Passenger Van Safety: Introduction

Fifteen- and twelve-passenger vans and other large vans are widely used by churches and community organizations. Colleges use them to drive sports teams to games. Over 500,000 are in use in the United States.

The vans include certain models of the Ford Econoline or E-Series, such as the Ford E350 and Club Wagon E350, the Dodge Ram Wagon B350 and Ram Van/Wagon B3500, the Chevrolet Express 3500 and the GMC Savana 3500 and Rally/Vandura G3500. Ford builds and sells most 15 passenger vans in the U.S.

Lieff Cabraser represents families across the U.S. in 15- and 12-passenger van accident lawsuits. In these cases, we have alleged that the vans have design defects and safety omissions including that the vans are:

Difficult to handle and prone to over-steering and loss of control;
Unstable when loaded, leading to deadly rollover crashes; and
Not crashworthy, resulting in deaths that should otherwise have been easily survivable.

A National Tragedy: Repeated 15- and 12-Passenger Van Accidents

According to government statistics, over 1,200 fatal crashes have occurred involving the large, heavy vans since 1990. Recent high-profile crashes have included:

In September 2005, a Utah State University van overturned on a highway about 65 miles north of Salt Lake City, killing eight students and an instructor, and injuring two other students.
In February 2005, in Illinois, two 16-year-old girls were killed when the 12-passenger van that they were riding in rolled over after the driver lost control of the van while returning from a ski resort.
In 2004, three members of a Bronx, New York church group were killed and nine more injured in the rollover of a Ford van at the Canadian border. Lieff Cabraser is representing family members.

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP represents persons injured in vehicle accidents. Click here to submit your case.

Lieff Cabraser has participated in over thirty-five $100 million-plus settlements & verdicts since 1992. To read a summary, click here.

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In 2003, in East St. Louis, Missouri, a Ford E350 15-passenger van, used by a local church, fishtailed on wet pavement, veered into a ditch and turned on its side. A thirteen year old boy was killed in the accident, and five other children were seriously injured.
In March 2003, four members of the Coptic Orthodox Community in Northern California were killed near Barstow, California, when the 2002 Ford 15-passenger van they were traveling in rolled over after the driver lost control of the vehicle.
In July 2002, a Ford Super Club Wagon van carrying six cheerleaders rolled over near Birmingham, Alabama. Five passengers were ejected. Two were killed. The others suffered injuries ranging from a dislocated hip to partial paralysis.

Greater Risk of Rollover Accidents In 15 Passenger Vans

On June 1, 2004, Dr. Jeffrey Runge, head of the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administraton (NHTSA), issued a warning to users of 15-passenger vans, as well as extended 12-passenger vans, because of an increased rollover risk under certain conditions. Similar warnings were issued in 2001 and 2002.

The safety agency reported that 15-passenger vans handle similarly to large sport utility vehicles when lightly loaded. But when filled with passengers, or driven above 50 miles per hour, the vehicles become substantially more unstable than SUVs or pickup trucks. Large vans are five times more likely to roll over when filled than when only the driver is in the vehicle, the report said.

Why 15 Passenger Vans Are More Likely to Roll Over

The greater passenger weight in a fully loaded van raises the van’s center of gravity and shifts it rearward. As a result, the van has less resistance to rolling over in an accident or emergency situation. Placing any load on the roof also raises the center of gravity and increases the likelihood of a rollover.

NHTSA has recommended that:

15-passenger vans, as well as other large passenger vans, should be operated by trained, experienced drivers;
All occupants wear seat belts at all times. NHTSA found that eighty percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers nationwide in the year 2000 were not buckled up;
Regularly check tire pressure and treadware to ensure that the tires are properly inflated and the tread is not worn down.

To read NHTSA's recommendations in full, please click here.

Lawsuits Filed To Obtain Compensation For Injured Passengers

In more than 80% of single-vehicle accidents involving 15-passenger vans that resulted in a fatality, the vans rolled over. Lawsuits filed against van manufacturers claim that they knew the vans were defective in design and unreasonably dangerous because of its instability and tendency to roll over.

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In a recent lawsuit involving a fatal rollover of a Ford E350 15-passenger van, Lieff Cabraser alleged that Ford E350 vans have three primary safety problems:

They are difficult to handle under fully loaded conditions because they are susceptible to over-steering in emergency maneuvers, which leads to loss of control;
They are unstable when loaded, leading to a significant increase in the risk of rollover crashes;
Once a van rolls over, it is not crashworthy and, as a result, occupants are killed in what would otherwise have been easily survivable crashes.

National Van Rollover Accident Attorneys/Lawyers

Persons who have been injured in accidents involving a 15-passenger, 12-passenger, 10-passenger, or cargo van, or family members of loved ones who have died, who would like to learn more about their legal rights, are welcome to contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser by clicking here. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.

Alternatively, you may call Lieff Cabraser toll-free at 1-866-313-1973 and ask to speak to partner Kathryn E. Barnett.

About Lieff Cabraser

Founded in 1972, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is an over fifty attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. For the last five years, the National Law Journal has recognized Lieff Cabraser as one of the top 20 plaintiffs’ law firms in America.

For our personal injury cases, we bring a team of experienced lawyers. Each client is assigned an individual lawyer. In addition, we have on staff multiple nurses, legal assistants, scientific analysts and case clerks to assist the attorneys. To learn more about our firm, click here.

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