Off-Road Vehicle Rollover Accidents

When designing, manufacturing, and selling vehicles designed to go off-road, occupant safety should be a primary concern. Yet, accident data shows that rollovers among these vehicles are common, foreseeable accidents. Furthermore, data reveals extremity injuries are the most common injures caused by rollovers.

In cases involving severe extremity injuries, the lack of or an inadequate occupant containment system is a leading factor. Generally comprised of Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS), seat belts, and other protective devices, an occupant containment system is intended to keep an occupant’s body parts safe within the cabin of the vehicle in the event of a rollover or other accident. However, more often than not, these off-road vehicles fail to provide sufficient safeguards against preventable injury.

For example, a suit was filed on behalf of a minor female who suffered significant injuries after her leg exited the cabin of an off-road vehicle during an accident. In this case, the subject off-road vehicle was equipped with ROPS and seat belts but failed to protect the minor female’s side extremities. As a result, the minor female’s leg became pinned under the 2,370-pound vehicle after it rolled over onto its side. In consequence, the minor female’s resulting injuries required multiple surgeries and extensive wound care.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-742-6015 or toll-free at 1-888-203-7831.