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15 Passenger Van Accidents

Every day, thousands of schools, churches and other organizations trust their members’ lives to a fifteen-passenger van. The vans were once thought to be a boon to small organizations, because they’re less expensive than a school bus or other vehicle that can move large groups of people. Unfortunately, the record has shown that that trust is misplaced. After a surge in deaths and serious injuries to school and church groups traveling in 15-passenger vans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the vans are more likely to get into a rollover accident -- in which the van flips over -- than any other type of vehicle. The federal government has already banned the vans for use in transporting schoolchildren. So much evidence shows that the vans are unsafe that religious organizations are starting to advise their members against them, and some insurers refuse to insure the vans.

The safety problems of 15-passenger vans stem from flaws in the design of the cargo and passenger areas. When the van is filled to capacity, and especially when lots of weight is placed behind the van’s rear axle, its center of gravity shifts backward and upward. That shift makes the van more than twice as likely to roll over than a 15-passenger van that is filled to less than half its capacity, according to the NHTSA. That is, when used for its intended purpose, a 15-passenger van is unsafe. Driving safely after the shift requires a large amount of special driver training that many small groups don’t possess and may not have been warned about when they bought the van.

Other safety problems with 15-passenger vans include storing cargo on the roof, which also raises the vehicle’s center of gravity, and improper tire inflation, which can make the van harder to handle. The NHTSA has found that 74 percent of 15-passenger vans in private hands had overinflated or underinflated tires. The vans’ tendency to fishtail or roll over under these extremely common conditions led to the NHTSA issuing multiple consumer advisories about them in this decade.

A rollover accident in a 15-passenger van throws occupants violently around, increasing their probability of death or a traumatic brain injury, spine injury, internal injuries, broken bones and permanent disability. If you or a loved one has been involved in a 15-passenger van accident, a qualified auto product defects liability attorney can help you get compensation for your injuries -- physical, financial and emotional. For a free, no-obligation consultation with the experienced attorneys of Bisnar | Chase, call us at 1-866-424-7627 or click here to visit our online case evaluation form.

Call Bisnar | Chase now to speak to an experienced lawyer.

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Bisnar | Chase 2006-2008 - Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Bisnar | Chase has received this award for three consecutive years.

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