Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

This past Sunday, a 15 passenger van carrying 15 farm workers from West Palm Beach to New Jersey rolled over, killing 3 and catastrophically injuring 11 others traveling in the van. The van rollover accident occurred when one of the van’s tires separated, causing the driver to lose control.

For many years, 15-passenger vans have been the vehicle of choice when transporting large groups of people. These vehicles are often used for transporting church groups, school children, and large groups of workers.

Since 1990, there have been over 500 reported fatalities involving single-vehicle, 15 passenger van rollovers. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies have shown that the design of these large vans increases the rate at which the rear tires wear. When a tire blows, as was the case in Sunday’s 15 passenger van rollover crash, it is extremely difficult for the driver of the van to regain control. What tends to happen is the weight of the engine takes over and forces the van into a spin. The spinning causes an unequal distribution of weight, and within seconds, the van rolls over. This was the case Sunday Morning, when the 1997 15-passenger van being driven by 57-year-old Vilbrun Bertrand, rolled several times, ejecting multiple passengers and claiming the lives of 38-year-old Benitoh Delice, 45-year-old Berteau Nazairre, and 34-year-old Sonja Maubrun.

Many times, 15-passenger vans are operated in the South where roads have high surface temperatures and tires blow out or delaminate preceding the rollover accident. Many 15-passenger vans still have recalled tires on them; that is, defective tires that are prone to blow out or tread separation.

As an experienced PA 15 passenger van rollover attorney who has investigated and litigated many rollover claims involving tire defects, I am aware of internal corporate documents possessed by the automobile manufacturers that clearly indicate the dangers of these vehicles. For over three decades, the experienced van rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been successfully investigating and litigating 15 passenger van rollovers. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

What Can You Do to be Safer on the Roads and What Can You do if You Were Injured in Such an Accident

This past Sunday night, another van rollover crash on I-96 killed a young victim and left several others in serious condition. The accident involved a 2002 Chevrolet Express that holds 15 passengers. Similar vans are commonly used by hotels, airport shuttles, churches, and soccer teams to transport a large number of people.

The van rollover accident occurred after the van’s rear left tire blew out and the driver lost control. The van flipped over and rolled into a ditch.

15-passenger vans accidents in Philadelphia and across the nation are much more common than anyone would expect. Figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that between 2003 and 2007, 473 people were killed while traveling in a 15 passenger van. Notably, 80% of those passengers were not wearing seat belts. While most people tend to feel safer in a large van, and therefore do not buckle-up, that is clearly a false sense of security.

NHTSA studies have also shown that the design of these large vans leads to faster wear on the left rear tire. When the left tire blows, it is extremely difficult for the van’s driver to regain control over the tremendous forces at work. The weight of the engine takes over and forces the van into a spin. The spinning leads to an unequal distribution of weight, and within seconds, the van has rolled over. This is exactly what happened Sunday night.

While NHTSA has issued a safety alert on 15 passenger vans, they are still extremely popular vehicles around the country. NHTSA recommends that drivers of these vehicles seek additional training before operating them and that the tire pressure and wear of the large vans should be closely monitored. But who enforces this? How do you know the next time you land at an airport and take one to the rental car pavilion that the van you are in is safe? Or that the driver is trained? You do not know. As an experienced Pennsylvania van rollover accident attorney, for over three decades I have litigated many cases involving 15 passenger vans. That is why we are here to protect you and your loved ones. At Reiff and Bily, we strive to ensure that you are safe at all times, even when you do not know that you are in danger.

Injured persons can hold the driver or the company that owns and operates these large vans legally liable for their injuries. It is the responsibility of the van company to ensure that drivers are skilled and capable of driving these 15 passenger vans before allowing them on the roads. It is also the responsibility of the companies to make sure the van is properly inspected and up to national and state standards. Especially with such strict safety alerts by NHTSA, van companies have a higher responsibility to passengers. The Philadelphia 15 passenger van rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily will make sure you are safe.

If you or someone you love has been catastrophically injured or killed in a van accident, the experienced Philadelphia van crash attorneys of Reiff and Bily have the necessary experience and resources to assist you. We will examine the facts, evaluate your claim, determine which parties and insurance companies are responsible, and organize all of the details necessary to seek a recover.

Contact our lawyers for a no fee, no obligation, consultation at 1-800-421-9595, or contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.