpectedly and in 2011 over 300,000 Chrysler and Dodge minivans were recalled for the same reason.

Problems with Technology

The newest generation of airbags is more sophisticated than most of us could ever have imagined since the vehicle’s computer takes a variety of factors into consideration such as the person’s weight, their position in the seat, whether or not a safety belt is worn and the speed of the impact before the airbag is deployed. While this sounds promising, the fact is that these incredibly sophisticated airbags are not offering the level of protection as those in older vehicle models.

One statistic shows that drivers who are wearing their seat belt properly have a 20% higher risk of death in a vehicle with a highly sophisticated airbag than a driver in a vehicle with an older style airbag. Although these results sound impossible, it is theorized that they may have something to do with whether a seat belt is worn. Even though we have all heard the warning that an airbag can do serious damage if the driver is not securely belted in, it appears that today’s highly sophisticated airbags are designed to accommodate a driver who is not belted in meaning they deploy with considerably more force than the older airbags.

This level of force can be very dangerous to the vehicle occupant who is legally and securely safety-belted in. Airbags typically deploy at speeds of up to 200 mph in mere milliseconds, and even though the airbag may look like a big cuddly pillow, the explosion of energy can cause serious or fatal injuries, especially for smaller adults or children. When the airbag explodes horizontally, the passenger’s head can receive serious or fatal brain, neck or spinal trauma.

Why All the Problems With Airbags?

There is presently not a standardized system for the manufacture of airbags, meaning each company who produces airbags may have a completely different set of components involved in the manufacturing process. Inflators, sensors, material used in constructing the bag and the wiring mechanisms vary widely from one manufacturer to another, and it is also speculated that many airbag manufacturers install the cheapest rather than the safest airbag components. The negligence related to defective airbags may be attributed to the airbag manufacturer or with the car manufacturer however if you’ve suffered injuries from a defective airbag it’s extremely important that you have a skilled personal injury attorney in your corner who can determine where the responsibility lies.

You Have the Right to Feel Safe

If you purchase a vehicle which has safety mechanisms installed you likely feel you are protected in the event of a crash. Unfortunately, in some instances the very device which makes you feel safe can end up causing injuries rather than protecting you and your family. When a product which is designed to keep you safe causes you harm, you may be eligible for compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Don’t wait to get the help you need—call an experienced personal injury attorney today.

Aside from being told that your insurance policy has been cancelled, the next worst thing could possibly be when your insurance company tells you your car is totaled. If you were particularly fond of your car, hearing it is considered totaled following a collision is almost like a death sentence. If your car didn’t look that bad to you following the accident you may take issue with the whole idea of totaling your beloved vehicle and wonder how the decision came about. In general, if the estimated repairs add up to 75-80% of the current market value of your vehicle, then it will be considered totaled. Another reason your car could be considered totaled is if the insurance company believes it is impossible to repair the car safely, or repair it in a manner that would leave your car as safe as it was prior to the accident.

How Does This Formula Work?

Remember, this is the current market value, not what you paid for the vehicle, and if you bought a new vehicle fairly recently, that value took a major hit via depreciation the minute you drove off the car lot. Older, less valuable cars with relatively minor damage might be considered totaled, while a newer vehicle with more significant damage could be considered reparable using the 75% formula. Whether you are full of dismay over your vehicle being declared a total loss or you are actually rather relieved and hoping to get a better car out of the deal, remember not to rush into accepting the first offer by your insurance company.

Your Options

You do have some options regarding a vehicle the insurance company deems “totaled,” and it can really pay to be aware of them. Even if a car looks pretty mangled, it could be salvageable.  And if the car truly is beyond saving, the first offer given out by your insurance company may not be the best you can receive for your crumpled car. If you think the amount offered by your insurance company is little more than a joke, you do have the right to appeal their decision. You can also choose to buy back the vehicle from your insurance company, and in cases where you have made significant—and expensive—modifications, this could be your most financially sensible option. What will happen in this case is that your insurance company will subtract what they would have gotten for your wrecked car at a salvage yard from their final cash offer, and the difference will be what it will take for you to buy your car back.

Some insurance companies offer the option of finding a car that is largely similar to your wrecked one rather than offering you a check which is less than you feel it is worth. You could also accept the cash offer your insurance company is pushing, but remember you will have to replace your old vehicle with this check, and in most cases, unless you happen to find a really good deal, this is just not feasible, so you may end up with much less car than you had before the collision. No matter what the situation, you have the legal right to ask—and be told—how your insurance company arrived at their final figure. They may have used the Kelley Blue Book to determine the value of your car at the time of the accident or possibly the NADA guide. You may feel that there were expensive features of your old car that were completely overlooked by your insurance company, and this is where an appeal comes into play.

What Happens to Totaled Cars?

