An SUV rollover accident in Tulare County resulted in the death of an 11-year-old girl from the Los Angeles area and injured several of her family members. The Daily Breeze identifies the injured victims as Christina Okeke, 40, the driver, Steven Okeke, 53, Obiara Okeke, 7, Chiamaka Okeke, 17 and Anneze Okeke, 16. Christina Okeke apparently lost control of the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV when it drifted to the left, struck a concrete divider and rolled over.
My heart goes out to the Okeke family. I offer my deepest condolences and pray for the injured victims' speedy and complete recovery.
Rollover Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that rollover crashes are responsible for at least 10,000 fatalities each year in the United States. That number accounts for about 25 percent of all car accident fatalities in the United States. Each year, there are about 40,000 fatal car accidents in the United States.
Auto Products Liability Issues
If I were a member of this family, I would definitely want to know whether a defectively designed or manufactured SUV caused or contributed to this fatal crash and injuries. The Toyota Land Cruiser SUV, much like the Toyota 4Runner, has several problem areas and issues. The pillars, windshield headers and roof rails in Toyota SUVs were designed and fabricated without sufficient strength and structural integrity to withstand rood crushing forces. The roofs in these SUVs can cave in during a rollover, crushing occupants and causing catastrophic injuries or death.
These SUVs are also designed and manufactured with insufficient lateral and roll stability so as to keep the vehicle upright during normal handling. For example, the vehicle could go out of control even at normal speeds when the driver tries to take evasive action. I would also look into whether the vehicle had Electronic Stability Control. Although this technology has been available for years, auto makers are not putting it in SUVs because it costs more.
Victims or their families in such cases would be well-advised to consult a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who has successfully handled auto product defect cases. The vehicle in such cases must be preserved in its crashed condition, unaltered, so it can be examined by an expert for design flaws, product defects, inadequate roof strength and other evidence.
What defensive driving techniques do you adopt in order to minimize the chances of a car accident?
None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.
