If forced, the automakers can produce a vehicle with a stronger roof. Half ton and light duty trucks have progressed immensely in rollover crash tests since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) forced automakers to raise their standards in 2009. Meanwhile, heavy-duty trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds were exempted from the new roof crush standards so automakers like Ford and GM have shown little to zero effort to improve the safety of their occupants in rollover accidents and use the same truck cab, designed for a much lighter truck, in their heavy duty and super duty lineups.

Unfortunately, the Ford F-250 and F-350’s designation as super duty, heavy duty, or commercial trucks has exempted them from many of the safety tests and crash tests that the family consumer would demand from their other family vehicles to keep loved ones safe. Currently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) uses a strength-to-weight ratio to rate a vehicles crashworthiness in a rollover or roof crush test. A vehicle can be rated good, acceptable, marginal, or poor dependent on a particular vehicle’s test results in the strength-to-weight ratio. The test is conducted by pushing a metal plate at various angles on the vehicles roof until the roof is crushed in 5 inches. These strength-to-weight roof crush ratios are not currently available to the public for trucks over 10,000 pounds.

Since commercial and heavy-duty trucks are exempt from much of the crash testing, little to no data is available each year to the consumer on how a Ford F250 or Ford F350 will perform in crash testing. What we do know is that currently Ford and General Motors are using the same cab structures in both their half ton or light duty trucks and in their heavy-duty or F-250 or F-350 lines of trucks. Common sense would dictate that a truck cab and roof designed for a 1500 or F-150 series truck is not going to hold up well in heavy-duty or Super duty truck that weighs many 1000’s of pounds more.  Without roof-crush ratings for HD trucks, there is not enough pressure from regulators or the public to demand stronger, life-saving roofs.

No longer are these Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks limited to commercial and heavy-duty applications. These are now common family vehicles that demand higher attention to child safety, roof crush resistance, and crashworthiness. Ford continues to maintain that its current trucks are very safe and the hundreds killed and severely injured in their F-250 and F-350 rollovers are “extraordinary circumstances.”

Ford Rollover & Roof Crush Defect – Free Review

If you or a member of your family has been involved in any type of rollover accident, whether it involved a passenger car, van, SUV or truck, then you may have legal rights in a court of law to file a products liability lawsuit

Get a free case review by Mr. Willis, a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with over 36 years of product liability and rollover litigation experience. Call 1-800-883-9858 for a Free & Confidential Consultation or Click Here.

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Jeep Wranglers are as popular with consumers as ever. The jeep is an all American icon in the auto world. Despite advances in safety and other vehicles, including many SUV’s, receiving high marks on current rollover tests, the Jeep Wranglers rollover risk remains problematic. Testing of the latest models indicates a “marginal” safety rating for rollover risk. That is just one step up from the lowest rating available, “poor.”

While the new model Jeep Wranglers performed well in other crash tests, such as the front and side impact, during driver-side small overlap frontal test, the vehicle rolled. In a real world Jeep Wrangler rollover accident, this could be devastating for the driver and occupants of the vehicle. When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released the video and results of their crash test, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) questioned the results. So IIHS performed the test again, and again, another Jeep Wrangler rollover occurred during the crash testing.

Jeep Wrangler Rollover Crash

Rollovers, even partial rollover accidents, pose incredible risk for drivers and occupants. When a vehicle begins to roll, safety systems built into the car begin to go out the window. A person is exposed to an extreme danger of serious injury or death if they are ejected from the rolling vehicle. When a Jeep Wrangler rollover occurs, the safety cage surrounding the person must remain intact. At no point should the doors open, roof collapse, or seat belts come unbuckled.

Unfortunately, Jeep Wranglers are still made to have removable roofs and doors. While popular with off road or 4×4 enthusiasts, beach goers, and an assortment of Jeep hobbyists, the trade off is a safety in the event a rollover crash occurs. The Jeep Wrangler is almost in a class by itself these days. Most SUV’s have been refined to lower centers of gravity, offer rollover protection safety systems like side curtain airbags, and have stronger roofs to withstand roof crushes in the event of a rollover. But the Jeep still does not include these safety systems in the Wrangler.

