15-Passenger Van Rollovers

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Hillyard, Wahlberg, Kudla & Sloane, LLP represents victims and their families who have been seriously injured or killed in 15-passenger van accidents.

15-passenger vans are top heavy and the rear of the vehicle often extends over four feet past the rear wheels creating a high center of gravity and increasing the likelihood that these vans will roll over when involved in an accident. Additionally, many of these vans either do not have seatbelts or the drivers do not require their passengers to wear them.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ("NHTA"), 15-passenger vans roll over 52% of the time when involved in a single-vehicle accident and 82% of those rollovers result in fatalities.

The federal government has banned the use of these vans in schools due to the safety risks, but they are still often used by churches, business professionals and other groups to transport large numbers of passengers.

The NHTA reccomended the following precautions to be used while operating a 15-passenger van:

• Keep your passenger load light. NHTSA research has shown that 15-passenger vans have a rollover risk that increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer than five to more than ten. In fact, 15-passenger vans (with 10 or more occupants) had a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly three times the rate of those that were lightly loaded.
• Check your van’s tire pressure frequently — at least once a week. A just-released NHTSA study found that 74 percent of all 15-passenger vans had improperly inflated tires. By contrast, 39 percent of passenger cars had improperly inflated tires. Improperly inflated tires can change handling characteristics, increasing the prospect of a rollover crash in 15-passenger vans.
• Require all occupants to use their seat belts or the appropriate child restraint. Nearly 80% of those who have died nationwide in 15-passenger vans were not buckled up. Wearing seat belts dramatically increases the chances of survival during a rollover crash.
• If at all possible, seat passengers & place cargo forward of the rear axle — and avoid placing any loads on the roof. By following these guidelines, you’ll lower the vehicle’s center of gravity and lower the chance of a rollover crash.
• Be mindful of speed and road conditions. The analysis of 15-passenger van crashes also shows that the risk of rollover increases significantly at speeds over 50 miles per hour and on curved roads.
• Only qualified drivers should be behind the wheel. Special training and experience are required to properly operate a 15-passenger van. Make sure your driver or drivers have both — and only operate these vehicles when well rested and fully alert.
   

A number of safety warnings have been issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which can be viewed below:

Rollover Propensity of Fifteen Passanger Vans

Evaluation of the Rollover Propensity of 15-Passenger Vans

Fatalities to Occupants of 15-Passenger Vans, 2003-2007.

15-Passenger Van Outreach Program

Hillyard, Wahlberg, Kudla & Sloane, LLP has the resources, the knowledge, and the experience needed to obtain compensation and justice for you in these complex cases against the makers of 15 passenger vans.

For a free initial consultation with Hillyard, Wahlberg, Kudla & Sloane, LLP, call 800-630-2366 or contact us online.