Once your car is declared totaled, your insurance company will likely sell it to a salvage yard where it will be parted out at auction. Should you decide to keep the car you will be responsible for any necessary repairs, and in some states you will either have to buy a salvage title or have your car inspected once you’ve completed the repairs. If you have a newer model car which could conceivably bring in a fair amount of money when the parts are auctioned off, the insurance company may not be amendable to you keeping the car as they may feel they would get more return at auction.

Rollover accidents comprise almost one-fourth of all vehicle-related fatalities in the United States, and statistics show that in 2010, over 8,000 Americans were killed in a vehicle rollover. Primarily those who die in rollover accidents die from being ejected from the vehicle as it flips over. Rollover claims can be very complex due to the fact that forces aside from driver error may come into play and it can be necessary to make a definitive determination regarding the actual cause of the accident. The majority of rollover accidents happen in an SUV or a fifteen-passenger van because both of these vehicles have a very high center of gravity, making them extremely top heavy. When looking at rollover statistics concerning SUVs in particular, as many as half of all SUV deaths occur because of a rollover accident.

How Does a Rollover Happen?

Sudden or sharp curves in the road are the primary reason for a rollover accident. Many times the driver does not slow the vehicle sufficiently to take the curve, usually because they did not realize the curve was coming or did not realize it was so sharp. Once a car enters a sharp curve too fast, then a force known as down force or tire force pulls the vehicle into the curve—but at ground level. At the same time inertia forces pull the upper part of the vehicle in the opposite direction. This is a deadly combination of inertial and down forces which—in combination—cause the vehicle to roll to the outer side of the curve. At this point gravity steps in, creating a momentum which makes the vehicle roll over, usually multiple times.  Another cause of vehicle rollover occurs when a vehicle slides on an icy or wet road then hits a stationary object. When the vehicle comes to such an abrupt stop, inertia comes into play once more, flipping the vehicle over.

Vehicles Most Prone to Rollover

The Ford Explorer, Suzuki Samurai, Jeep CJ, Isuzu Trooper and Mitsubishi Montero have been targeted as the most likely to experience rollover accidents, however all sport utility vehicles are at risk. In addition to sitting up higher—to accommodate the four-wheel drive—the distance between the right and left wheel also becomes a factor. Those vehicles which are manufactured with a relatively narrow amount of room between the right and left wheels are more prone to rollover during a sudden turn. Of course speed can often be a factor in these rollover accidents so it may be somewhat unfair to target specific vehicles. Owners of these specific vehicles, or any other SUV or 15-passenger van, should be very aware of the potential hazards of the vehicle and adjust their speed accordingly, especially on sharp curves. Finally, when an SUV collides with either another vehicle or object, it can lead to instability and a potential rollover, as can an overcorrection made by the driver.

Defective Products as a Cause of SUV Rollover

In some instances an SUV rollover could be caused by defective vehicle parts rather than any driver errors. Faulty brakes or tires or even a steering column which has loosened could cause a potentially tragic accident. While wearing a seatbelt is required by law, and seatbelts absolutely keep passengers safe during an accident, seatbelts can malfunction, allowing the passengers in an SUV rollover to be ejected.  If your SUV rollover accident was caused by a defective vehicle part, you not only need a personal injury attorney, you need one who is highly skilled in defective product liability.

No matter the cause of your SUV rollover, you must contact a highly experienced attorney as soon as possible following the accident. It is likely that independent experts such as accident re-constructionists or mechanical experts may need to be brought in to determine the precise cause of your accident. The negligence will have to be pinpointed in order to file a corresponding claim for compensation.

Most of us are aware that if you drive an SUV or a fifteen-passenger mini-van you may stand a much better chance of being involved in a rollover accident. If you are unaware of the issues surrounding SUV’s then an accident could certainly be in your future as you will not realize the adjustments which must be made while driving, most particularly when driving around curves. Rollover accidents account for between one-fourth and one-third of the total number of rollover accidents in the United Sates, and for SUVs in particular, over half of all the vehicle fatalities among those driving SUVs occur during a rollover accident.

Designers of the SUV have made some alterations in the overall design of the vehicles in the past few years in an attempt to correct the rollover potential, however many new SUVs still have the narrow base and high center of gravity which can lead to tragic consequences.  Even though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has decreed that vehicle manufacturers will introduce models with lower centers of gravity as well as wider wheel bases, there is reluctance in the industry to make these changes due to the financial aspect.

Negatives of SUV Vehicles and Manufacturer’s Solution

Soaring fuel prices and increased insurance premiums have caused a slowdown in the purchase of SUVs—some insurance companies flat refuse to insure the higher-profile SUVs. Because the traditional SUV is not selling as well, whether due to the rollover potential or other factors, manufacturers are making an attempt at producing crossover vehicles which offer higher levels of safety as well as fuel economy. Additionally, the newer SUV models have implemented specific safety devices in an attempt to minimize rollover accidents.

