Fifteen-passenger vans are often used by businesses and social groups when a group is too large to travel by car or minivan but too small to justify using a full-sized bus. However, 15-passenger vans pose a large risk of rolling over, especially when they are fully loaded. In order to help drivers avoid 15-passenger van rollover accidents in Tennessee and across the nation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) provides information and safety tips to drivers of these large vans.
Since 2004, the NHTSA has required makers of 15-passenger vans to install an electronic stability control system. These systems are also used on large trucks and buses and are designed to help reduce the chances of the vehicle rolling over by improving its stability. However, 15-passenger vans are not likely to have this system if they were made before 2004, making them more likely to roll than newer vans.
The NHTSA warns drivers that they should always be aware of the risk of rollover, which increases the more a van is filled with passengers and/or cargo. Vans should always be loaded with as much of the weight in front of the rear axle as possible, and passengers should always wear their seat belts at all times.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a 15-passenger van accident, the experienced Tennessee 15-passenger van accident lawyers at Massey & Associates, P.C., can help you understand your legal rights and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today (423) 396-0720.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