Jeep Seatbelt Came Loose During Rollover

We have had several clients over the years who called in with catastrophic injuries or family members who were killed and would say, “He/She always wore his seatbelt.” “I don’t understand, he always was buckled” even though the police accident report after the rollover crash stated the driver or occupant was unbuckled during the accident. When a rollover occurs, automotive defects such as defective seatbelts do not always stay buckled and when that happens, the risk of a ejection and other serious injuries increases greatly. What we have found is many of our clients were correctly belted and did use the safety systems that were provided to them but the seatbelt failed them.

Jeep Wrangler Rollover Lawyer

The lawyers at the Willis Law Firm have spent decades fighting and winning for victims of rollover accidents. It is our hope that through our and many others litigation efforts, that one day, Jeep Wrangler rollover accidents will be a thing of the past. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a Jeep Wrangler rollover, roof crush, ejection, or other SUV rollover accident, fill out the form today or call our office at 1-800-883-9858 for a private and free consultation to determine whether a Jeep Wrangler lawsuit is available to recover for your injuries and damages. Contact the Willis Law Firm today to learn more.

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Years of excitement surrounding the return of another one of America’s SUV icons has been building. This Fall, Ford is reintroducing the Ford Bronco to consumers after ceasing production of the vehicle in 1996. The Bronco was produced for 40 years before being discontinued. Known as a great off-roading vehicle, it was also extremely dangerous. Removable hard top roofs, high center of gravity, and a multitude of safety issued resulting in thousands of Ford Bronco rollovers over the last 55 years. So the question today is, will the new Ford Bronco be at a high risk of rollover accidents?

New Ford Bronco Rollover Risks

Most people old enough to remember, recognize that the Ford Bronco was never a safe vehicle. And the Bronco II Ford produced was one of the most dangerous rollover prone vehicles ever made. An estimated 260 people died and thousands more were injured in Bronco II rollover crashes.

The new 2021 Ford Bronco 2 and 4 door models are equipped with the Ford Safety Canopy System. It uses a rollover sensor combined with airbags to protect the head and neck of passengers in case of a rollover accident. Unlike traditional airbags, these airbags are designed to stay inflated for multiple seconds in the event a Ford Bronco rollover occurs. The effectiveness of this system will be tested when the new Bronco hits the market this fall and consumers begin driving in real world conditions.

The Ford Bronco, compared to other vehicles, will still sit higher, have a shorter wheelbase than other available SUVS, and be prone to rolling over more often. It is hard to defy gravity. The owners of these vehicles are likely to put larger than stock tires on them, further raising the vehicle. Lift kits, large tires, and roof racks with luggage, all accentuate that problem of raising the center of gravity. While testing may show the Bronco is leaps and bounds safer than older models, the danger of a rollover will always remain with a tall and large SUV like the Ford Bronco.

Ford Bronco Rollover Crash Tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have not tested or released the Ford Bronco crash test results as of September 2020. The Ford Bronco has the ability for its doors and roof to be removed. Like the Jeep Wrangler, this vastly decreases the integrity of the roof structure and side wall structure to protect occupants during a side impact accident or rollover accident. We can only hope Ford was smart enough this time around not to endanger drivers and passengers with faulty support pillars that won’t holdup in a rollover accident. Fortunately, todays vehicle standards for roof strength are much stronger than when the original Broncos and Bronco II’s were being produced.

Ford Bronco Rollover Lawsuit

If you or a loved one purchased a new generation Ford Bronco and later were involved in rollover accident which resulted in severe injuries or loss of life, you may not be at fault. Design defects of the new Ford Bronco may have enhanced your injuries or led to the loss of life of a loved one. Ford is sacrificing a lot of safety systems like side curtain airbags and side impact airbags to achieve the rugged and open look and get the profits they want. Contact the Rollover Lawyers at the Willis Law Firm for a private and confidential case consultation to see if a Ford Bronco rollover lawsuit against Ford is appropriate for you or your family. Fill out the form or call us today at 1-800-883-9858.

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Is the Toyota 4Runner a safe car? Many consumers are asking this question as they look to purchase one of these high riding and long-lasting SUV’s. While the 4Runner has certainly come a long way and includes safety equipment such as side curtain airbags and electronic stability control (ESC), it still ranks as one of the worst vehicles on the market for rollover risk.

