Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Despite years of warnings about the tendency of oversized vehicles such as SUVs and passenger vans to roll over, the oversized passenger van has become steadily more popular. The problem is that, as the sizes of these vehicles increase and their designs become more elaborate, they become more dangerous to handle. This is the case for the increasingly popular 15-passenger van—especially when it’s driven by an inexperienced driver. The combination of dangerous design and inexperience is indeed a lethal one.

15-passenger vans, like SUVs, have a high center of gravity, which means that they can be easily destabilized by accident-avoidance maneuvers, or by slick, icy roads—causing them to roll over. In addition, improperly sized or inflated tires on these vehicles can increase the chance of blow-outs or flat tires, which also creates instability.

Under certain conditions, even a properly inflated tire can have an increase in pressure, when additional weight and highway heat are added to mix. This is particularly true in hot and sunny places in the U.S., and in temperate countries around the world, where the surface temperatures of roadways can be dangerously high. A defective or over-inflated tire can explode from the combination of heat, elevated pressure, and friction on the hot roadway surface. If there is a blow-out, the long tail—or 4-foot overhang of the van—will wag the body, causing it to serpentine, become uncontrollable, and roll.

Despite their large seating capacity, these vehicles are vulnerable to overloading. Since adding passengers raises a vehicle’s center of gravity, a 15-passenger van will become harder to handle, the more passengers and luggage are packed into it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the chances of rollover for a 15-passenger van increase more than 400 percent when it’s fully loaded.

While such exotic features as stadium seating may thrill passengers, they do not protect them from the danger of accidents. Many passengers in these vehicles seem to believe they are invincible while riding in them, and do not use seat belts. During the period of 2007-2011, 62 percent of individuals fatally injured in 15-passenger vans were unrestrained, and, of those, 54 percent were fully ejected from the vehicle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the death rate for occupants of 15-passenger vans is higher than for all other passenger vehicle types combined.

What is of special concern to me, as a 15-passenger van rollover and SUV rollover attorney, is the fact that many people who drive these vehicles do so sporadically, and are inexperienced. For an inexperienced or inadequately trained driver, the responsibility of handling such a vehicle is enormous—both in terms of safety and liability. A camp counselor taking kids on a field trip, or a volunteer transporting a church group to a fundraising event, are equally at risk of getting into a serious accident. And, since most often these vehicles are rented, drivers have little opportunity to practice using them.

The reason experience is so necessary for driving these large vans is that their extreme length, width, and height make them harder to drive than smaller vehicles. Drivers must rely heavily on side mirrors to change lanes, judge distances, and negotiate the road. They must also be keenly aware of braking distances and special handling characteristics. And they must have the driving skills to park large vehicles. For an inexperienced driver, even simple things like backing up, or driving around a corner can be hard. Turning the steering wheel too far is enough to cause the van’s gravity to shift.

Having investigated and prosecuted cases where numerous victims have been killed or catastrophically injured in 15-passenger van accidents, we understand the trauma involved. We also understand how design defects in oversized vehicles can cause such calamities.

If you are the victim or family member of a 15-passenger van accident, you need to contact an experienced lawyer with a track record of beating automobile manufacturers in court. Such cases are complicated to litigate, and require skillful investigation and special expertise.

The 15-passenger van rollover and SUV rollover attorneys at Reiff and Bily have been recognized by their peers as having the highest possible rating in both legal abilities and ethical standards. They are consistently recognized as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and are members of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Attorneys. Contact them for a free, no obligation consultation.

Last night, Tuesday, February 26, 2013, a 15-passenger van rolled over on a Pennsylvania highway, striking a tree. Initial police reports indicate that the vehicle was carrying fifteen occupants, and crashed just after 8:00 p.m. on Interstate 380 North. Driving conditions were said to have turned treacherous, with the onset of freezing rain. At least one occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead, and others were transported to the nearby Geisinger Medical Center. Our hearts and prayers are extended to the victims and their families, and we ask that anyone who has further information report it to us.

While many will attempt to point the finger at the driver, this accident was likely caused by deadly, but not uncommon, combination: a vehicle with serious design flaws and hazardous road conditions. Indeed, the 15-passenger van may be one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road, when fully loaded. Design defects on these vans include a high center of gravity, which has long been known to increase the possibility of rollover, and stadium seating, in which seats are placed at graduated heights. The rear of the vehicle extends up to four feet beyond the rear wheels , a feature that increases the possibility of ‘fishtailing,’ or sliding from side to side, if the van loses traction on an icy road surface.

The National Transportation Safety Board is fully aware that vans overturn more than 50 percent of the time when involved in single vehicle crashes. Indeed, 81% of all fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes occur in single vehicle crash rollovers. A 15-passenger van carrying 15 people and overloaded with cargo has a 70% greater chance of being involved in a rollover accident than any another vehicle on the road.

The 15-passenger van has been deemed so unsafe that many churches, schools—in addition to the military— have totally banned them as a means for transportation. There are currently in excess of a half million 15-passenger vans registered in the United States. 85% are listed as Ford Econoline Club E-350 and Dodge B-350/3500.

NHTSA has gone so far as to recommend that the drivers of these vans need a commercial driver’s license. A fully loaded 15-passenger van requires special driving skills and, unless an individual has been properly trained in how to drive them safely under various road conditions, and learned special accident avoidance maneuvers, an accident can likely occur in such conditions.

We have investigated and prosecuted cases where dozens of victims have been killed or catastrophically injured in 15-passenger and SUV rollover crashes. We understand how and why life-altering injuries and deaths can occur as a result of design defects—drastically altering the hopes and dreams of innocent victims and their families.

