Many schools, churches, and shuttle services use various models of 15 passenger vans made by different automakers. Many accidents involving fatalities and serious injuries to children being transported in these types of vans have been documented in the past. Many of these accidents involved rollovers, which raised public concerns and eventually resulted in a safety study of 15 passenger vans by the National Transportation Safety Board. This study named, Evaluation of the Rollover Propensity of 15-passenger Vans. Safety Report was published in 2002 with recommendations to the automakers.
The study found that 15-passenger van accidents are involved in a higher percentage of rollover accidents than are passenger cars and smaller vans. Higher occupancy of these types of vehicles, combined with higher percentage of rollover accidents, result in serious injuries and fatalities to a disproportionately high number of people every year.
Especially in more rural areas in the San Bernardino County, like Colton, Fontana, Victorville, Bloomington, Beaumont, Rialto or even in parts of Los Angeles County, like Ontario, Covina, Monrovia, Pomona, and Sierra Madre, or even parts of Orange County like Santa Ana, Anaheim, Buena Park, Irvine, Garden Grove or many parts of Southern California, these types of vans are used more often.
Although, some of the recommendations have been adopted by the automakers, there are still many of these vehicles on the roads in California and through out the United States of America.
If you or a family member, have been injured in a rollover accident or any other serious injury accident, you should contact an experienced auto accident lawyer for a case evaluation and consultation. We have represented hundreds of injured clients in our many years of practice who have been injured in car accidents and can help you with your injury claim.
You may contact us anytime for a free consultation and injury case evaluation.