The Toyota 4Runner body style has not been updated in over 11 years. The upcoming 2021 4Runner appears to be the same frame on body design that Toyota has been producing for decades. These are overall great vehicles in terms of performance, long-lasting, and holding their resale value, but fail pitifully in the event of a rollover accident.

Toyota 4Runner Rollover Rating

Rollover resistance testing is performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to measure the risk of a rollover in one-vehicle, loss-of-control situations. The 4Runner earned a 3 star (out of 5) rating from NHTSA with a 24.6% rollover risk. That is near the top of the list of vehicles most likely to roll in an accident. Unfortunately, the vehicle has been known to rollover at speeds under 40mph when the driver performs an evasive maneuver. A high center of gravity is one of the main culprits in a vehicles tendency to roll.

Why 4Runners Roll Over

Most vehicles on the road today will rollover if put into a high-speed evasive maneuver. But taller and narrower vehicles, like the Toyota 4Runner, are much more at risk of rolling over than a traditional car. Their higher center of gravity equates to being top-heavy. Toyota 4Runner rollovers often occur when the vehicle gets “tripped” – for example, a tire blow out or defective tire de-treads, causing the driver to swerve and then over correct. The pendulum effect of this swinging or steering of the SUV causes then causes the vehicle to roll. If a vehicle begins to move sideways, there is an increased risk the side wall of the tire will deform, allowing the rim of the vehicle to strike the pavement and trip the car into a roll. Rollovers remain amongst the deadliest types of accidents to be involved in.

Preventing Toyota 4Runner Rollovers

The best way to survive a rollover accident is to avoid one in the first place. The risk of severe injuries and deaths from rollovers is so extreme that consumers and automakers need to take care to avoid ever being involved in a roll over crash. Here are some ways to reduce the risk of rollovers:

• Only a drive a car or SUV produced after 2015 when the roof crush and roof strength standards were raised nationally. The increase in these standards has been pivotal in protecting consumers in the event they experience a roll over and keeping the roof above their head instead of collapsing down on the occupant.
• Wear your seat belt. We get many inquiries from victims of a rollover accident who were not seat belted. One of the worst possible ways to be hurt in a rollover crash is by not wearing your seat belt. You could be ejected from the vehicle or thrown about the cabin.
• Do not drive old or worn out tires. Tire failures, tire defects, and old tires are prone to blow outs at highway speeds which is a leading cause of many accidents.
• Do not lift your SUV. The higher the center of gravity, the more likely an SUV rollover will occur.
• Do not swerve to avoid a small animal at high speeds. This happens all to often and leads to 4Runners rolling over when instead, the driver should just hit the brakes and hit the animal rather than sacrificing themselves and putting passengers at risk.

Toyota 4Runner Rollover Lawsuit

The Willis Law Firm has represented hundreds of victims of rollover accidents. We know how to investigate your case and take the fight to the vehicle manufacturer who decided to save a few dollars in roof reinforcements over saving your loved one’s life. We are experienced rollover lawyers who you can count on for justice for you or your loved ones. If you or a family member experienced a rollover crash and sustained severe injuries or loss of life, please contact us today using the form on this page or by giving us a call at 1-800-883-9858. Our team will quickly be able to determine if a Toyota 4Runner rollover lawsuit is right for you. All case consultations are strictly confidential and at no cost to you. Contact us today.

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The hugely popular Jeep Gladiator truck is being put on notice after receiving poor rollover and side impact ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). Jeep Gladiator rollovers are a significant safety concern and in 2021, it is surprising cars with this type of rollover risk are still being produced. And despite what Jeep wants its buyers to think, the factory roll bar that Jeep includes in their Wranglers and Gladiators is not going to protect passengers in the event of a moderate or high-speed rollover accident. If you were seriously hurt in a Jeep Gladiator or Jeep Wrangler accident or suffered a Jeep Gladiator rollover, you need to contact the rollover lawyers at the Willis Law Firm immediately.

Jeep Gladiator Rollover Risks

Jeep Gladiator has a 26.70% rollover risk. This number, calculated by NHTSA, is one of the highest among currently produced vehicles. Jeeps are top heavy, their engines and frames are raised higher than a sedan. The Jeep Gladiator is no exception to other top-heavy SUV’s. While amazing vehicles off road on the trails and climbing hillsides, when it comes to highway speeds and safety, Jeeps fail miserably. Today’s motorists have come to expect high levels of safety features and protection in their new SUV’s, including Jeeps. Unfortunately, Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Gladiators still do not have rear side impact airbags or curtain airbags for rollovers to protect passengers’ heads and prevent ejections in rollover accidents.