Victims and their families involved in a 15-passenger van accident should contact an experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyer with a track record of beating automobile manufacturers in court. The successful prosecution of 15-passenger van accident cases requires experience, skillful investigation, and immediate action, to avoid non-spoliation of evidence. 15-passenger van rollover cases are high-stakes, complicated cases to litigate, and require special expertise.

The 15-passenger van rollover and SUV rollover attorneys of Reiff and Bily have been recognized by their peers as having the highest possible rating in both legal abilities and ethical standards, and are consistently recognized as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and are members of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Attorneys. Our skilled 15-passenger van and SUV rollover always offer a free, no obligation consultation.

As an experienced Philadelphia van rollover attorney, one thing I’ve noticed is that every summer, as more and more church groups, summer camps, and educational programs turn to an inexpensive method of transportation, namely the 15-passenger van, more rollover accidents will occur.

Recently, another fatal crash involving a van occurred when occupants were traveling to a family reunion in Arkansas. The reason for summertime van rollovers and accidents is generally a combination of a number of potentially deadly factors. The 15-passenger van’s unsafe track record is caused by serious design flaws due to the fact that the 15-passenger van was originally designed for cargo. Therefore, placing a high capacity of passengers in such a vehicle substantially increases the rollover rate due to the high center of gravity and extended rear body.

We add to these factors that many times these vehicles are driven by untrained drivers unfamiliar with the stability factors and unfamiliar drivers may be driving on hot highways where tire de-lamination’s or defects are likely to occur. Obviously, with increased roadway surface temperatures, pressure can increase on the tire causing a blowout and the extended tail of this vehicle will sway in a snake-like pattern, placing it in a precarious and unstable position which ultimately may lead to a rollover.

There are over 400 reported fatalities involving single 15-passenger van rollovers and a majority of them occur in the summer. There are currently over 500,000 15-passenger vans in use in the summer transporting school age children, churchgoers, and unknowing groups of innocent people to camps or large reunions or church gatherings. More than half of the accidents involving 15-passenger vans are single vehicle crashes compared to 33% for other vehicles. 81% of all fatalities in 15-passenger van cases occur in single vehicle crash rollovers and when the van is loaded to capacity, it has a 70% greater chance of being involved in a rollover accident. Simply stated, based on our experience and investigations involving rollover accidents, the 15-passenger van is perhaps the most unsafe vehicle on the road.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an SUV or 15-passenger van rollover, we always offer a free, no obligation consultation and can assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in the investigation of the claim as we work with the finest and most experienced experts throughout the world. Our experienced 15-passenger van accident attorneys are proud to have been named as one of The Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers, The Top Northeast Attorneys, and Top 100 Lawyers in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

In a hotly contested legal battle in Sacramento, California, a jury awarded three plaintiffs $73 million in a lawsuit claiming that the Ford Motor Company was negligent and exhibited “despicable conduct” as well as “maliciousness or oppression” over their failure to warn customers and dealers that it had a defective tire on a 15-passenger E-350 Econoline van which plaintiffs claim was unsafe in its own right. Like many other 15-passenger van rollovers, an innocent group of churchgoers fell victim to the dangers of 15-passenger vans as the van skidded off an interstate highway after a right rear tire tread separated. Trial evidence revealed that Ford had knowledge of the tire defect as they had been contacted by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and despite knowledge of the defective tire, never made an effort to contact dealers and customers. Like many other 15-passenger van rollover cases, the Ford Motor Company hired attorneys who attempted to point the finger of blame at everyone else and called the awards unfair despite the fact that this knowingly dangerous van series has been the subject of numerous federal advisories. The $73 million award also includes $50 million in punitive damages.

As an experienced 15-passenger van attorney, I understand and know that 15-passenger vans are death traps in certain situations and perhaps one of the most dangerous vehicles on our highways. Since 1982, there have been more than 740 rollovers recorded which have resulted in close to 1,200 deaths. As the mother of one of my young clients who was recently killed in a 15-passenger van rollover case asked, “Why is it that people who continue to do the right thing and follow the way of God continue to be killed or catastrophically injured when the auto manufacturers, component manufacturers, and tire manufacturers who have knowledge of the dangers inherent in these vehicles continue to manufacture them placing the interests of corporate bottom line profitability for shareholders above passenger safety?”

I hope that this verdict rings loud in the ears of the manufacturers who continue to manufacture these defective machines of transportation and also brings notice to other innocent victims the inherent dangers of 15-passenger vans. Hats off to plaintiffs’ legal team.

In 2004, a 15 passenger church van rolled over. The plaintiffs’ lawyers representing the deceased victims argued that the Ford Motor Company knew that the vehicle had faulty tires but refused to do anything about it. Plaintiffs’ attorney stated to the jury “the evidence is uncontested that Ford made a conscious decision to not communicate information to dealerships and they made a conscious decision not to tell their customers.” The facts of the case alleged that a tread separation and tire defect of the van’s rear right tire, manufactured by Goodyear, caused the accident. Plaintiffs’ attorney claimed that Ford (the manufacturer of the 15-passenger 1993 E-350 Ford Econoline van) knew about the recall and was negligent for never informing its dealers or customers. However, not so surprising in this case, is the fact that Ford claims the deaths of the driver and passenger was due to their not wearing seat belts. The case has not yet gone to the jury.

As an experienced Pennsylvania 15 passenger van and SUV rollover attorney who has investigated and litigated many rollover claims involving tire defects over the years, one thing is for certain, that these vans and SUVs have a higher center of gravity and when fully loaded become very unstable if a tire should experience a blowout due to a defect or the driver enters into a sudden accident avoidance maneuver. I trust that the jury will carefully evaluate all of the evidence and render a just verdict in the California courtroom where this case is being tried. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

I just returned back to Philadelphia from the West Coast and observed a fairly familiar scene which was more horrific to me and should be to any of my readers than any Halloween or haunted attraction, namely a rerun of a scene that I have witnessed all too many times.

