Personal Injury Law

SUV Crash Injures Three in St. Louis County

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

Bradley J. Woods, 33, and his son Mason, 11, were injured when their 2001 Ford Expedition was rear ended by a 2004 Ford Explorer, driven by Lydia A. Jackson, 53, on Interstate 270 Tuesday afternoon, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The investigating officer said Jackson was driving her SUV northbound in ?an erratic manner? when it struck the rear of the Woods? Expedition. The force of the crash caused both vehicles to roll over and land off the roadway. Debris from the crash that remained in the highway struck a 2004 Dodge Dakota driven by Paul J. Clark, 25.

Bradley Woods was taken to DePaul Hospital with serious injuries and his son Mason was taken by helicopter to Children?s Hospital with moderate injuries. Jackson was also transported to DePaul Hospital with moderate injuries. Clark was uninjured, according to the highway patrol.

The accident shut down the northbound side of I-270 while police cleared debris from the roadway.

The Missouri Highway Patrol has not released any information as to why Jackson may have been driving in an erratic manner and have not said whether she will be charged or issued a ticket for the accident.

SUV rollovers are a serious cause of injury and death on Missouri roadways. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics say an average of 70,000 SUV rollovers occur in the U.S. each year and 2,000 people die as a result of these crashes.

The NHTSA conducts rollover tests on vehicles to determine a stability rating. They found that taller, narrower vehicles, like the Explorer and Expedition SUV?s involved in the I-270 crash, are much more likely to roll over when compared to lower, wider passenger cars. This is because SUV?s have a higher center of gravity which means they carry their weight farther from the ground. As SUV?s became more popular as a family vehicle than an off-road vehicle, manufacturers removed roll bars that protected occupants in the event of a rollover in order to make more room for storage.

According to a Frontline investigation, a Ford Explorer is 16 times more likely than a typical family car to kill occupants of other vehicles in a crash. SUV?s have become the most popular type of vehicle in the U.S. and the Ford Explorer is the most popular SUV in the world.

The NHTSA has tips on their website on how to avoid rollover when driving an SUV. Aside from general precautions like not speeding and not driving under the influence, they recommend the following:
? Use Caution on Rural Roads ? Nearly 75% of rollover crashes occur in rural areas.
? Maintain Tires ? Make sure your tires are inflated properly and replace them when they become worn down.
? Load Vehicles Properly ? Since an SUV already has a high center of gravity, don?t make it unnecessarily top-heavy with improperly loaded equipment or luggage. Spread the load out around the cabin and be especially careful when using a roof rack. Also be aware that a full load of passengers will affect the likelihood of a rollover.
? Don?t Panic ? If you do lose control of your vehicle or run off the roadway, gradually reduce your speed and slowly ease the vehicle away from obstacles with small turns. Many rollovers occur when drivers overcorrect by turning too sharply or slamming on the brakes.

If you have been injured in an SUV accident you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A Missouri personal injury lawyer will help you sort through the details of your crash and make sure you get the help you need to handle expenses resulting from an injury, lost wages, pain and suffering, or death. In addition, your injury attorney must have experts ready to evaluate vehicle design and whether a manufacturing or design defect may have contributed to cause your accident.

The Bradley Law Firm has over 30 years experience with personal injury cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on June 11, 2008 (boomark / email).