Car & SUV Roof Safety: Weak Roofs Lead to Deaths in Rollover Accidents

More than 10,000 people die each year in rollover crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHSS). In a study of these crashes, IIHS concluded that many of the deaths could have been prevented if the roofs had been stronger on the vehicles.

IHSS compared roof crush tests of 11 older mid-size SUVs with death and injury statistics from 12 states from 1997-2005 . It found that the vehicles with the strongest roofs had lower injury and lower death rates than SUVs with weaker roofs. The SUVs tested were manufactured by Ford, Nissan, Chrysler, General Motors, Mitsubishi and Toyota.

Of the vehicles tested, the weakest roofs found were those of the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV, which caved in under about one and a half times its own weight. The strongest roof was on the 2000 Nissan Exterra SUV, which withstood a force of three times its weight with minimal damage.

All of the tested vehicles meet current the government safety standard and can withstand a force of 1 ½ times its own weight. This vehicle roof strength standard was set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1971. IIHS argues that tightening roof strength standards so cars and SUVs can withstand 2 ½ times their own weight would dramatically increase the number of lives that can be saved each year. While NHTSA estimates that only 13-44 fatalities could be avoided, the results of IIHS’s study found that 108 lives a year could be saved by increasing the vehicle roof strength standard.

Car Roof Crush Attorneys/Lawyers

If you were injured in an auto accident, or a loved one was killed during a rollover accident involving a crushed car roof, please a contact car roof crush attorney at Lieff Cabraser experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases against auto manufacturers. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.

You may also contact us by telephone toll free at 1-866-313-1973 and request to speak to vehicle injury attorney Fabrice N. Vincent.