One such mechanism known as electronic stability control helps the top-heavy SUV stay on the road rather than skidding out of control and flipping over. The ESC implements a form of automatic braking which is triggered when the on-board computer senses any type of skid. While this ESC system has been implemented in over half of the SUVs manufactured after 2007, the NHTSA has mandated that all SUVs will implement an ESC mechanism in models built after 2012. Many of the newer SUVs also come with side curtain air bags which are meant to protect the passengers in the event of a potentially tragic rollover.

Problems with the Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer has demonstrated one of the highest rollover rates of any other vehicle on the road, with the models manufactured between 1999 and 2002 having the highest probability for a potentially tragic rollover accident. These vehicles have also labored under defective tire problems, vastly compounding the likelihood of a rollover. Even though Ford has paid out millions in settlements for those who have been injured or killed in rollover accidents, they are unwilling to completely redesign the vehicle or recall those currently on the road. The Ford Explorer as well as many other types of SUV’s often lack a metal roll bar which can prevent roof crush—and fatal injuries—in the event of a rollover accident. The relatively weak roofs and inadequate crash protection which are common in many SUVs combined with their narrow wheel base and high center of gravity can be a tragic accident in the making, particularly when drivers are not fully aware of the necessity of slowing down on curves.

Getting the Help You Deserve

The results of a rollover SUV accident can be devastating; those victims who live through the accident may face months, years or even a lifetime of medical treatments and may even be disabled for life. It is likely there will be substantial income loss as a result of the accident as well as massive medical expenses as a result of the severe injuries and long-term rehabilitation. In other words, an SUV rollover accident is life-changing, and you need to ensure your legal rights are fully protected. You do not want to inadvertently give up your right to a legal claim through signing papers before you have legal representation. Call a highly experienced personal injury attorney today and allow him or her to take care of the legal end while you focus on healing.

It is likely that you may never give a second thought to the bumper on your vehicle—until that bumper is responsible for an injury during a relatively minor collision. The bumper on your car can be not only the first contact point, but the first level of protection in many car collisions. While the Federal government has mandated a specific bumper height for most cars, with safety issues in mind, this law is currently not applicable to pickup trucks or SUVs. While many SUV and truck manufacturers go the extra mile in an attempt to ensure their bumpers are compatible with those of normal passenger cars, other manufacturers simply refuse to do so.

The SUVs with poor bumper designs can actually be responsible for injuries or even death to other drivers in the event of a crash—even a relatively minor one. Think about the SUV with the huge bumper which sits much higher up than that of a typical passenger vehicle. Should that SUV come into contact with a car whose bumper is significantly lower, the SUV literally “climbs” up on the top of the other vehicle, literally crushing the occupants inside with the heavy bumper.

Why are SUVs So Popular?

SUV’s became popular in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, however sales have recently declined largely due to the extremely high gas prices and the declining economy. While the original SUV was based on the truck model, the newer crossover SUV is modeled on the smaller, lighter automobile. People originally jumped on the SUV bandwagon for several reasons: the SUV could tow a trailer, RV or boat, while still carrying many more passengers than a typical truck. Many people felt the SUV offered the advantages of a mini-van with a much sportier look. Because SUV’s are typically larger and sit up higher than a traditional passenger vehicle, the driver of an SUV feels safer, and since many SUVs offer four-wheel drive, owners feel they are better able to handle bad road conditions.

The Negative Aspects of SUVs

Unfortunately, the majority of SUVs, with their higher center of gravity and shorter distance between left and right wheels, can end up in a potentially fatal rollover accident. SUVs are much more likely to be involved in rollover accidents, and those accidents are much more likely to be fatal. While most people are now aware of the rollover potential, many are unaware of the SUV bumper issue. A typical SUV bumper is several inches higher than those of passenger vehicles or mini-vans, meaning the damage that bumper does when it collides with a smaller, shorter vehicle can be significant. Even in crashes at speeds as low as ten mph, pairing an SUV against a regular passenger car, the amount of damages to the car were over twice those of the SUV. The studies were done using an SUV and passenger car from the same manufacturer in an attempt to force automakers into re-thinking the bumper heights of their SUVs.

Bumper Design Causes Problems for All

Aside from the damage done to other vehicles by an SUV bumper, those same bumpers often did quite poorly in crashes at speeds as low as 2.5 mph. Because they are not federally mandated, the bumpers on the majority of SUVs on the road today do nothing to absorb the energy in a crash and have actually been labeled as carelessly designed. In low-speed collisions involving an SUV there can be serious injuries to the people inside both vehicles, yet many insurance companies are reluctant to pay for the injuries and damages precisely because of the low speeds involved. Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash are common occurrences in low-speed crashes, and when an SUV with a higher bumper is involved, those types of injuries—as well as others—are even more likely. If you have been involved in a relatively low-speed collision and your insurance company is denying your claim, you need immediately legal help. An experienced personal injury attorney can refute the insurance company’s claim that the speed of the collision was simply too low to be responsible for injuries and damages and ensure all your rights are fully protected.