Ford Lawsuits
While the popularity of sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) has increased exponentially in the United States over the last ten years, their prevalence on American roads has had a dangerous consequence. Because SUVs sit higher off the road (a high center of gravity) than cars, they are far more prone to rollovers – the leading cause of death on America’s highways. New fatality statistics show that over 12,000 people died last year in these types of accidents. While the Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a group that crash tests new vehicles, estimates making stability control systems standard on all vehicles would save as many as 7,000 lives annually – General Motors and Ford Motor Co. don’t plan to make electronic stability control systems standard on SUVs until 2006.
The dangers of SUVs have been highly documented over the years – and the estimated risk of rollover in an SUV is now a staggering 30 percent compared to only 16 percent risk of that in a passenger vehicle or automobile. The Ford Explorer has the deplorable distinction of earning only one star in a 2002 SUV test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Ford Explorer has had particular scrutiny in regards to often dangerous, and sometimes deadly, rollover accidents. Ford Motor Co. recently settled a rollover-death case involving its Explorer Sport Utility Vehicle as a Florida jury considered whether to award $48 million in punitive damages to the victim’s family.
If you have been injured in a Ford Explorer rollover accident, there’s no time to waste in seeking reparations for your pain and suffering. When a rollover occurs, time is vitally important. Accident scene investigations and evidence preservation is critical to an effective and strong attack against the manufacturers of the deadly vehicles. You also need to conscious of statute of limitations restraints that could put your case in jeopardy. To find a lawyer in your area fill out the free case review form. Don’t let your opportunity to right a wrong pass you by.