Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers Blog

While convenient for large groups and families, 15 passenger vans have a high tendency to rollover. With summer approaching and many people planning vacations in these vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the following tips to follow to guard against a tragic rollover crash.

Seatbelts - All occupants should wear their seatbelts at all times. Any broken or missing seatbelts must be replaced before any trip. An unbelted occupant is three times more likely to be killed than a belted occupant.

The Driver - The driver of the 15 passenger van should be a fully trained and experienced driver. The size and the shape of the vehicle make it considerably harder to maneuver than a standard car and the driver should receive additional training to drive the vehicle. Drivers should never drive for longer than 8 hours in a 24 hour time period and never drive a vehicle with more occupants than seatbelts on board.

Tires/Tire Pressure - Like all vehicles the tires need to be properly inflated and absent of worn treads. The tire pressure should be checked before all trips and strictly followed to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. Drivers should also inspect the condition and age of the spare tire that comes with the rental of the vehicle. Properly sized and inflated tires will help the driver maintain control of the vehicle while driving.

Cargo - All cargo should be properly secured forward of the rear axle. The roof of the vehicle is to be clear of any cargo and it is never safe to tow anything with a 15 passenger van. The van should never exceed the maximum weight that is listed in the vehicle owner manual.

Following these simple tips will ensure a safe trip for those travelling in a 15 passenger van this summer.

Related Sources:
Top Safety Tips for 15-Passenger Vans

Since the inception of the 15-passenger van, the propensity of these vehicle to rollover has been recognized. Studies conducted by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that the risk of rollover increases significantly when the van is loaded with passengers.

NHTSA showed that 15-passenger vans with more than nine passengers are three times more likely to rollover then vans with less than five passengers.

Why 15-passenger vans rollover

The propensity of the 15-passenger van to rollover is caused by the design of the van. 15-passenger vans tend to be unstable due to their high centers of gravity. When the van is loaded with passengers, the center of gravity is raised even higher and shifted towards the rear of the van.

The high center of gravity leaves a 15-passenger van vulnerable to a rollover accident when the driver takes emergency evasive maneuvers to avoid an obstacle. Rollovers can also occur during a sudden tire-blow out.

Why 15 passenger van rollovers can be extremely dangerous

15 passenger van rollovers tend to be lethal due to the lack of a number of safety features, such as a strong roof support system and laminated windows. An experienced 15-passenger van accident attorney at our law firm knows that a stronger roof support system, such as the addition of a roll bar, would help prevent roof collapse - a significant cause of fatal injury in 15-passenger van rollovers.

Additionally, 15-passenger vans routinely lack common safety equipment found in many passenger vehicles. Unlike many SUVs and passenger cars, 15-passenger vans lack curtain airbags, seat belt pretentioners, electronic stability control (ESC), and rollover sensors.

A 15 passenger van lawyer at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, PC is aware that multiple warnings have been given by the NHTSA regarding the safety hazards associated with 15-passenger vans. The design flaws of 15-passenger vans have been associated with fatal and significant injuries because these defects in design mean that 15-passenger vans are not crashworthy vehicles.

15-passenger vans are:

• Prone to loss of control and rollover


• Unstable when loaded with passengers and/or cargo


• Not crashworthy

Continue reading "Information on 15-Passenger Van Accidents" »