Oregon State Police (“OSP”) are investigating a fatal SUV rollover accident that occurred on October 7, 2010, along Highway 50 in southern Klamath County. According to OSP, at approximately 4:55 p.m, a sport utility vehicle traveling eastbound on Highway 50 near milepost 19 went off the roadway onto the eastbound shoulder. The vehicle came back across the highway to the westbound shoulder, rolled over, and collided with a utility pole. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and later pronounced deceased at the scene.
SUV Rollover Crash Dangers and Causes
Few details about this Oregon highway accident are available, but we know enough to extend our sincere sympathies to the driver’s family. It’s not clear at this time whether the SUV contributed to the traffic crash.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, however, SUV accidents have high fatality and injury rates due, in part, to the high percentage of rollover crashes in which passengers are ejected from their vehicles. Rollover crashes are one of the most significant safety problems for all classes of light vehicles, especially sport utility vehicles. State crash data indicates that, for all types of collisions, light trucks are only in 68 percent as many traffic crashes per registered vehicle as are passenger cars, but are in 127 percent as many rollover accidents per registered vehicle.
Taller, narrower vehicles such as SUVs, pickups, and vans have higher centers of gravity, and thus are more likely to rollover in a single-vehicle crash. Driver behavior and road and environmental conditions can also contribute to an SUV roll-over accident.
Portland Car Accident Lawyer
Rollovers are complex crash incidents. An Oregon personal injury attorney with experience in car crash cases can assist injured victims or survivors in protecting legal rights and recovering compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation, and other related damages. Our Portland car accident law office is prepared to analyze all aspects of SUV rollover crash cases and dedicated to improving vehicle safety to prevent harm to others. We offer a free, confidential attorney consultation. Call us toll free at (800) 714-3204 or use our online contact form.
