Passenger Van Accident Attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona

Passenger vans and shuttles are a popular mode of transport for schools, sports teams, church groups, and nursing homes because they are less expensive than full size buses or school buses. Unfortunately, passenger vans are more prone to accidents and rollovers than other vehicles. These types of accidents can potentially cause severe injuries or death to the passengers and the driver. Passenger vans are extremely dangerous due to their high center of gravity and their tendency to fish-tail.

Risk of a Passenger Van Rollover

Studies show that the risk of a rollover increases as the number of passengers in a passenger van increases. When the passenger compartment becomes heavy with passengers, equipment, and luggage, the center of gravity begins to shift higher and towards the back of the van. These stability issues become quite dangerous especially when an emergency steering condition arises. For example, if there is a need to swerve in order to avoid an obstacle on the road, the passenger van could easily get out of control and could possibly rollover.

Limited Passenger Van Safety Precautions

Once the passenger van accident or rollover has occurred, passengers are even more vulnerable to injury than in other vehicles due to:

• Lack of structural integrity to protect the main compartment from collapse or disturbance
• Inadequate crash padding to protect passengers from being thrown against solid surfaces
• Lack of laminated side windows to resist shattering and to prevent someone from being ejected from the vehicle
• Lack of emergency exits and traffic-control safety features that are standard on regular school buses

Since passenger vans do not have these certain safety equipment, passengers will obtain various injuries if there is a motor vehicle accident. These injuries include, but are not limited to, whiplash, neck injuries, back injuries, and head injuries.

Claims Involving Minor Children

When a minor (someone under 18 years of age) has a personal injury claim, in many cases, there is an extra set of procedures that apply to protect the interests of the minor. Specifically, the minor, usually through their attorney, will petition the probate court for approval of the minor settlement. This includes the amount of the settlement, the medical expenses to be paid from the settlement, the attorney's fees and costs, and the net settlement for the minor claimant. A more detailed explanation of this process is explained on our Minor Child Injury Pages.

Claims against Government Agencies or Public Entities

When a government or public employee or agency is negligent and causes an injury, there is a markedly different process involved as compared to a claim against an individual or private business. There is a much shorter time frame to bring a claim and a lawsuit. Therefore, there is an increased urgency to obtain legal counsel to timely submit a claim against a government agency or public entity. A more detailed explanation is available on our Government or Public Entities Claims Pages.

Litigation Process

We are able to resolve the overwhelming majority of our cases relatively promptly and without ever having to go to court. However, there are a number of reasons why we would recommend litigation to our clients. When that occurs, our office will thoroughly explain the litigation process, including the risks, benefits, and how it relates to your case before we file litigation. For more detailed information, please review our Litigation Process Pages.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been injured in a passenger van accident or rollover, please contact The Law Office of Michael Cordova to schedule a free consultation with one of our Passenger Van Accident Attorneys. You can contact the Law Offices of Michael Cordova at 602-265-6700.

Our attorneys not only work on passenger van accident cases but in other Personal Injury areas, as well as motorcycle accidents, dog bites, product and premises liability, and criminal defense and DUI, so please contact your local Phoenix attorneys for a free, personal, and confidential consultation.

*Contingent fees are charged on total recovery. **No Fee Guarantee applies in the event there is no recovery.