SUVs: SUV Rollover Deaths

Shortly after the turn of the millennium, sport utility vehicles began experiencing awful difficulties with pre-mounted tires that accompanied the vehicle when it left the lot.

Specifically, the Firestone tire company began experiencing terrible difficulties in manufacturing new tires, and this difficulty became a direct influence in causing SUV rollover deaths. In a study conducted by the United States government, it was found that around 300 people died in SUV accidents involving a rollover in 2003. Despite gas prices, sport utility vehicles continue to be a popular choice at the car lot. It's important, before purchasing your next vehicle, to understand the facts and statistics records on its safety.

Court cases have been heard throughout the country, involving people involved in accidents that included SUV rollover deaths. In some, the jury has walked away undecided if driving was a factor in a particular case; in others, the jury has awarded millions of dollars.

In any given year after the year 2001, nearly four thousand people have been killed either as a result of mixed signals on the highway, or reckless driving. Many thousands more have been killed in similar accidents. The statistics are grim. It is far safer to drive a four-door sedan than a sport utility vehicle. Despite that, many people buy SUVs for the thrill of sitting higher and the perceived safety of having a tougher or better-constructed vehicle.

Driving an SUV is completely unlike driving a sedan. Turning radii are different, time required to speed up and slow down are different, and, most importantly, the aerodynamics of an SUV versus a car is vastly different. By taking these differences into account and living by a few simple suggestions, you can greatly improve your chances of not suffering a fatal accident.

First, with a different turning radius, SUVs also have a different center of balance than typical four-door vehicles. Because of these interrelated differences, special care must be taken when driving your SUV around curvy roads, especially if those curves are enhanced by height and speed.

Always slow down when approaching curves; many accidents occur when drivers turn too quickly and lose control of their vehicle. If your SUV comes equipped with a traction system, ensure it is always engaged. When driving your vehicle in four-wheel drive instead of a normal driving mode, ensure that you are in the right gear and that your turns are made that much more carefully.

Next, avoid becoming a statistic as an SUV rollover death by understanding that it takes longer both to speed up and slow down in an SUV rather than in a car. Because SUVs are larger and heavier than typically automobiles, and because their different size and bulk add weight to their frame, speed can be a definite factor.

When driving your SUV, always allow adequate room behind the car in front of you, so that if they need to stop in a hurry, you will not cause an accident. When traveling at slower speeds, you should be able to see a bit of ground behind the tire of the car in front of you; this will indicate that you are following at a safe distance. When you are in faster traffic, use the rule of three: locate a sign and start counting just when the car in front of you passes it. Stop counting when you pass that vehicle. That means time's up!

Finally, keep in mind that due to vastly different aerodynamics, your SUV will drive quite a bit differently than a four-door sedan. Wind blowing in your area may have a role in the stability of your vehicle. Minimize this role by planning your drives, especially in windy weather, quite carefully.

Many drivers tend to lose their cool when a gust of wind blows a car a few feet sideways. When this happens, drivers tend to jerk the steering wheel in the opposite direction, and end up overcompensating for the difference in geographic placement.

If the worst happens and one of your family members is involved in an accident including SUV rollover deaths, you'll need to give serious consideration to mountain a lawsuit against various parties for having a share of the blame in your accident.

Typical lawsuits are against automobile manufacturers, while some also include tire corporations. Do not assume that just because a loved one has died, a lawsuit is winnable. Many factors can lead to a fatal occurrence in your SUV. In court, if it can be proven that the driver was in some way responsible, the outcome will not necessarily be favorable.

Driver responsibility includes knowing the condition of tires, pointing out obvious defects. The key fact to keep in mind is that additional safety and well-thought-out planning can go a long way towards preventing you and your family from turning into one of the statistics of SUV rollover deaths.

Tim Dillard is a marketing executive who has worked with some of the largest law firms in America. Dillard is currently the president of Dillard Local Branding (www.dlbllc.com), a Houston-based web design, Internet marketing and search engine marketing firm.

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