Vehicle Rollover/Roof Crush

Vehicle Rollover Accident Claims

Attorneys at Evans & Kuhlman have successfully recovered compensation in a number of cases involving car and truck rollovers. Car and truck rollover accidents have become more common with the widespread use of sport utility vehicles. Often an SUV rollover and the resulting injuries are the result of poor design, despite the responsibility of the manufacturer to design vehicles to minimize the likelihood of truck or car rollover. In several cases our lawyers have found that the manufacturer did not take proper steps to maximize stability or did not perform adequate testing on the vehicle to determine the likelihood of a rollover during normal operation. If a vehicle has rolled in an on-road accident due to the driver taking evasive action or momentarily losing control, a potential vehicle stability case should be investigated.

Securing adequate compensation for a brain, back, or neck injury

Rollover of a car, truck, or SUV often results in roof crush following collapse of side pillars. Serious head, neck, and back injuries leading to paralysis, brain damage, or death are typical in rollover accidents. If a member of your family has suffered such a serious injury your auto insurance medical policy is unlikely to adequately compensate you for your loss and you will need additional benefits. Our firm has for over ten years focused on automotive product liability claims and our attorneys have extensive experience in analyzing and pursuing vehicle rollover claims. If you would like one of our lawyers to evaluate a possible liability claim against the automobile manufacturer, please contact our Kansas City, Missouri, law office and make arrangements for a free consultation. We welcome attorney referrals and our attorneys handle product liability claims throughout the United States.

Seatbelt failure in truck rollover accidents

A vehicle should be designed not only to prevent a rollover but to provide maximum protection for the occupants in the event of a rollover accident. The seatbelt restraint system in conjunction with the roof structure should design protect driver and passengers. Unfortunately the federal standard (FMVSS #216), in place since the early 1970s is woefully inadequate in evaluating roof strength. This has allowed the manufacturers to design, manufacture, and market vehicles that in many cases do not protect occupants in rollovers. If the roof crushes in a rollover accident the occupant can suffer severe head and neck injures that could have been prevented with a stronger roof and side posts. Our lawyers have recovered compensation for victims of preventable roof crush injuries.

Rollover and roof crush cases in which our lawyers have recovered compensation from auto manufacturers:

  • A 1983 Jeep CJ-7 rolled over because of unstable design, killing a woman and her unborn child. The jury awarded $1,568,750.00 in wrongful death damages.
  • A passenger in a 1998 Jeep Cherokee suffered serious head and neck injury resulting in death when the Jeep roof crushed during a rollover accident. Daimler Chrysler Corporation agreed to a confidential settlement.
  • A 1996 GMC Chevy Blazer rolled over when struck by another car. The roof structure collapsed and caused fatal head, torso, and neck injuries.
  • A Mitsubishi Montero rolled and roof crush caused the driver to suffer catastrophic injuries resulting in paralysis.

Rollover/Roof Crush Settlements and Verdicts