Los Angeles 15 Passenger Van Accident Attorneys
Fifteen-passenger vans are popular vehicles for transporting small groups of people because they are an inexpensive way to transport large groups. Unfortunately, these vans can be extremely dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued several warnings over the years about the use of 15-passenger vans. Despite numerous design flaws and other potential dangers, these vans are commonly used by schools, community groups, businesses and even child care centers for transportation.
The Dangers of 15-Passenger Vans
- Propensity to roll over: If a driver needs to brake hard or turn quickly to avoid something, or in other words, take evasive action -- the vans tend to fishtail and rollover.
- Poor handling: They are much less responsive than minivans and their length and weight makes them difficult to control.
- Unsafe Occupant Protection: The roof and other structures surrounding the passenger compartment are weak and fail to protect occupants in foreseeable accidents. In addition, the seat belt restraints do not provide proper protection.
- Low tire pressure is a hazard: In a normal vehicle, low tire pressure may affect gas mileage and little else, but a 15-passenger van with improperly inflated tires becomes hard to control. If a worn tire fails on the highway, it is very likely that even an experienced driver will lose control of the vehicle.
- No special training required: School buses require training and a class B license. These vans only require a regular class C driving license. This means less experienced drivers, with little knowledge of how to handle a larger vehicle weighed down by a full load, are often put behind the wheel.
Despite all of these dangers, there are over 550,000 15-passenger vans currently on the road. They continue to be involved in serious crashes that result in multiple personal injuries and fatalities. So far, there has been no legislation or rule issued by the federal government to ban these dangerous vehicles.
Life changing personal injury accidents in these vans are common. If you have been seriously injured in a Los Angeles 15-passenger van accident, you need an experienced personal injury legal team by your side. The auto makers and rental companies that put these dangerous and defective vehicles in the market can be held accountable for personal injuries or wrongful death. The driver, the manufacturer of the van, or even the corporations or organizations that are utilizing the van may also be held liable for the accident.
It is important to have proper legal representation if you have been seriously injured. Our attorneys have years of experience in obtaining record verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.
Panish Shea & Boyle LLP - Strength By Your Side™
