Hugh DeHaven is considered the ‘father of crashworthiness research’. In 1952 he concluded that occupants of a vehicle could endure the forces of a brutal crash without sustaining serious injuries and death if basic principles were adhered to when designing the car. These were:

• The car should not collapse under reasonable or expected force
• Car structures should not be made with brittle or weak materials as they need to be able to absorb the force of a crash
• Passengers should be immobilized within the vehicle and securely held

Unfortunately for consumers, manufacturers are often reluctant to adhere to basic crashworthiness principles, because it makes the car slightly more expensive to produce. As a result, thousands of correctly restrained occupants are killed every year as they are literally crushed by the roof during an accident.

Roofs crushing are almost always associated with vehicle rollovers. Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and large passenger vans are the most prone to rollovers due to their higher weight and center of gravity. As a result, rollovers injure and kill approximately 10,000 people every year in the United States alone, more than side and rear crashes combined.

The strength of the roof is essential when trying to prevent injuries and deaths in rollovers. However, manufacturers, such as Ford, have long argued that there is no correlation between the strength of the roof and head and spine injuries sustained in rollovers. They allege that the injuries are sustained when the occupants ‘dive’ into the roof during the accident. This has been proved false by several reports.

In an attempt to cut costs and shed pounds from their vehicles, manufacturers are cutting inches from the supporting roof structure, which in turn eliminates critical ‘survival space’ needed for passengers to have optimum chance of surviving the effects of a rollover. The results of such ‘cuts’ can and are catastrophic. Some common roof crush injuries can include:

• Death
• Traumatic brain injury
• Paralysis
• Quadriplegia
• Spinal Cord Injuries

The lawyers at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg and Jeck P.C. have extensive knowledge and experience in handling cases involving rollover accidents in all 50 states. If you or a loved one has ever suffered from a serious injury as a result of a rollover and consequent roof crushing, then you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer. Contact us now, toll free, for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options. (866) 569.3400