Who can be Held Liable in Ford Rollover Accidents

In 2004, a San Diego jury awarded $364 million to a victim of a Ford rollover accident, which was considered to be one of the largest awards against a manufacturer in a product liability lawsuit. One third of the award was given to compensate the victim who sustained serious injuries from the accident and was later paralyzed, while the remainder was awarded as punitive damages.

Ford was held liable for the incident after the victims argued that the Ford Explorer, the victim’s vehicle, was susceptible to a rollover and had a weak roof design.

Ford made an appeal and insisted that the vehicle design met federal safety standards but the Supreme Court rejected it.

This victim was one of hundreds of people injured in rollover accidents involving vehicles manufactured by Ford. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that nearly 10,200 people die in vehicle accidents and 62 percent of these fatal accidents involve SUV rollover.

Although most vehicles made by other car manufacturers have the potential to rollover and crash, several factors may be attributed to Ford SUVs’ susceptibility to rollover accidents. These include the following:

• Government tests showed that SUVs design and center of gravity make it more prone to rollover than most regular cars
• Narrow track width – Vehicles with narrow distance between the right and left wheels are more likely to rollover
• Tire problems – Tire failures such as blown-out tires can have devastating effects on a vehicle which has a high center of gravity and travelling at excessive speed. A sudden maneuver can result in a rollover crash.

Determining Liability in Rollover Accidents

To obtain compensation for one’s injuries in a rollover accident, the cause of the accident must first be determined. Knowing the factors that lead to the accident could help you pinpoint the liable or negligent party/parties in the accident.

Generally, in most vehicle accidents, negligence can be proved through evidence such as police reports, photographs of the scene, eyewitness account, and other direct evidence.

However, if the accident is caused by manufacturing and design defects or malfunctioning parts, liability may fall on the manufacturers, distributors and sellers of the vehicle.

In addition, the victim must also prove that the following elements exist:

• The victim experienced harm because of the rollover accident
• The accident was caused by recklessness or negligence
• The victim deserves compensation for the harm done

Pursuing claims for injuries in rollover accidents caused by manufacturing and design defects may involve complex laws and experience in personal injury litigation.

To improve your chances in obtaining compensation for your claims, you need to consult with a skilled attorney who specializes in rollover accidents.

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