When is a Vehicle Defective in Rollover Crashes?
Under product liability law, a vehicle is defective when it is unreasonably dangerous for its intended purpose. In rollover accidents, there are three main defects we are looking for. First, we want to know if the roof of the vehicle was strong enough to withstand the force of the rollover crash. Second, we want to know if the seatbelts properly restrained the occupants. Third, we want to know if the airbags and other safety devices provided adequate occupant protection. If any of these three systems fail during a rollover accident, the likelihood of injury significantly increases, and occupants will suffer injuries they should not have suffered.
Proving a vehicle is defective and failed to provide adequate protection in a rollover crash is a difficult area of the law because you have to show that the defect existed and that had the defect not existed the injury would not have been suffered. For instance, we recently investigated a case where a young man was involved in a serious rollover accident. During the rollover crash, the roof was crushed so badly that there was little chance of survival. However, the man was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. While he suffered serious injuries, there was nothing we could do because the injuries he suffered were caused by hitting the ground after being thrown, not by the roof crushing during the rollover.
Most personal injury law firms do not have the skill, knowledge, and resources to effectively handle rollover accident cases. At The Ammons Law Firm, our rollover accident attorneys have handled roof crush, defective seatbelts, and fault airbags claims for over two decades and have successfully recovered millions of dollars for clients injured and killed in rollover crashes. This is what we do, and the manufacturers know our firm.
If you or a family member were injured in a rollover accident, it is important to have your accident investigated by a trained rollover accident attorney who can determine whether the vehicle was designed to provide adequate protection in a rollover crash. If the vehicle proves defective, you can seek compensation for your harm by bringing a personal injury lawsuit against the auto manufacturer.
Common Injuries Caused by Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents often result in severe trauma to vehicle occupants and are known as one of the most deadly and dangerous accidents in the world. During a rollover accident, there are two primary ways in which people are injured:
- Roof crush injuries: These occur when the vehicle’s roof collapses during the roll.
- Ejection injuries: These happen when occupants are thrown from the vehicle, often due to seat belt failures.
As you can imagine, being crushed by the weight of a vehicle and being thrown from a vehicle at high speeds, are both extremely dangerous and often deadly
Victims often suffer catastrophic and life-threatening injuries, such as:
The impact of these injuries is often immense, taking a toll on the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of victims. At The Ammons Law Firm, we understand the difficulties you face. Our Houston rollover accident lawyers are committed to fighting for maximum compensation.
How We Evaluate Rollover Accidents for Potential Vehicle Defects
Our investigation process typically includes the following steps:
Vehicle Examination
When possible, our team works with engineering experts to examine the vehicle involved in the rollover. This may include measurements of roof deformation and assessment of structural components. Preservation of the vehicle is important for any potential product liability claim.
Technical Analysis
Our retained experts may evaluate the vehicle’s design against applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, including FMVSS 216 (roof crush resistance). They analyze factors such as the vehicle’s static stability factor (SSF), which measures rollover propensity, and roof strength-to-weight ratio. This technical review helps determine whether the vehicle’s design may have contributed to the injuries sustained.
Injury Causation Analysis
Biomechanical experts may evaluate the relationship between roof crush measurements and the occupant’s injuries. This analysis helps establish whether a stronger roof structure could have prevented or reduced the severity of the injuries.
Data Review
Where available, Event Data Recorders (EDRs) can provide information about the vehicle’s speed, steering, and braking in the moments before the rollover. This data may help distinguish between driver actions and potential vehicle defects.
Comparative Analysis
Experts may compare the subject vehicle’s design to similar vehicles and industry standards to evaluate whether alternative, safer designs were feasible at the time of manufacture.
Document Discovery
In litigation, we seek internal manufacturer documents, prior complaints to NHTSA, and any recall history related to the vehicle model.
Our rollover lawyers are prepared to fight for you. Call us at (281) 801-5617 or contact us online to get started with a free consultation.
Were You Injured in a Rollover Crash?
Our rollover accident attorneys are committed to holding negligent manufacturers accountable and seeking fair compensation for injured victims and their loved ones. Since 2004, our firm has secured more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts on behalf of victims of negligence. Much of our practice focuses on auto defect litigation, including cases involving roof crush rollover accidents.
A Few Examples of Our Past Successes:
- A successful case against Ford on behalf of the family of a man killed in an F250 rollover accident
- Securing compensation from Chrysler for a teen who was paralyzed in a pickup truck rollover
- Securing payment from Ford for an accident in which a college student was killed by a collapsed pickup truck roof
- Securing compensation from GM and the dealership on behalf of the victim of an uncrashworthy pickup truck
- Securing compensation from Ford on behalf of a man who was paralyzed in an F250 rollover accident
- Securing compensation from Nissan for the family of victims killed in a fatal crash
- Securing compensation from Ford for the parents of a veteran who was killed in a rollover accident in Oklahoma
Call our roof crush and rollover accident lawyers today at (281) 801-5617. We serve clients across the United States.


If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a rollover accident, our