During a rollover accident or collision, in vehicles equipped, the side curtain airbags deploy and provide a curtain of inflated protection just inside the windows and roof of the vehicle to prevent passengers from being ejected. They also help cushion the blow of a passenger’s head during a side impact accident. Jeep claims they are not in the Wrangler or Gladiator because of an exception given to them by NHTSA. 98% of cars and light trucks sold today have curtain airbags.

Jeep Rollover after Tire Blowout

If you drive a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator and experienced a rollover accident, a tire explosion, tire blowout, or tire tread separation may have played a crucial role in causing your rollover accident. Many tires on the road are defective and a quick search of NHTSA’s database can yield hundreds or even thousands of complaints about a particular defective tire. Also, what you may think was a tire blowout on your Jeep could have actually been a tire tread separation. Tire tread separations can be even more dangerous when a rollover occurs as the tread can interfere with the vehicles braking systems and axles if it becomes entangled. A tire defect lawyer can usually quickly determine if this is what occurred in your tire defect rollover accident.

Jeep Gladiator Rollover Lawyers

Despite decades of lawsuits for rollover accidents, Jeep (Fiat Chrysler) still continue to build unsafe vehicles that do not get good safety ratings involving rollover accidents. Roof crushes are still an issue. Side impact and curtain airbags are still not standard. Their willingness to save a few dollars instead of building a safer vehicle will cost many their lives and others to be seriously injured, paralyzed, and suffer from lifelong pain and suffering. If you were seriously injured or hurt in a rollover crash involving a Jeep Gladiator or Jeep Wrangler, call the Willis Law Firm today for a free and private case consultation. We look forward to working for you. No recovery, no fees.

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For the past 15 years, owners of Ford F-250 and Ford F-350 trucks have documented thousands of complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about a defect truck owners have dubbed the “Death Wobble.” It occurs at higher speeds (above 40 mph) and causes a severe and violent shaking and vibration in the steering wheel of the truck, which can cause the Ford F-250 and F-350 to go out of control. This death wobble violent shaking of the steering in Ford trucks exposes the owners of the trucks to increased risk of rollover accidents, injuries, and death. Owners of Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator vehicles have voiced similar issues with their vehicles as well.

What is the Death Wobble?

The problem known as the “death wobble” allegedly stems from defects in the F-250 and F-350’s steering linkage and suspension. The steering wheel shaking can be the result of unusual wear and loosening of the track bar bushing, damper bracket, ball joint, shocks, control arms and struts. Owners of the trucks currently involved in the class action lawsuit against Ford claim the defect causes drivers to easily lose control when the wobble occurs at highway speeds. Many of the documented complaints claim their truck experienced death wobble with less than 36,000 miles on them with some complaints as low as 5000 miles.

The death wobble typically occurs when the F-250 is traveling around 50 mph or higher and the driver hits a groove or bump in the road. Numerous videos and local news stories have been reported on the death wobble and at least a dozen crashes have been reported to have been caused by the death wobble. When a Ford F-250 or Ford F-350 experiences a death wobble at highway speeds, a rollover accident due to the loss of control of the vehicle could occur. Ford F-250 rollovers caused by the death wobble can cause serious injuries and loss of life when a rollover crash occurs.

Other vehicles with documented complaints of death wobble include the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator. Jeep owners claim the wobble occurs with worn out suspension components and when the Jeep hits a bump in the road the Jeep steering shakes so bad the only way to stop it is by bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. Jeep claims a new steering damper solves the death wobble issue and that this is not a new issue.

Death Wobble Accidents

There are at least a dozen documented accidents having been caused by the Ford trucks violent shaking steering. There are likely dozens more rollover accidents and accidents where investigators could not figure out how the Ford truck lost control and then experienced a rollover. The death wobble may be an answer to some of these accidents. A large truck like a Ford F-250 or Ford F-350 traveling at highway speeds can easily lose control when a defective steering dampener causes the death wobble to ensue after hitting a small bump in the road. Other accidents that could occur because of the death wobble could include rear end collisions as owners of the truck report the only way to get the death wobble to subside is by completely stopping their vehicle. Stopping quickly on interstate and highway conditions can put the driver of any vehicle in an extremely dangerous situation and at risk of a severe rear end collision.

