Electronic Stability Control and Rollover Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. The safety of motor vehicles has advanced a long way from its infancy decades ago. Now, cars have improved safety features, such as electronic stability control (ESC), that are designed to prevent accidents from occurring. A significant amount of improvement has been made in the area of rollover accidents and vehicles tipping when they take curves.
There are many different types of auto accidents, ranging from fender benders to multi-vehicle pile-ups. A rollover accident is typically a single car accident that occurs when a vehicle flips from having its wheels on the pavement to resting on its roof (or having multiple revolutions arise). These can be severe accidents that could lead to significant traumatic injuries and bone fractures, such as femur fractures. There are many ways that a rollover accident might occur. However, most of these have to do with the force exerted on the vehicle. Most of these accidents happen when a car takes a turn too quickly. In this scenario, a vehicle is traveling too fast around a curve. When this happens, the forces on the car are no longer balanced, and the wheels of the vehicle begin to leave the ground. This momentum continues, and the car flips. Depending on the abruptness of the curve, the vehicle could flip multiple times. These have the potential to be serious accidents that might result in wrongful death. The idea behind the electronic stability control is to alert the driver to the situation and help prevent the rollover from occurring. Similar to the lane departure assist and cross-traffic alert systems, the goal is to strive for improved safety for the driver and the passengers. A recent study was conducted to analyze rollover accidents in the wake of these advanced electrical systems.
The Methods of the Research and its Results
The goal of the research was to take a look at the sequence of events that had led up to numerous rollover accidents and how effective the stability control devices were when it came time for the crash. The researchers meticulously combed the research archives from nine different states and looked at police reports and records for countless accidents. In the end, they came up with close to 500 rollover accidents that they were able to analyze. In each of the accidents, they looked at several different circumstances related to the crash. They examined the type of the vehicle involved in the accident, the events that led up to the crash, where the accident occurred, and the driver of the car. From all of this information, the researchers were able to draw specific conclusions about the electrical stability control related to rollover accidents. The data revealed that electrical stability control systems were particularly effective at alerting and preventing rollover accidents while vehicles were driving on a flat surface, such as concrete or pavement. On the other hand, the devices did not perform well when the vehicle left the roadway and was traveling on dirt or grass. While it is unclear why this might be, the information is vital for drivers to know. Certain vehicles have a tendency to flip or could leave the road easier. If this is the case, drivers of these vehicles must take extra care to keep their car on the pavement where the devices can do their job. Leaving the road could increase the chance of the vehicle flipping and might lead to serious injuries for the driver of the car and anyone riding along.
The Study has Significance
Studies such as these are vital because they help reveal whether or not the recent changes conducted in the world of vehicle safety are leading to improvements. Reducing rollover accidents is an important goal because it helps improve the safety of everyone not only in the vehicle but elsewhere on the road as well. Future studies should look at what vehicles need to improve their rollover safety devices and the mechanisms behind these accidents. These devices must perform better if cars leave the pavement. While electrical stability control systems are essential, educating drivers and vehicle operators is critical as well. Prevention is always better than treating an injury after it has already occurred. This study has revealed valuable information towards the early information regarding these electrical stability control with rollover accidents and, hopefully, the devices will improve the safety of everyone down the road.
Watch YouTube Video: How Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Works. This video demonstrates how the ESC can help prevent sideways skidding and loss of control that can lead to accidents and rollovers.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney & Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. Electronic stability control systems have shown their ability to prevent car accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash, call me for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.
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Photo Attribution: The original photographer and author of the above image has released it into the public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.
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