Two men suffered injuries in a San Diego car crash after the SUV in which they were traveling went out of control and rolled over multiple times. According to a 10News report, the rollover crash occurred the night of August 13, 2012 on the Interstate 5 just south of Del Mar Heights Road. California Highway Patrol officials say it is not clear what caused the vehicle to go out of control. The Ford Explorer SUV landed on its wheels after rolling over several times, trapping the two men inside. They were extricated and transported to a local hospital. Their injuries have been described as non-life-threatening.
My heart goes out to the injured victims of this rollover crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Crash Statistics
According to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 71 fatalities and 5,819 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in the city of San Diego. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2008, the most recent year for which these statistics are available, 58 percent of SUV occupants who were killed in crashes were in vehicles that rolled over. In comparison, 47 percent of deaths in pickups and 25 percent of deaths in cars were in rollover accidents.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, officials are still looking into what caused this Ford Explorer rollover. There are several unanswered questions here. Did the driver try to take some type of evasive action at the time? Did an auto defect or mechanical malfunction cause the accident? Was there a tire blowout or tread separation? Were other vehicles involved? For example, was the SUV cut off by another vehicle? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused or contributed to the incident?
Liability Issues
Ford SUVs, especially the Explorer, are notorious for their propensity to roll over even at normal speeds. These vehicles have a high center of gravity and a narrower track width, which makes them prone to tipping or rolling over. In this particular case, if an auto defect or design flaw is determined to have caused the accident, the automaker or the manufacturer of the defective product can be held liable. It would be in the victims’ best interests to preserve the vehicle unaltered so an expert can thoroughly analyze it for defects, malfunctions and other evidence. An experienced personal injury lawyer in San Diego who has successfully handled Ford Explorer rollover accident cases will be able to advise injured victims in such cases about their legal rights and options.