15-Passenger Van Accidents

Millions of people are at risk for severe injury when traveling in 15-passenger vans, and hundreds are injured or killed in single vehicle passenger van accidents every year. Because of their high and rearward center of gravity, passenger vans are more likely to be involved in car accidents than other passenger vehicles. These accidents can be deadly and have caught the attention of both the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, who have issued warnings about 15-passenger van accidents.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), between 1994 and 2004 there were 1,512 fatal crashes involving 15-passenger vans. Of those, 642 were single-vehicle crashes and 515 of the vans rolled over. Furthermore, in 2004, 120 people in 15-passenger vans died in crashes.

The NTSB notes that 15-passenger vans are more prone to rollover accidents than passenger cars: more than 50 percent of single-vehicle accidents involving 15-passenger vans were rollover accidents compared with one-third of passenger cars. Eighty-one percent of crash-related occupant deaths in 15-passenger vans involved single-vehicle rollover accidents.

According to the NTSB, there are several issues with 15-passenger vans. These include underinflated tires, which can cause faster tire deterioration, and a high center of gravity, which moves upward and rearward with increased passengers and cargo. As the center of gravity moves upward and rearward, the vehicle becomes more difficult to control. The NTSB notes that 15-passenger vans are three times more likely to roll over when they carry more than 10 passengers.

Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), notes that fatal rollovers of 15-passenger vans are likely to involve tire failures because the tires are often under inflated and used past their service life. According to the NHTSA, 58 people died in 15-passenger van rollover crashes in 2006.

An NHTSA analysis found that between 1997 and 2006, 1,090 people were killed in 15-passenger van crashes. Of those fatalities, 63 percent of people died in rollover accidents.

Victims of 15-passenger van accidents can suffer permanent, life-threatening personal injury. This can include traumatic brain injury, spine injury, and neck and back injury. In addition to time off work, they may require years of rehabilitation and special medical care due to their injuries.

15-Passenger Van Accident Lawyers

If you have been involved in a 15-Passenger van accident, you may be eligible for legal compensation. Please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer for a free case evaluation.

Last updated on Aug-20-10