SUV Rollover Accident on the Mass Pike
On July 28, 2011, an SUV rollover accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike took the life of a 15-year old boy and injured four 17-year old girls. The boy was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The SUV he was riding in rolled over three times, partially ejecting the boy from the vehicle.
This Massachusetts Turnpike accident underscores multiple safety issues that SUV rollover accident lawyers often see when litigating accident cases.
First is the SUV rollover accident itself. More than 10,000 people are killed each year in SUV rollover crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fact, more than 30 percent of all fatal SUV accidents are rollover crashes. SUVs are prone to rollover because they have a high center of gravity, are wide, and typically carry heavier loads.
Second, the boy killed in the SUV rollover accident wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. Seventy-five percent of all rollover fatalities happen the same way as the July 28th fatality; passengers are ejected from SUVs because they don’t take the time to put on their seatbelts. We hear it every day: seatbelts save lives. SUV rollover crashes like this remind us just how true that statement is.
Finally, this accident happened on a busy highway: the Massachusetts Turnpike. Due to the sheer number of cars on the highway, the Mass Pike sees many car accidents. Drivers must stay vigilant to protect themselves and others from serious injury.
If you have been injured in a car accident on the Pike or have lost a loved one in an SUV rollover accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Discuss your case with an experienced SUV rollover accident lawyer.
Source: How Stuff Works, Rollover Accidents Explained
