Birmingham News Reports Two People Injured in SUV Rollover on I-59

The Birmingham News reports that there was a one vehicle rollover accident on I-59 yesterday resulting in both occupants being taken to the hospital. It is reported that one of the passengers was thrown from the vehicle and one had to be taken out by the Birmingham firefighters. The accident happened yesterday, May 25th, at about 10AM.

This particular story caught my eye because evaluating and handling rollover accidents has been a large part of my legal career. As a defense lawyer, handling rollover cases on behalf of car companies became one of my specialties. In fact, for about the last 8 years of my practice as a defense lawyer, I was Regional Counsel for the southeast United States for all rollover lawsuits for one of the major car manufacturers. As a plaintiff’s lawyer, I continue to handle these cases on behalf of those injured and killed in rollover accidents.
Rollover cases are very complicated to handle and evaluate. You must have an understanding of what vehicles should be able to do in certain situations and at what point is there nothing that a reasonably designed vehicle could have done differently under the circumstances of the accident. With current technology, many rollover accidents can be avoided. Most car manufacturers have developed ESC or electronic stability control systems which assist the driver in controlling the vehicle when performing emergency avoidance maneuvers and the like. Some manufacturers still make such ESC systems optional equipment in SUV type vehicles. I suggest that if you are considering purchasing any current model SUV, you inquire into whether it is equipped with an ESC type system or traction control. Every manufacturer has given the ESC system it has developed a different name. However, its important you ask about it and insist on having one equipped in your SUV if you are purchasing a current year model.
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a rollover accident, feel free to contact me to discuss whether there might be a potential claim against the car manufacturer with regard to either causing of the rollover, or not properly protecting the passengers in the vehicle during the rollover itself. Both are important issues to look at when determining whether the car manufacturer has responsibility for injuries sustained in a rollover accident.