Ford Death Wobble Class Action Lawsuits

Currently there is a large class action lawsuit against Ford by the owners of F-250 and F-350’s. This lawsuit alleges Ford has concealed and omitted information about suspension and steering problems in 2005-2019 Ford trucks. If you want to join the Ford class action lawsuit to recover for the costs of repairing your steering dampener, suspension, and other components damaged and causing the death wobble, it is important to document your issues by taking your Ford truck to a dealer and saving receipts from repairs caused by the death wobble. Without a recall, thousands of truck owners have been on the hook for the last 15 years to repair a defective steering and suspension system at no fault of their own.

The Rollover Lawyers at the Willis Law Firm are NOT accepting class action lawsuits for Ford owners. We are however filing personal injury lawsuits against Ford and other responsible parties where a severe injury or death has occurred. Our claims against Ford are for damages caused by the catastrophic injuries and loss of life suffered because of the death wobble loss of control accident.

Ford F-250 and F-350 Death Wobble Rollover Accident

When a rollover or crash occurs due to loss of control caused by the death wobble, the injuries can be serious. Death wobble usually only occurs at highway speeds. When a loss of control occurs and F-250 rollover accident takes place, the severity of injuries rises. A Ford F-250 or F-350 rollover may experience a roof crush accident, passenger or driver ejection, airbag failure, and many other dangerous results if a rollover occurs. Defects in the truck’s design and manufacturing process have left Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks prone to rollover accidents. In some cases, the roof can collapse or crush and put the driver and passengers at serious risk of catastrophic injuries.

Death Wobble Rollover Lawyer

There are currently NO recalls regarding the death wobble being issued from Ford. The class action litigation is ongoing. While we are NOT filing class action claims on behalf of Ford F-250 and F-350 Super duty truck owners, we are filing personal injury lawsuits where death wobble has led to catastrophic injuries and death.

If the death wobble caused you to lose control of your Ford F250 or F350 and crash or rollover you need to talk to a lawyer and demand Ford to fully compensate you and your loved one’s injuries. Fill out the form on this page or call the Willis Law Firm at 1-800-883-9858 for a free and private case consultation to discuss whether a injury lawsuit against Ford because of the death wobble is right for you and your family. Contact a death wobble lawyer today.

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The Dodge Durango is a popular sport utility vehicle (SUV) that has been produced by Dodge since 1997. In an age where SUV’s are receiving as high of safety marks as their car counterparts, Dodge Durango rollover safety needs to be called into question. The current 3rd generation Dodge Durango is nearly 10 years old. Dodge Durango rollover testing performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) list the Durango four-wheel drive models as only receiving a marginal rollover safety rating.

Dodge Durango Rollover Risks

At the core, the Dodge Durango is a tall-riding SUV that is more prone to rolling over than a lower to the ground automobile would be. Rollovers are survivable when the vehicles are properly designed. If the Durango’s roof does not crush into the driver or passenger compartment, the occupants will be more protected in the event of a rollover crash. Vehicle design to prevent a rollover and mitigate the damage caused is one of the key factors. In an aging platform like the Dodge Durango, these structural deficiencies that increase rollover risk need to be corrected by Doge to save lives.

Dodge Durango Flipped Over

When the Dodge Durango flips over, the risk for severe injuries including head injuries, neck injuries, and back injuries, increases exponentially. As the Durango crash test ratings indicate, that risk is higher than other SUV’s due to the Durango’s narrow design and higher center of gravity. The Durango also has a third row of seating. Ideally, passengers and cargo would be placed in the second row of seating when possible as putting additional weight in the rear of a vehicle (behind the rear wheel base) begins to pull the center of gravity towards the rear or the car, making it less stable. The best way to avoid rollover injuries and fatalities is to avoid flipping the vehicle in the first place.

Contact a Dodge Durango Rollover Attorney

If you or a loved one were involved in a rollover crash involving a Dodge Durango and sustained severe injuries or worse, you may not be at fault and those injuries may be the result of a defectively designed vehicle or defective tire. Contact the SUV rollover lawyers at the Willis Law Firm today by submitting the form on the right or calling us today at 1-800-883-9858.