While traveling down a highway at a high rate of speed, I saw a 15-passenger van loaded with college students on their way to a sporting event. The van approached a curve at what I consider to be too high a speed, and narrowly avoided rolling over which would have surely resulted in catastrophic injuries and potential deaths to the young occupants. The driver was barely able to prevent a van rollover accident.

As an experienced 15 passenger van and rollover accident attorney for many decades, one can not imagine the horror inflicted upon unknowing and innocent occupants of these vehicles during a normal accident avoidance maneuver which results all too many times in a catastrophic 15-passenger van rollover. Unfortunately, many of the occupants of these vehicles are churchgoers following God’s way or school children on their way to a sporting event or class outing. Last year, over 1,000 people were killed or injured in 15-passenger van crashes. Unfortunately, there is still in excess of 500,000 of 15-passenger vans on America’s roadways. The 15-passenger van was a modified design of a van originally meant to carry cargo. As the 15-passenger van becomes fully loaded with occupants and luggage, the rollover rate increases significantly due to its high center of gravity and extended rear section. If this occurrence is coupled with an inexperienced driver, defective tires, or an accident avoidance maneuver, the horror is unimaginable and often results in the loss of innocent and young lives. The automobile manufacturers and their well versed attorneys will tell you that these vehicles are very safe and have passed many stringent safety tests. However, as an experienced 15-passenger van and rollover attorney, I am aware of internal corporate documents possessed by the automobile manufacturers that clearly indicate the dangers of these vehicles. So the question that begs to be answered is why are they still being used by so many daycare centers, senior citizen centers, churches, sports teams, and schools when they are so extremely hazardous and dangerous. Simply put, automobile and 15-passenger van manufacturers continue to emphasize profitability over safety, and all too many people do not know about the dangers of these vehicles until they receive a frantic phone call informing them of an accident.

Continue reading "15-Passenger Vans Are More Horrific Than Anything Else You Will Come Into Contact With During Halloween Season" »

When Bill Brownwell was cruising in a 15 passenger van and suddenly felt a shake in the back of the van and to his right, he became concerned and alarmed and turned around to take a look at what the noise was. Brownwell was driving a 1993 Ford Econoline E350 15-passenger van on a church outing for a spring concert tour in 2004 when he lost control of the 15 passenger van when the right rear tire tread separated. Like most other 15-passenger van operators in a similar situation, he tried to regain control of the vehicle and bring it back to the roadway after which point the 15-passenger van flipped sideways and then rolled over four times ejecting the driver Brownwell and another passenger leaving them both dead on the side of the road. This 15 passenger van rollover case is currently being tried in California with allegations that the Ford Motor Company knew that the 15-passenger econoline van was dangerous and failed to notify its customers about its alleged defects.

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney who has witnessed a similar scenario over and over, and unfortunately has dealt with the families of those who have unnecessarily died or have been catastrophically injured due to the alleged defects of the 15-passenger vans, it is important that the manufacturers of these 15-passenger vans be held accountable for their conduct and lack of actions. 15-passenger vans have a high center of gravity and have a high risk of crashes and rollovers in an accident avoidance maneuver or if they are not properly driven or maintained by those who have knowledge of its specific handling characteristics. Many states and school districts have now banned 15-passenger vans. However, they still be the dominant vehicle of choice for church groups, many of whom have limited knowledge of their dangers. The Federal government recently banned the use of 15-passenger vans for school transportation purposes and NHTSA has recently stated that only trained drivers should operate their vehicles and to make sure that the vehicle is properly balanced and loaded.

While NHTSA advises passengers to buckle up for every trip, our experienced 15-passenger van and crashworthiness attorneys have been able to demonstrate even in a van rollover, a weak roof structure, and inadequate and defective design still renders the occupants subject to life altering catastrophic injuries including quadriplegia or paraplegia or death. Many times 15-passenger vans are operated in the South or Southwest 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. There are currently in excess of 500,000 15-passenger vans on the road, and according to safety and consumer advocate Sean Kane, the 15-passenger van “has a unique position in the world of defective vehicles in the United States”. These vehicles, Kane added, were cobbled together to meet certain needs but were never vetted in terms of safety. There really weren’t any standards applicable to these kind of vehicles.

For over three decades, the experienced vehicle rollover accident and 15-passenger van accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have been successfully investigating and litigating SUV rollover crashes, 15-passenger van rollover crashes, and other product liability claims, including but not limited to defective seat belts, airbags defects, fuel fed fires, roof crush, and crashworthiness. We are committed to consumer and automobile safety and believe that automobile manufacturers must be held accountable and safety rather than profitability must be priority number one.

On Saturday, August 20th, 8 members of the Mainland varsity and junior varsity football teams of Linwood, New Jersey were traveling to a restaurant in Egg Harbor Township for a traditional annual breakfast with coaches and players after the last football practice of the summer when tragedy struck.

According to news sources, the 2002 Ford Explorer that the eight football players were traveling in lost control and careened off the southbound ramp of Exit 38A on the Garden State Parkway causing the Explorer to overturn several times, ejecting two of the passengers. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, one died at the hospital, and 4 others were injured in this tragic accident. State Police continue to investigate. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the victims and their families in this tragic accident. As an experienced SUV rollover
and 15-passenger van rollover lawyer, I am aware that these vehicles can be highly unstable and more prone to rollover crashes than many other vehicles due to their higher center of gravity. The families of the victims would be well advised to contact an experienced SUV rollover attorney to investigate this accident. Our skilled team of SUV rollover lawyers has handled many SUV rollover and 15-passenger van accidents and know what to look for and have held major automotive corporations responsible for damages suffered by the drivers and passengers of single vehicle accidents.

