Passenger Van Safety Concerns Raised Again
The early October crash in Georgia of an overloaded 15-passenger van is raising awareness of the dangers of the vehicles.
October 14, 2010
Passenger Van Safety Concerns Raised AgainThe early October crash in Georgia of an overloaded 15-passenger van is raising awareness of the dangers of the vehicles.
Four people in a church group died in the crash; another 15 suffered injuries when a tire blew out on the 1987 van, causing it to overturn. CBC News reported that the vehicle flipped several times, ejecting occupants.
An Appeal to Pull the Vehicles off Roads
The single-vehicle crash came just three days after two Canadian mothers who lost sons in van accidents appealed to transportation ministers to ban the vehicles.
The women, whose sons were killed in separate crashes, made their pleas to ministers meeting in Halifax. The government promised a decision by year's end on the vans consumer advocates say are prone to rollovers, often causing fatal auto and truck accidents .
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that more than 1,100 Americans died in single-vehicle rollovers involving 15-passenger vans between 1992 and 2002.
Vehicle Instability
The NTSB says the vans become less stable when fully loaded. The weight of passengers and luggage makes the center of gravity too high in the vehicles, making the vans difficult to drive.
A fully loaded 15-passenger van is approximately five times more likely to roll over than a van holding only the driver.
Who is at Risk
The vans are often used to transport school children, passengers to and from airports and hotels, as shuttle buses for park and ride lots, and by church groups and veterans organizations.
The NTSB says only trained, experienced drivers should attempt to drive 15-passenger vans.
What Victims Should Do
Anyone who has lost a family member in a passenger van rollover should contact a New York City personal injury lawyer experienced in successfully litigating cases involving wrongful death claims caused by defective products and fatal motor vehicle accidents. If you have been injured in a 15-passenger van crash, a truck accident or auto accident, contact a personal injury lawyer to assess the facts of the case and help you pursue compensation for physical and emotional harm.
Article provided by The Perecman Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
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