SUVs, namely sports utility vehicles, are marketed as safe and family friendly. In fact, however, they are more likely than other motor vehicles to be involved in Massachusetts rollover accidents. SUVs are more prone to rollover accidents even during routine driving maneuvers because they are heavier and are higher above the ground. Their rollover rate is three times greater than the rollover rate of regular passenger cars, and double the rate of pickup trucks.
The rollover problem is a systemic one that is associated with many different models of SUVs, vans and trucks. The following vehicle models are all associated with an increased rollover risk:
Ford Escape
Ford Ranger
Ford Explorer
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Pickup Truck
GMC Suburban
Jeep Liberty
Suzuki Samurai
Mitsubishi Montero
Nissan Pathfinder
Isuzu Rodeo
Similar to SUVs, passenger vans are also more susceptible to rolling over during routine driving maneuvers than other kinds of motor vehicles. Passenger vans drive very differently from smaller passenger vehicles because they are usually longer, higher and wider. The vans are designed to carry a large amount of people and cargo at the same time, which adds to the vehicle’s weight and makes it even more likely to roll over.
Because SUVs and passenger vans are more likely to be involved in rollover accidents, there may be a somewhat higher standard for SUV drivers as to what constitutes reasonable care under the circumstances. We expect reasonable drivers to be cognizant of the fact that SUVs and passenger vans are more likely to roll over than other cars, and thus to take extra care to avoid the possibility of this happening. For example, sudden and hard turns – which very rarely constitute reasonable behavior to begin with – are even less reasonable, presumably, in an SUV or passenger van, because these cars are more likely to roll over.
