Anyone out there ever worked a case of a 2002 BMW X5 that rolled over and sustained massive crush to the AB pillars and roof causing fatal injuries to the driver. Airbags did not deploy. (the photos of this MVA look more like a typical tractor trailer underride case). Please reply if you worked such a case, and the results, etc.
Not worked an X5, but airbags would not necessarily deploy for a roll over - thats not what they are set to deal with. Do you have any specific aspects you wish to explore?
Thanks for the reply. The airbags are not an issue. The issue we are looking at in this case is the extreme failure of the pillars and the roof. This is a possible case for insuffient design in the strucutr and weight bearing of the pillars. As far as the rollover is concerend, there is roll over damage to the right side, extereme damage to the roof, some damage to the left side rear. It is somewhat obvious that this vehicle became air borne and landed on the front of the roof and hood. I realize that vehicles of this size, 4813 lbs plus the driver, are mandated to withstand a 6,000 lbs. Any ideas?
Just on that brief info, going airbourne then to impact would exceed your 6K lbs. You may find it as easy to find the scenaro that the 6L lbs relates to and see whether your accident falls within or outside that. What I mean is that we know the bounds for airbags, and this scenario imediately fell oustide of the accepted parameters. Do the same for the A pillars and see where you stand first.
does this count....!!!....just been instructed and working it now, launched over 55meters, just started working the case, so cant really give you input yet.
You could offer that it was probably more than 30 and probably less than 100mph when it hit something, or it could have been stationary when something hit (rolled onto ) it
I assume you are working a Products Liability case. About 15-20 years ago I had a Products case involving a similiar fact pattern. Speed was not the question at that time. The only question was concerning the compromise of the occupant compartment. The driver was a quadriplegic.
If you don't have this, take a look at the following:Roof Crush protection:
All new light trucks and vans must meet the same safety levels as passenger cars in the event of a rollover, i.e. the roof must be able to withstand 1.5 times it's own unloaded weight and less than 5" of roof collapse.