Since 1979, our skilled Pennsylvania car accident and single vehicle car accident lawyers have represented generations of Pennsylvanians with a successful track record. Recently, we have joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I recently had the occasion to attend a church meeting where the latest church outing and tour was being promoted to congregants. Basically when I learned that tour members from the church would be transported in a 15-passenger van, I became extraordinarily concerned.

The experienced 15-passenger van rollover and catastrophic accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily understand from experience that the 15-passenger van may be one of the most deadly and potentially dangerous and deadly vehicles on our highways as they suffer from a multitude of alleged design defects. Almost every summer, we learn of new catastrophic traffic accidents involving churchgoers, tour groups, and students who are unknowing about these defects and dangers of the 15-passenger vans until it is way too late. Many times, 15-passenger vans are operated by church groups or tour groups and driven by inexperienced and untrained drivers, and due to their design have a significant risk of rollover. 15-passenger vans when loaded have a very high center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in accident avoidance maneuver or if there is a tire failure or blowout.

Extensive research done by the experienced 15-passenger van rollover and van accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily and other prominent 15-passenger van attorneys throughout the United States has indicated that manufacturers knew of defects yet continued to sell vehicles due to high profit margins despite minimal expenditures despite defects. Approximately 30 American states prohibit schools or daycare centers from using 15-passenger vans and I will not let my own children or friends that I care about travel in one of these. As Louis Pasteur once famously was quoted as saying “chance favors the prepared mind”, and being an advocate and stalwart of consumer safety, if you are aware of the dangers of this vehicle, do yourself a favor and take another means of transportation.

Continue reading "Can Tour Groups and Church Groups Prevent Accidents Before They Occur? - Experienced 15-Passenger Van Rollover Attorney Thinks So" »

As an experienced Philadelphia 15-passenger van rollover attorney , I always lose a part of my heart and soul representing innocent victims and their families who were catastrophically injured or killed as a result of a 15-passenger church van rollover accident. Recently this past weekend yet another single van rollover catastrophically injured and took the lives of church members after returning from an amusement park outing. Members of the church group state that there was a tire failure causing the driver to lose control whereupon the vehicle rolled over. A 19-year old recent high school graduate died in the accident. Eight other children or teenage passengers were ejected from the van with many remaining in critical condition.

I have written many articles and spoken to church groups and school groups about the dangers of 15-passenger vans and the epidemic of rollovers that continue to take the lives of unknowing and innocent individuals. There is not a week that goes by without news of another catastrophic 15-passenger van rollover.

The experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have known for a long time what manufacturers have also known, simply that the 15-passenger van is one of the most unsafe and unforgiving vehicles on the road as they suffer from a multitude of design defects. Most times the 15-passenger van rollover crash occurs due to a defective tire coupled with an inexperienced and untrained driver. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to roll over when it is fully loaded due to the fact that it has a high center of gravity and the known design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in an accident avoidance maneuver. Extensive research performed by the lawyers of Reiff & Bily together with some of the finest experts in the world has revealed that many manufacturers knew about these van defects which was evidenced in internal and testing documents. Yet they continue to sell them due to high profit margins despite minimal expenditures to fix even though their own test drivers were being injured during testing procedures.

Continue reading "Its Summertime and Experienced 15-Passenger Van Lawyer Not Surprised To Learn More Tragic News About Catastrophic Injuries and Fatalities In Church Van Rollover Accidents" »

As an experienced van rollover attorney, one of the first things I almost always observe after a van accident is that the driver is blamed and cited for unsafe driving. As an experienced van rollover lawyer for over three decades, I can state honestly that van and rollover cases gets in your blood, heart, and head because these vans are probably the most unsafe vehicles on the road and have even proven to be unsafe when operated by skilled test drivers for the manufacturers but yet innocent and unknowing drivers and victims are often blamed for the disaster.

According to news sources, the van accident occurred in the southbound lanes of I-95 in the Churchmans Marsh area at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in New Castle County, Delaware. Paramedics took 16 people to the hospital for treatment. Thankfully none of the injuries were life threatening. The van rolled over several times on the highway before coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway. The driver claimed he lost control due to something mechanical. Although the driver was cited for operating a vehicle without a driver’s license, proof of insurance, or registration, and the cause of the accident remains under investigation, one thing is for certain, the epidemic of large van rollovers will continue as attorneys and consumer safety groups continue to tackle the manufacturers of these knowingly unsafe death machines. Almost weekly in the summertime, I can predict that we will receive news of another catastrophic van rollover accident that will catastrophically injure and kill innocent and unknowing victims, often church groups or young children. Independent research performed by noted safety investigators, auto defect attorneys, as well as auto safety stalwarts note that there are significant risks in rollovers, death, and catastrophic injuries involving large passenger vans when they are fully loaded. Many times 15-passenger van rollover crashes occur due to defective tires and inexperienced and untrained drivers unfamiliar with the stability and handling characteristics of these vehicles.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this unfortunate van rollover accident and we would advise that they should immediately contact an experienced van rollover accident attorney to fully investigate this accident and immediately preserve the evidence. It is essential that there be no spoilation of the van or any evidence. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to roll over when loaded because they have a high center of gravity and such design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in an accident avoidance maneuver. If a tire problem occurs and the unknowing driver tries to avoid a road or traffic hazard or accident, the chances of a van rollover is more likely than not when the van is loaded.

