How To Minimize Injuries In 15-Passenger Van Rollover Accidents

This month we covered the horrific story of a church group that was involved in a 15-passenger van accident on the New York Thruway. When the van suffered a blown tire and rolled over, six people were killed and eight people were seriously injured.

While this may at first seem like a freak tragedy, accidents like these involving 15-passenger vans are extremely common – and often end in the loss of multiple lives. Because of the distribution of weight in these large vans, rollover accidents are common, especially if the van is carrying a significant load of passengers or cargo.

How can you help prevent 15-passenger injuries and fatalities?

• Make sure everyone is buckled up. It may sound obvious, but this is the number one way to prevent passenger van injuries and deaths. Many people do not buckle up in a van as they would in their own car, and 80 percent of those who die in van accidents were not wearing their safety belt.
• Properly maintain your tires. Many van rollover accidents occur after a tire blow out, so it is vital that you check your tire’s air level, treads, and age before getting behind the wheel.
• Make certain your driver is trained and alert. Many van accidents occur on long road trips when a driver is sleepy or fatigued. Other van accidents occur when the driver is not familiar with how to handle a large van.
• Never allow more than 15 people to ride in a 15-passenger van.
• If there are fewer than 15 people riding in the van, have then sit in front of the rear axle to reduce rollover risk.

If you have been injured in a 15-passenger van accident, talk to a New York traffic accident attorney today to learn more about your case.