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Cass County, MO Accident Lawyer Warns Large Passenger Vans May Not Be Safe

Does your child travel in a fifteen passenger van? If so, his safety may be at risk.

Fifteen-passenger vans were originally designed as cargo vans. However, they are commonly used by after school programs, day cares, camps, nursing homes, church groups, schools and colleges to transport small groups. But, despite these uses, large vans were never designed to transport people. They are built like cargo trucks and lack important safety features such as side airbags, structural support, and crash padding. More than 75 percent of passenger van accidents are single vehicle crashes. Many of these crashes occur because 15-passenger vans are more prone to rollovers than other vehicles. The fatality rate for cargo van rollover crashes is more than 80 percent.

Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a safety warning to drivers of 15-passenger vans alerting them that they should take extra precautions to keep their passengers safe.

The NHTSA also advised that schools avoid using 15-passenger vans to transport children. It is against federal law for schools to buy new 15-passenger vans to be used for student transportation, but existing passenger vans may still be used for this purpose.

Safety tips for 15-passenger vans:

Adding dual back wheels can improve stability. A retrofit costs approximately $500 and may save many lives.

Make sure tires are in good condition. Fatal rollovers often involve tire failures. Tires should be the proper size and less than ten years old. They should have good tread and be properly inflated. Because, passenger vans carry large loads, van drivers should ensure that tires are properly inflated before every trip.

Make sure the vehicle is well maintained.

Ensure that all drivers are fully trained and properly licensed. Drivers should have experience operating a 15-passenger van.

Do not overload a 15-passenger van. Overloading or carrying more than five passengers may make the vehicle unstable and increases rollover risk. The more passengers, the higher the risk.

Make sure that seatbelts are available and are in working order. Do not leave until every passenger is buckled up.

If your child was injured in a 15-passenger van accident while at camp, on a school trip, or during an organized after-school activity, contact a Cass County, MO auto accident lawyer. You may be eligible for monetary compensation for your child's medical care, pain and suffering and other losses. To learn more, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 800-348-2616.

Our Cass County, MO auto accident lawyers offer a free book of tips to help you protect your injury claim. Download a free copy of: "10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim."

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