Continue reading "Individuals Injured In Van Rollover On I-95 In Delaware With Unlicensed Driver - Experienced Van Rollover Lawyer States It Is Probably Not The Driver’s Fault" »

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident attorney and consumer safety advocate, I salute the steps taken by a Missouri school board addressing safety concerns regarding the use of 15-passenger vans to transport students. In October, NHTSA urged users of passenger vans to take steps to keep occupants safe following two fatal crashes involving 15-passenger vans that rolled over and resulted in 10 deaths.

Our skilled 15-passenger van accident attorneys, along with government officials and consumer safety advocates, have known for many years that 15-passenger vans might just be the most unsafe vehicle ever made and have a higher rate of roll over than likely loaded vans. When a 15-passenger van is loaded to capacity or near capacity, the gross vehicle weight moves the center of gravity rearward and upward affecting the stability and handling of the van according to an NTSB report. Unfortunately our experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident lawyers have represented victims and their families of all too many school children and churchgoers who sustained tragic and catastrophic results while riding in the 15-passenger van. 15-passenger vans are one of the most popular vehicles for transporting pre-schoolers, school age, and college church groups, and are involved in more rollover crashes than any other vehicle. As a matter of fact, the danger of 15-passenger vans is so great that many states and municipalities, as well as the military, have outlawed them as a means for transportation.

Continue reading "Another Jurisdiction Updates Policies On The Use Of 15-Passenger Vans For Transporting Students - Thank You!" »

Recently NHSTA opened an investigation into rental car companies and the frequency with which they repair rental vehicles that were subject to safety recalls. As the experienced vehicle product liability and vehicle defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily can attest to, many times cars rented from rental agencies have not been repaired due to the fact that rental companies do not wish to take these vehicles off the road sacrificing safety in order to maximize profitability.

In one of our cases, a 15-passenger van was rented from an agency and rolled over due to a known defect on the vehicle. NHSTA has recently asked the major automobile manufacturers to provide recall and repair information for models of vehicles that are popular among rental companies, including but not limited to the Chevy Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, and Ford Fusion. NHSTA, a governmental agency, is attempting to investigate how long it has taken rental companies to take their vehicles in for service once there is a recall. Consumer advocates and attorneys have known and claimed that rental companies do not immediately remove their vehicles out of service and wait until it is “convenient” to have the vehicles repaired. Of course the rental companies deny this and claimed that vehicles subject to recalls and put consumer safety at risk are put on hold until they are repaired.

As an experienced auto defect and product liability lawyer, we are all too familiar with circumstances where this is not the case. As chance favors the prepared mind, we believe that safety should not be an option and that rental agencies owe the highest duty of care to their customers and should be held accountable if the renter is injured in an accident due to their failing to repair a known defect.

Jurors once again spoke out against the dangers of 15-passenger vans by awarding $120 million dollars to the families of victims in a crash of a 15-passenger van in Colorado in October 2005. Two passengers were killed in the van rollover on Interstate 76 in Lochbuie, Colorado. The 15-passenger van did not have seat belts and was driven over 188,000 miles in 2 years. According to the testimony, the driver of the van lost control of the van, which then went over an embankment and rolled over.

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover and SUV rollover lawyer who has represented victims and their families in similar instances, we applaud the courage of the jury for sending a message that these vans are simply death traps and too dangerous for the precious cargo that they transport.

If you or a loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury or wrongful death due to a 15-passenger van rollover or SUV rollover, please contact the experienced 15-passenger van and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. Our record of success speaks for itself.

For the second time in two weeks, another church van rolled over in a single vehicle accident after a tire blew out on a Georgia highway killing at least four individuals and injuring another 13 passengers. When the tire blew out, the van lost control striking the median, rolling over several times whereupon many passengers were ejected. The van was the notably troublesome 1987 Dodge Ram 3500 15-passenger van and was from Tabernacle Prayer and Deliverance in Columbus, GA.

We were involved in the prosecution of a similar case and call for the government and responsible automakers to take action to prevent senseless accidents such as these from happening in the future. Obviously the manufacturers continue to emphasize profits over safety and the government is sitting back failing to put into effect strict regulations concerning these death machines. The 15-passenger van in this experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney’s opinion is perhaps the most dangerous vehicle on the roadways today killing innocent children and churchgoers. There is a 15-passenger church van rollover epidemic. In mid-September 2010, another 7 people were killed and 7 catastrophically injured when another church van rolled over.

The experienced 15-passenger van and SUV rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have known for a long time that 15-passenger vans continue to be one of the most unsafe vehicles on the road and suffer from a multitude of design defects that the manufacturers knew about. I have intimately shared the pain and loss of all too many parents, children, and churchgoers who are unknowing about these defects and dangers until the accident happens. Government research and research done by automobile manufacturers indicate there is a significant risk of rollover in 15-passenger vans when fully loaded. Many times, the 15-passenger van rollover crash occurs due to defective tires and inexperienced untrained drivers. The victims and the passengers of this unfortunate and tragic accident would be well advised to contact an experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident attorney to fully investigate this accident and recover proper compensation they rightfully deserve because the manufacturer of this van knew of the defects and continued to sell it and did not recall it. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to rollover when fully loaded because they have a high center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in a tire blowout or accident avoidance maneuver. Those injured or wrongfully killed have a legal right to hold the manufacturer responsible for physical and financial injuries and go a step further and make the manufacturer admit in court what they have known all along that these vehicles are not safe. Additionally, it is time for the government to take action as well and enforce regulations prohibiting the transport of church people or students in these vehicles as many other governments around the world have.

Seven people were killed and at least 7 other church members are catastrophically injured after a tire blew out on a 15-passenger church van resulting in a loss of control sending passengers tumbling and ejected out of the vehicle. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and it saddens me as an experienced 15-passenger van rollover and accident lawyer every time I learn of another accident involving what I consider to be the most dangerous vehicle on the roadways of America today.

