The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has filed numerous reports over the years on the dangers of 15-passenger vans. The federal safety agency has made it very clear that these vehicles should not be used to transport school children or heavy cargo. When proper precautions are not taken, these passenger vans have a tendency to roll over and cause catastrophic injuries or death to the occupants.
According to the NHTSA, the three main causes of passenger van accidents include: improperly sized or inflated tires, improperly loaded cargo and passengers and inexperienced drivers. A failure to check the tires before each trip or to evenly distribute the weight in the van may make it prone to veering out of control and rolling over. Additionally, it is common for passengers in these vehicles to not wear a seat belt and for drivers to be inexperienced. When passengers do not wear seatbelts, there is the danger of them getting ejected from the vehicle. Drivers should only travel at safe speeds and they should leave an appropriate space between the van and the vehicles in front of them. Making sudden movements can also cause these vans to become unstable.
What makes these vehicles particularly dangerous is their defective design. These types of vans are very top heavy, which makes them prone to rolling or tipping over. They also take longer to slow down than passenger vehicles. They even handle differently when compared to other passenger vehicles. These dangerous and defective vans are still used by many daycare centers, church groups and even universities in Arizona to transport small groups. Institutions and local organizations must recognize the danger of these vans and stop putting lives in danger.
The skilled Phoenix van accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. help injured victims of passenger van accidents get the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. In such cases, the organization that used the van for transport and the manufacturer of the defective van can be held liable for injuries and damages. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an Arizona passenger van accident, please contact us at 602-457-6222 for a free and comprehensive consultation.
