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CALIFORNIA ROLLOVER ACCIDENT LAWYERS
FIGHTING FOR COMPENSATION FOR INJURED VICTIMS
15-passenger vans are among the most dangerous vehicles on the road. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 15-passenger vans, make up only about 0.25 percent of the passenger vehicle fleet in the United States, but they are very frequently used to transport school sports teams, vanpools, church groups, children in daycare centers, shuttles, ride-share busses, and by other groups.
Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to many, they are involved in a higher number of single-vehicle rollover accidents than are other passenger vehicles. Various factors have been associated with 15-passenger van rollover, particularly occupancy level and vehicle speed. Because these vans are designed to carry 15 passengers, the Safety Board is particularly concerned about the relationship between occupancy level and vehicle rollover. Fully loading or nearly loading a 15-passenger van causes the center of gravity to move rearward and upward, which increases its rollover propensity and could increase the potential for driver loss of control in emergency maneuvers.
Manufacturers
There are over half a million 15-passenger vans on the road. Because of the classification and size, they have been able to escape many of the safety requirements imposed on regular automobiles.
Ford is the largest manufacturer of 15-passenger vans, including the E350, Club Wagon E350, and Econoline.
Chrysler makes their versions, including the Dodge Ram Wagon, Ram Wagon B350, and Ram Van B3500.
General Motors (GM) also makes their version, the Chevrolet Express 3500, GMC Savanna, and the Rally and Vandura G3500.
These vans all share the same basic design flaws that make them unreasonably dangerous vehicles on the road. The GM version has a slightly longer wheelbase, which reduces its propensity to fishtail during emergency driving, but it is still not enough to make the vehicle safe for passenger use or to reduce the rollover risk. It is important to understand that these vans frames were originally designed for cargo use, whose bodies were lengthened to enable them to transport fifteen passengers. As a result, passenger vans are inherently even more dangerous than modern sport utility vehicles.
Hire B&D Law Group, APLC to Handle Your Case
If you have been injured or know someone that was injured in a 15-passenger van, it is important that you consult with an experienced California car accident attorney immediately. Passenger van accident claims require specialized knowledge of automobile accident laws, state and federal regulations, and product liability laws, and can also involve claims for negligent hiring, negligent entrustment, and negligent training and supervision. California classifies 15-passenger vans as a “bus” and their operation requires Class-B Commercial Driver Licenses (CLD) with a Passenger Transport Vehicle (PV) endorsement. An employer that allows a 15-passenger van to be operated by a person lacking the proper license endorsements can be especially liable. In addition, K-12 schools and daycare centers in California are prohibited from using 15-passenger vans for the transportation of students.
Commons issues in 15-passenger van rollover crashes include:
- Pillar collapse and failure
- Weak and defective roof materials
- Faulty vehicle design
- Roof crush and collapse
- Seatbelt failure
- Door-latch failure
- Tire failure and defects
- Defective design
- Defective manufacturing and production
- Passenger ejection
Common Causes of Rollover Accidents in California
What causes rollover accidents in passenger vans is the short wheelbase and the high center of gravity, which makes it easier for taller vehicles to tip and flip over during evasive maneuvering and emergency driving conditions. Very few 15-passenger van accidents are “routine.” A successful attorney must not only take into account the “rules of the road,” but also the complex scientific and engineering principles needed to unravel just how a vehicle rollover accident occurred on the roadways and who was at fault.
Our experienced California rollover accident attorneys can review your claim for compensation against the negligent driver as well as explore claims against the van manufacturer for product liability due to defective passenger van design and defective production. Our staff is prepared to investigate, and aggressively pursue your case. Our office is ready to pursue the toughest personal injury claims and we have a track record of successfully litigating cases that other law firms could not handle.
Commons injuries in rollover collisions include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Skull fractures
- Closed head injuries
- Concussions
- Loss of a limb or amputation from the ejection
- Paralysis (paraplegia and quadriplegia)
- Bursting fracture of vertebrae
- Compression fracture of vertebrae
- Teardrop fracture-dislocation
- Traumatic forward dislocation
- Anterior wedge fracture
- Positional asphyxia and suffocation
- Fractured bones
- Contusions
- Severe burns
- Wrongful death
If you have been involved in a 15-passenger van rollover accident or lost a loved one in a passenger van rollover collision, contact B&D Law Group. Our experienced California rollover accident attorneys have a wealth of experience helping victims of vanpool rollover automobile accidents.
Call (888) 977-2238 to schedule your free case evaluation today.
THE B&D LAW GROUP, APLC
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