The experienced 15-passenger van accident and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily have known for a long time simply that 15-passenger vans are one of the most unsafe vehicles on the road and suffer from a multitude of design defects.

We successfully handled a case almost completely identical to this accident involving another church group, and it is not surprising that the facts are almost identical. We have shared the pain and loss of all too many parents, children, and church-goers who are unknowing about these defects and dangers of the 15-passenger van until it is too late. Government research and research done by the automotive manufacturers indicates that there is significant risk of rollovers in 15-passenger vans when they are fully loaded. Most times, 15-passenger van rollover crashes occur due to defective tires and inexperienced and untrained drivers. The victims and their families of this unfortunate and tragic accident would be well advised to contact an experienced 15-passenger van accident and rollover attorney to fully investigate this accident and get them the proper compensation they rightfully deserve from the manufacturer of this van. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to roll over when loaded because they have a higher center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in an accident avoidance maneuver if a tire problem occurs such as news sources indicate existed here.

Our extensive research has revealed that manufacturers knew about these defects which was evidenced on internal documents. Yet, they continue to sell these defective vehicles due to high profit margin despite a minimal expenditure to fix the defect that they knew about even when their own test drivers and experts were being injured during testing procedures. Because these vehicles carry a large number of people and weight and the drivers are not required to have a special commercial driver’s license, they were generally a smart choice for transporting millions of school children and churchgoers across the United States until reports of rollover deaths in 15-passenger vans began rolling in. Those injured or wrongfully killed have the legal right to hold the manufacturers responsible for physical and financial injuries and go a step further and make the manufacturers admit in court what they have known all along, that these vehicles are simply not safe.

If you or a loved one has been injured or wrongfully killed in a 15-passenger van or rollover accident, please contact the experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free, no obligation consultation. We can provide references and free legal consultation. Our record of success speaks for itself. Please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Pennsylvania SUV and van rollover attorney, I wish to direct your attention to a very important website run by Patrick James. The website is the American Center for Van and Tire Safety. I urge you to visit their Facebook page. As an experienced 15-passenger van accident lawyer who is very familiar with the dangers of 15-passenger vans and the catastrophic injuries and tragic deaths that they cause to unsuspecting individuals, I urge all of you to never ride in any of these vehicles or allow your children to ride in them. For more information visit the above site, or our homepage for more information on the dangers presented by these awful vehicles. If you or a loved one has any questions involving the safety of 15-passenger vans or have a loved one who has sustained catastrophic injuries or death as a result of being a passenger in one of these vans, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a no fee no obligation consultation. We have the experience and tools necessary to hold the wrongdoers and manufacturers of these vehicles accountable for their actions.

Another church van rollover has left 10 people injured. According to the Toledo Blade, an Ohio-based church van rolled over on U.S. Route 23 injuring 10 occupants on Sunday, January 10, 2010. Not so dissimilar from other church outings, this church van was coming back from a church retreat in southwest Michigan when the van allegedly veered left off of the road onto a snow covered shoulder causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The van rolled over twice before landing on its wheels in a ditch on the side of the highway and many of the young group members were thrown or ejected from the vehicle during the incident. Although the Michigan State Police report indicates that it appears as though the driver of the van fell asleep at the wheel of the vehicle, I have seen the same claim made in cases where that was not actually the situation.

As a strong advocate against the use of these large vans by church groups and educational groups, I feel compelled to warn once again that these vehicles are simply not safe and often an accident avoidance maneuver and over-correction results in accidents such as this with catastrophic injuries and fatalities.

To this experienced rollover and 15-passenger van attorney, the 15-passenger van is perhaps the most unsafe vehicle on the roadways today and it often claims unknowing victims from church and school groups.

The jury at a coroner’s inquest into the deaths of three women in a 15-passenger van crash in Canada recommended that large passenger vans be classified as high risk vehicles. At the 15-passenger van and SUV rollover law firm of Reiff & Bily this is something we have known and adamantly warned consumers about for many years. When a 15-passenger van is loaded with more than six people, it can become unstable. As more people are loaded in the van, the instability increases to dangerous proportions with an increased unsafe handling and rollover risk. Every year people are killed in 15-passenger vans and unfortunately most of the time it involves students or churchgoers who are unaware of safety issues involving these vehicles. 15-passenger vans have long been the subject of debate over safety yet reports indicate that there are close to one million on the roadways of the United States.

Recently West Chester University in Pennsylvania issued a directive attempting to prevent the increased risk of accidents and injuries associated with the operation and occupancy of 15-passenger vans. This directive is posted on my website and should be read by anyone considering riding in the same, although this experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney would advise one to avoid driving or occupying a 15-passenger van under any circumstances.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that 15-passenger vans from all domestic manufacturers have a significantly increased risk of rollover much more so than other vehicles under certain driving and occupancy conditions. Accident avoidance maneuvers and overloading is often a major factor contributing to 15-passenger van accidents. Our investigations in these cases has revealed that the manufacturers knowingly put these vehicles on the streets with understanding and knowledge that they had a high potential for catastrophic accidents resulting in fatalities but the large sales and profitability of these vehicles outweighed their regard for consumer safety. We believe that these vehicles are perhaps one of the most unsafe vehicles on our highways.