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While Dodge has been producing Ram pickups for decades, the first time the 2500 and 3500 series Ram Pickups showed up in their lineup was during the second generation of Ram pickups produced from 1994 through 2002. The 2500 and 3500 Ram pickups available today can be used in a variety of applications from heavy towing and working trucks to recreational family use. While the updates and features available today are far advanced from the models produced in the 1990’s, Dodge still has not corrected one problem that has plagued the ram pickup since it’s origins.

2500 Ram Pickup Rollover Risks

In roof crush and rollover cases, the crashworthiness of the vehicle’s roof is at issue. It must be able to withstand the vehicles weight combined with the speed and force of the vehicle rolling. When Dodge and other vehicle manufacturers do not adequately design their pickup truck roofs to withstand such force, they are putting the consumer at extreme risk of serious injury and death when the roof crushes during a rollover.

Extremely high centers of gravity in the ram 2500 and ram 3500 pickup trucks make the truck unstable and unable to withstand a sharp turn. When the Ram 2500 or Ram 3500 suffers a tire blowout or other loss of control, it can rollover and roof crush accidents are all too common.  When the ram pickup roof crush occurs, the inadequate support in the vehicle pillars and roof to hold the massive weight of these heavy-duty trucks compresses and crushes the occupants in the vehicle. The current curb weight for a Dodge Ram 2500 is over 5700 pounds. Far too much weight for the current roof to support in the event of a rollover accident.

Dodge Ram 2500 and Dodge Ram 3500 Injuries & Deaths

In a ram pickup rollover, the driver of the truck is often the first one Dodge and the defense attempts to blame. They will try and say the driver over steered, over corrected, should have braked and maneuvered in a particular manner, or any combination of contributing factors. The reality is the vehicle Dodge has put on the market for consumers as a heavy-duty work truck is not so heavy duty when it is compromised in a rollover accident. Common issues that occur in these trucks include:

• high center of gravity
• seatbelt defects that can cause occupants to suffer an ejection during a rollover accident
• roof crush and roof strength issues
• absence of window glazing
• lack of b-pillar in extended cab models that do not separate the front and back seats with a strength pillar

Dodge Truck Rollover Accident Attorney

If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a Dodge Ram 2500 or Dodge Ram 3500 rollover accident or roof crush accident, we may be able to help you in the process of pursuing compensation from Dodge or other responsible parties. To learn more about your options when facing a rollover accident lawsuit, contact the Willis Law Firm today by calling 800-883-9858 or filling out a free case review form Here  

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Documents filed with NHTSA include several injuries and crashes connected to vehicles across the General Motors family including 2014-2018 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon Denali, GMC Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade.

The engine-driven brake assist vacuum pump is driven by an accessory belt on the engine and serves as the source of the power brake vacuum in the vehicle. Over time, the pump’s capacity to generate vacuum may deteriorate resulting in brake loss or brake failure.

Many consumers report their vehicles brake pedal becomes extremely difficult to press and a reaction similar to the Antilock brake system (ABS) kicking in. If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the braking power of the vehicle is significantly reduced and the result is increased stopping distances. Naturally, this puts the driver, passengers, and surrounding persons and vehicles at a much greater risk of collision and severe injury or death.

GM Brake Recall in Canada

In July 2019, Canadian auto regulators (Transport Canada) led the charge against General Motors brake pedal and vacuum pump failures and issued recalls for over 300,000 GM SUV’s and GM Trucks. The affected vehicles included Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Sierra Denali, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon XL, GMC Yukon Denali, and GMC Yukon from 2014-2017. Owners of these vehicles reported significantly reduced braking performance and a hard brake pedal feel. The defect listed is the faulty brake pump which impairs said vehicles brake performance.

GM Chevy Brake Failure Notice Letter

In the USA, General Motors has sent notice letters to customers of these trucks and SUV’s regarding failing vacuum pumps causing a low speed hard brake pedal that is causing problems for consumers when braking at low speeds. What GM won’t admit to currently is that many people are reporting the same power brake loss issues at high speeds as well. Such accidents could cause more violent collisions or loss of control of the vehicle that leads to a rollover accident.

