Studies recently conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concluded there is a direct link between vehicle roof strength and severe injury in the event of a crash, particularly a vehicle rollover accident.
Statistics show that approximately 10,000 people in the United States die in rollover crashes each year. Rollovers constitute only 3 percent of passenger vehicle crashes, but they are the most deadly, accounting for a full one third of the fatalities. Additionally, about 24,000 people are seriously injured in rollover crashes in the U.S. each year.
As a result, there is a proposal to amend the United States Code to require stronger Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in the area of roof crush resistance. This includes enhancing the applied force resistance, and prohibiting roof components and structures from coming into contact with passenger dummies during testing.
Additionally, the code would be amended to require rollover tests for roof strength, the development of a roof strength safety rating program, and a research program to determine the efficacy of retrofitting vehicles for roof strength and rollover safety.
Motor vehicles covered by these proposed changes include all motor vehicles including passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury due to a defective product, you have specific legal rights. For a free legal consultation, please contact us today.