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney and outspoken critic of the continued use of these vehicles, I find myself reporting on yet another disaster of a 15-passenger van crash. The 15-passenger Ford van was carrying 16 people from New Life Worship Center in Federal Heights and crashed in eastern Oregon this morning killing at least two people and catastrophically injuring several others. Those in the van were aged 18 to 22 years old and studying to be ministers at the Federal Heights church. The van was noted to be a 2002 Ford van and many of the passengers were ejected in the multiple rollovers. These vehicles have an extremely high roll over rate of 85% in a single vehicle crash with 10 to 15 occupants vs. 28% for vans carrying fewer than 5 people. 15-passenger vans are commonly used by church groups and student groups and have a high center of gravity when loaded with passengers. The operation of these vans requires specific knowledge and experience and an accident avoidance maneuver or a sudden driver action often results in a catastrophic loss of control.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the individuals injured and killed as a result of this tragic accident. I recommend that they seek the services of an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney to fully investigate this claim and recover proper damages that may be due to them as a result of a defective auto product design.

Twenty children were overloaded in a 15-passenger van operated by a driver from Kids Clubhouse Daycare that did not have a license. The full capacity of the van was actually 14 people. Additionally, the children were not seat belted. According to news source, the driver will face multiple traffic charges including running a red light and allowing children to sit in the van without seat belts. As a result of an intersectional collision, the van flipped over causing catastrophic injuries to the children inside of the van.

As I have written and spoken about for many years now, 15-passenger vans used to transport church groups and children are simply not safe and in this experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyer’s opinion, simply death traps and their inherent defective vehicle design is the cause of accidents waiting to happen. 15-passenger vans have been banned by many governmental authorities and most states, as well as military authorities. As a matter of fact, many insurance carriers refuse to provide insurance for the same.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims in this unfortunate 15-passenger van rollover accident and they would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney to help them investigate the claim and prosecute the wrongdoers.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a 15-passenger van rollover accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia 15-passenger van rollover attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As the school year opens, regretfully I still see many 15-passenger vans transporting children, our precious cargo, despite being called a “death trap” by the Safety Forum, a U.S. consumer watchdog. Although more than 30 American states prohibit schools or day care providers from using them, there are still 20 other states that use them for transporting school children and there is still an ever increasing number of church groups or convention groups using a 15-passenger vans while unaware of the dangers.

The 15-passenger van was originally designed to carry cargo and was never modified in a proper fashion for passenger safety. In the 1970s the major automobile manufacturers Chrysler, Ford and General Motors took cargo vans and expanded them to carry more than 10 passengers, yet they never modified them to include steel plates, roof reinforcement or laminated windows to protect passengers during a rollover collision.

As an experienced Pennsylvania SUV rollover and 15-passenger van rollover lawyer, I am all too aware of the safety inadequacies of the 15-passenger van and how they fail to protect their occupants in a rollover accident. As a matter of fact, automobile manufacturers have knowledge of the design flaws but have failed to fix them calculating that it was cheaper to pay out claims rather than modify the vans with a safe and proper fix.

Continue reading "15-Passenger Van Death Traps Still Transporting Students As Schools Reopen: Experienced Rollover Attorney Weighs In" »

Our thoughts, hearts and prayers go out to the families of individuals who were catastrophically injured and killed as a result of a single vehicle15-passenger van rollover. According to news sources, the 15-passenger van rolled over several times and came to rest on its top in a ditch on the south side of I-70 in Columbia, MO. According to news sources, Evonne Manner-Wilson, 49, of Sanford, Florida was killed in the crash. Ms. Wilson was allegedly a passenger in the vehicle, seated in the third row on the passenger side. She was still inside the vehicle when it came to rest. The vehicle was a 2001 Dodge Ram van and the driver was identified as Kevin Leeks of Leesburg, Florida. He was inside the van as well and had to be extricated from the van by fire personnel. There were a total of 13 occupants in the van at the time of the crash and 7 of the occupants were transported to the hospital. The 15-passenger van was part of a caravan traveling from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota back to Florida. News sources state there was no indication that the driver was impaired by alcohol or any other substance.

For many years, the experienced 15-passenger van accident and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily have been representing passengers who have been catastrophically injured or killed by traveling in a 15-passenger van that is perhaps the most unsafe vehicle on the roadway today. The rollover risk proposed by the 15-passenger van, including those predominantly used by church groups, school groups and other unsuspecting groups, makes it beyond question one of the most dangerous vehicles out on our roadways.

Continue reading "Another 15-Passenger Van Rollover Claims The Life Of An Occupant And Catastrophically Injures Others - Experienced Rollover Attorney Weighs In" »

The experienced SUV rollover and 15-passenger van accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily salute the Board of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic schools who recently approved a motion to discontinue the use of 15-passenger vans for transporting students and staff. The decision was a long time coming and based upon a rash of rollovers involving 15-passenger vans according to sources involved with the decision.

For many years, the 15-passenger van accident and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily have been representing passengers that have been catastrophically injured or killed while traveling in 15-passenger vans that have flipped over. The rollover risk proposed by 15-passenger vans, including those predominantly used by church groups, school groups and other unsuspecting groups is the most dangerous on the road today. 15-passenger vans started out as cargo utility vehicles in the early 1970’s and they are still essentially cargo vans with modifications made to accommodate passengers.

If a 15-passenger van is fully loaded, it is 6 to 7 times more likely to flip over than a van containing only a driver. As a matter of fact, NHTSA has noted that fully loaded 15-passenger vans are more likely to roll over than any other passenger type of vehicle, including cars, mini vans, SUV’s and trucks.

Continue reading "Catholic Schools Wisely Decide To Ban The Use Of 15-Passenger Vans For Transporting Students And Staff" »

On Friday, May 8, 2009, a woman was killed and four other people were injured in a single vehicle SUV rollover accident. The driver of a Ford Explorer lost control, crossed over the center line, left the roadway whereupon the SUV flipped over multiple times before striking a fence and landing on its side. All of the occupants of the vehicle were ejected during the crash. A female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.

