Philadelphia 15-Passenger Van Rollover Lawyer Applauds West Virginia Law Requiring Daycare Centers To Replace Or Upgrade Passenger Vans
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.
Most 15-passenger vans are not crashworthy and the roofs can crush, which means that if they roll, catastrophic injuries and fatalities are likely. With the new requirements, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will require all daycare operators to follow NHTSA rollover prevention guidelines. This includes but is not limited to only using drivers who are familiar with the vehicles and inspecting all vehicles before outings. We must remind you, however, that NHTSA guidelines and requirements are only minimal safeguards. The manufacturing of these vehicles has much more room for improvement.
While these requirements are a step in the right direction, we wish the deadline was sooner. In fact, we ask that any of those involved in the operation of 15-passenger vehicles, including many churches, follow this directive or more preferably look to an alternative and safer means of transportation.
At the 15-passenger van rollover law firm of Reiff & Bily, we are all too familiar with the noteworthy dangers of 15-passenger vans and we want to keep children and others as safe as possible. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a 15-passenger van rollover, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
