Officials said a 23-year-old man died in a Los Angeles car accident after he lost control of his Ford SUV. The Signal newspaper reported that the SUV rolled over when its driver was going north on Highway 14 in the Antelope Valley north of Red Rover Mine on October 30, 2009. The Ford SUV apparently drifted off the roadway and slammed into a guardrail and a sign. The driver died at the scene, California Highway Patrol officials said. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this young man for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Rollover Accidents Can be Devastating

Rollover crashes, especially those involving SUVs, cause thousands of fatalities in the United States each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that at least 10,000 people die each year in the country as a result of rollover accidents. That accounts for one-fourth of all traffic accident deaths in the United States. Rollover accidents involving SUVs can occur due to a variety of reasons including vehicle defects and defective design.

It is not known what kind of Ford SUV this victim was driving at the time of the fatal car crash. However, as auto products liability attorneys who have represented numerous families who have lost loved ones in rollover accidents, we know that Ford SUVs, especially the Explorer, Excursion and Expedition models, are notorious for going out of control and overturning even at normal speeds. The reason for their instability is defective vehicle design. These vehicles have low track width and high center of gravity and are prone to tipping over even at low speed when compared with other passenger vehicles.

Auto Product Liability Issues

Occupants of these vehicles also end up sustaining catastrophic injuries or even lifelong disability (quadriplegia, paraplegia), because of roof crush issues. What this means is that the roofs of these SUVs are so flimsy that during a rollover accident, it caves in and crushes the occupants of the vehicle resulting in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries and other catastrophic injuries.

If the family of this deceased victim believes that this car accident occurred as a result of a defective auto, they should certainly preserve the crashed SUV, unaltered, so it can be examined by an expert for product defects, mechanical malfunctions and other evidence. A reputed Los Angeles personal injury lawyer with experience in SUV product defect cases will be able to help the family proceed with their claim against the auto maker.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.