A recent class action lawsuit claims GM brakes are defective and can fail on drivers suddenly and unexpectedly, leading to potential accidents and injuries. A vacuum brake booster is an important part of the braking system. A bad vacuum brake booster in these GM suv’s and trucks causes the brake pedal to push back against the driver’s foot and prevent effective braking. The plaintiffs claim the company is continuing to suppress and conceal the knowledge that its braking systems are defective and dangerous. The GM Brakes Class Action Lawsuit is Peckerar, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 5:18-cv-02153, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

GMC Chevy Brake Failure Lawsuit – Talk to a Lawyer

If you or a member of your family has been involved in a GM SUV or GM Truck rollover or any other serious accident due to a defective GM or Chevy braking system, or if you have questions about whether the vehicle design, roof crush or roof failure, defective tires, airbags, or other safety systems failed and caused or contributed to the accident or injuries, then call and talk to us now. Free Case Review from a Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer. Call Now 1-800-883-9858

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Commonly used across the country in churches, schools, volunteer groups, and more, 15 passenger vans serve as a common carrier and cheaper alternative to more expensive means of transporting groups around. The problem with these vans is the high risk of rollover accidents.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has repeatedly issued warnings and safety advisories about the rollover potential of these vans. Normally, a 15 passenger van’s rollover risk is similar to that of a pickup truck or SUV (which is much higher than a car). As the load increases or the amount of people riding increases, the van becomes increasingly dangerous. In fact, once there are 10 or more passengers, a 15 passenger van is three times as likely to rollover compared to lightly loaded conditions. If you have been in a van rollover, talk to SUV rollover lawyer David Willis about your right to file a van rollover defect lawsuit.

Rollover Problems with Large 15 Passenger Vans

The problems with these church vans or 15 passenger vans are well documented. As more passengers are put onto the vans, and the rear space is filled with gear, luggage, or people, the center of gravity is shifted upwards and backwards. The driver of the vehicle must know that he/she is now driving a completely different vehicle than if the van were empty. Because of the shifting of the center of gravity, the vans rollover potential exponentially increases. As it shifts towards the back, the importance of the rear tires increases. Unfortunately, too many tires are underinflated or not rated for the types of loads they are put under which leads to severe tire damage or blow outs that cause the vehicle to be put into a situation where it can easily rollover. Coupled with an inexperienced driver and you have a recipe for tragedy.

NHTSA recommends if these dangerous 15 passenger vans are going to be used, that the drivers make sure every person is wearing their seat belt. They should also check the vehicles tire pressure and condition before each trip. Drivers should have experience with the 15 passenger vans, ideally taking safety courses which advise them not to ever exceed 65 mph, avoid sudden braking, keeping adequate distances between cars, and checking seatbelts periodically. Reports by insurance groups and safety departments recommend removing the back seat of the van, in an effort to keep the center of gravity where it is supposed to and eliminating 3 passengers from the load. 15 passenger vans should always be loaded from the front to the back, keeping as many passengers in the front rows as possible and leaving back rows empty where applicable. Roof racks should never be applied to 15 passenger vans as this further raises the center of gravity and increases rollover risks.

Death Rates in Van Rollovers

In the years following NHTSA’s first reports about increased 15 passenger van rollover risks, studies showed that up to 80% of deaths reported in 15 passenger van rollovers involved riders not wearing their seatbelts. More commonly than not, the left rear tire was the tire that failed. Up to 57% of the van rollovers involved underinflated tires. Many of these 15 passenger van rollovers could be prevented if manufacturers used vans that had duel rear tires, and enhanced strength in the roof to prevent roof crushes during van rollover accidents. Another measure recommended to help keep the center of gravity low is to keep the van’s gas tanks topped off when at all possible. This adds several hundred pounds to the frame of the vehicle to help balance the load better.

Still even with these recommendations, 15 passenger vans are not safe vehicles for highway travel under their current 15 passenger design. Even with properly inflated tires, when the van is full, rollover risk is 3x that of an empty one.

Contact a Van Rollover Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in van rollover, contact us at the Willis Law Firm for a free rollover lawsuit case evaluation. With over 30+ years of rollover experience, we are ready to assist you. Call Toll Free at 1-800-883-9858. No Fees or Costs to You Unless You Recovery

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