Marketing campaigns indicate that SUVs are safe and family friendly but the experienced SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily will tell you that they are anything but safe. SUVs are highly prone to tipping over, even during normal driving maneuvers because they have heavier bodies and higher centers of gravity. SUVs are the only motor vehicle with a rollover fatality rate higher than any other category of fatality indicated by this unfortunate situation. SUV rollover accidents are catastrophic and most often result in fatalities. Rollovers increase the chances that victims will be ejected from the motor vehicle. When someone is ejected the odds are normally increased that a victim will sustain a head injury or spinal cord injury with permanent catastrophic consequences.

If you have been injured in an SUV rollover or 15-passenger van rollover accident, you are legally entitled to financial costs. The experienced Philadelphia-based SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily represents clients throughout Pennsylvania and the United States in conjunction with other law firms works on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. We have successfully handled thousands of car accident and rollover accidents. Please call us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced rollover attorney, I have noted on my blog in the past that all utility terrain vehicles are extraordinarily dangerous and improper usage often results in catastrophic and disabling injuries including amputations and death.

Recently a report entitled “Citizen Report On UTV Vehicle Hazards ”(report) was submitted by victims of UTV rollovers including the parents of children who were injured or killed in automobile accidents, as well as adult victims to The Trauma Foundation and The Center For Auto Safety.

In our opinion, the Yamaha Rhino is one of the most unsafe of the UTVs and reports have been sent to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Consumer Products Safety Commission and to key members of Congress, as well as The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association which represents UTV manufacturers. Many lawsuits have been filed against Yamaha, the manufacturer of the Rhino, claiming that it is rollover prone with numerous safety defects. Yamaha was aware of problems and risk of injury and offered to install half doors free of charge for all 2004 to 2007 Rhinos. Yamaha never issued a recall of the vehicle and as a result, it is estimated that there are many Rhinos being operated with a design inadequate to prevent many injuries that Yamaha knows occurs when these vehicles rollover. Yamaha rollover accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries. These injuries are life altering and can leave the victim unable to work, making costly medical bills even more of a financial burden.

If you have been injured in a Yamaha Rhino rollover, SUV rollover or 15-passenger van rollover, you are legally entitled to hold the manufacturer responsible for your physical injuries and associated costs. Reiff & Bily has achieved an excellent reputation in the area of product liability and rollover accidents and in recognition of their accomplishments both Jeffrey Reiff and Raymond Bily have been named Superlawyers for seven consecutive years by Law and Politics Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine. If you have any questions regarding a Yamaha Rhino rollover, you can reach an experienced rollover attorney at Reiff & Bily by calling us at 1-800-21-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney Jeffrey Reiff who is familiar with the design defects and the unfortunate instances of catastrophic injuries and fatalities resulting from the operation of 15-passenger vans recently became aware of a directive posted by West Chester University and attached hereto addressing an attempt to prevent increased risk of accidents or injuries associated with the operation and occupancy of 15-passenger vans.

As the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has long been aware, 15-passenger vans have a significantly increased rate of rollover than other vehicles under certain driving and occupancy conditions. We urge all of our readers to avoid the use of 15-passenger vans if at all possible but in the event that you are required to occupy one of these vehicles I recommend that you follow the policies set forth by West Chester University which we are reprinting here. We commend the safety initiative taken by West Chester University and strongly recommend that any church group, educational organization group or for that matter anybody who must operate or occupy 15-passenger vans follow these guidelines which will diminish many of the inherent risks involved in the operation of these vehicles.

Continue reading "Philadelphia 15-Passenger Van Rollover Attorney Salutes West Chester University’s 15-Passenger Van Policy – Others Should Take Notice!" »

According to sources, on January 29, 2009 a 15-passenger van that was pulling a trailer left from Hobe Sound Bible College heading up I-95. The original plan was to drive to a youth convention in Pennsylvania. In the van were siblings Paul and Julia Stetler, school secretary, Karen Hoffman, and two students, Luke Brinkman and Ally Lavy. About 60 miles down the road, the tire tread separated from the rear tire causing this already defectively designed and unstable vehicle to cross over three lanes of traffic, completely turn around, and exit the roadway in a strip of land that was miraculously cleared of trees two weeks ago. The van turned on its side, all the windows on the driver’s side broke out and one of the passengers was ejected out of the window and rolled from the van.

I have all too often written about the dangers of 15-passenger vans and the incredible number of miles being logged on these by church groups, school children, as well as campers. Miraculously, none of the passengers were killed in this accident. Normally these types of crashes result in the most catastrophic injuries and fatalities and usually all too often the victims leave in body bags. This is truly a miracle.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a 15-passenger van accident, please feel free to contact the experienced 15-passenger van lawyers at the 15-passenger van rollover law firm of Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The Philadelphia 15-passenger van rollover attorneys at Reiff & Bily salute the State Department of Health and Human Resources of West Virginia which now requires daycare centers to make sure all vehicles used to transport large numbers of children meet the same safety requirements as school buses.

Even though this mandate does not go into effect until September 1, 2012, the State of West Virginia has recognized the hazards of 15-passenger vans. Upgrading to the new standards will make sure that the vehicles transporting our precious cargo (children) are less prone to rollovers. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rollovers are reported in 63% of all fatal accidents involving 15-passenger van occupants between 1997 and 2006. NHTSA data revealed a significant increase of rollovers when the vans were fully loaded. Most of those killed in 15-passenger van rollovers were not properly restrained. Other factors contributing to rollover incidents include improperly inflated tires, poor tire condition and inexperienced drivers.

Continue reading "Philadelphia 15-Passenger Van Rollover Lawyer Applauds West Virginia Law Requiring Daycare Centers To Replace Or Upgrade Passenger Vans" »