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There are few vehicles on the road that are more dangerous than the 15 passenger van. Despite their high crash rating and fatality rate, these vans are used by schools, organizations, and other groups and businesses all over the country. Many people may not even realize that they are a serious safety hazard until it is too late. According to NHTSA statistics, since 1990 over one thousand tragic 15 passenger van accidents have occurred that have resulted in life-threatening and life-ending injuries for unsuspecting passengers. While they are obviously not intended to be dangerous, there are some major design and manufacturing issues with these vans that make them more likely to crash and roll over than the vast majority of other vehicles on the road.

Manufacturing Issues and Rollover Risks

15 passenger vans appear to be similar to most other vans found on the road. The only difference is that the back end has been elongated to accommodate more passengers. This may seem like a small alteration, but the combination of high passenger capacity and elongated back end make this vehicle a major safety risk. When passengers load a 15 passenger van, much of the weight is placed on the back axle of the vehicle. This makes the back end much heavier than the front end, which gives the driver less control over the van. The vehicle may fishtail when the driver tries to turn or swerve to avoid an accident.

The other major issue with 15 passenger vans is that they are top heavy. These vans are tall with a high center of gravity, and when loaded with passengers, they become even more top heavy. Even a small loss of control can cause the van to become unbalanced, causing it to flip over. A study by the United States Department of Transportation demonstrated that a 15 passenger van with 11 passengers, near maximum capacity, was 3 times more likely to roll over than the same van with only 5 passengers. Clearly these vans are a danger when filled to capacity, but many are still operated to this day regardless.

Common Uses

15 passenger vans are surprisingly common given their history. You may notice these vans being used by many groups and businesses, including:

Hotels
School groups
Religious groups
Airport park and fly shuttle businesses
Tourism companies
Day caresClearly many people are exposed to the dangers of 15 passenger vans every day. Passengers involved in a van collision or rollover are at great risk of suffering from head trauma, spinal injury, or other life-threatening or life-ending injuries. If you or someone you love has been involved in a 15 passenger van accident, consider talking with a car accident attorney immediately. The van manufacturer may be liable for the conditions that caused the accident and your family may be entitled to compensation for injuries and damages.

For More Information

To learn more about 15 passenger van accident risks and how you can initiate a lawsuit for compensation, please visit the website of the Sheboygan car accident lawyers of Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C. today.

Joseph Devine

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