Northbrook Attorneys Who Take On Negligent Drivers and Automakers Alike
Stein & Shulman, LLC represents people across Northbrook, Chicago, and the surrounding counties who were hurt or lost a family member when an SUV rolled over. These crashes are rarely simple. The roof may have collapsed, a tire may have failed, or another driver may have forced the vehicle into a slide a taller SUV could not recover from. We investigate all of it and pursue every responsible party, whether that is the other motorist, the automaker, or a component manufacturer. Our Northbrook car accident attorneys at Stein & Shulman, LLC work on contingency, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Why Chicagoland Families Trust Stein & Shulman, LLC
After a serious car accident, the law firm you choose can shape both your experience and your ability to move forward. Stein & Shulman, LLC offers the personal attention of a boutique practice, backed by seasoned Illinois injury counsel prepared to negotiate firmly and litigate when necessary.
- An attorney personally handles your case, supported by knowledgeable staff and paralegals.
- More than 60 years of combined experience representing injured people and grieving families.
- Millions in compensation for injured parties recovered in awards and settlements.
- Deep roots in Chicagoland and experience representing injury victims throughout Illinois.
- Available 24/7, because these injuries do not keep office hours.
- Service in English, Spanish, Polish, and Russian.
- Free consultations, with no attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you.
From the first questions after a crash through settlement negotiations or trial, we work to keep clients informed, protect their interests, and pursue the resources needed to address the consequences of a serious injury.
What Makes an SUV Roll and Who Can Be Held Responsible
A rollover is often treated as an ordinary car crash, and the inquiry stops at the other driver’s insurance policy. That can leave a second source of recovery untouched. The question is not only who caused the SUV to tip, but whether its roof, tires, belts, and stability system performed as federal rules require. SUVs carry more of their mass above the wheels than sedans do, so a maneuver a car absorbs as a slide can tip an SUV onto two wheels. Who answers depends on what failed.
- The other driver, through speeding, distraction, impairment, or a hard strike to the side.
- The automaker, for stability design, roof structure, belts, or door latches.
- A component maker, since tread separation and blowouts can trigger a rollover.
- A repair or tire shop, for improper tire fitment or a bad repair.
- A government body or contractor, for a dangerous shoulder drop-off, though claims against Illinois local public entities generally must be filed within one year.
More than one can be true in a single crash, and Illinois lets us pursue them together. Identifying all potentially liable parties is crucial, so early legal advice is one of the best ways to protect your rights.
When a Crushed Roof Is a Defect and Not Just Bad Luck
Roof collapse is what turns a survivable rollover into a catastrophic one. The stated purpose of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 216a is to reduce deaths and injuries from the roof crushing into the occupant compartment in rollover crashes. That federal roof strength requirement sets a measurable test rather than a vague expectation. For vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, the roof is loaded on each side with a force of as much as three times the vehicle’s unloaded weight, and for heavier vehicles up to 10,000 pounds the multiplier is one and a half. The test block must not move more than 127 millimeters.
The upgraded standard applies to vehicles built on or after September 1, 2015, and a year later for the heavier tier, so which rules govern your SUV depends on when it was made. We check that first. It is also why we ask families not to release the vehicle to the insurer or the salvage yard. Once it is crushed or sold, the proof is gone.
The Illinois Deadlines and Fault Rules That Decide Your Case
Two Illinois rules shape a rollover claim more than any others, and both punish waiting. The first is time. An injured person generally has two years from the date the claim accrued, and a family bringing a claim under Illinois wrongful death law generally has two years from the date of death. That recovery can include the grief, sorrow, and mental suffering of the spouse and next of kin.
These deadlines can run differently when the injured person is a child. Illinois generally pauses the clock for a personal injury lawsuit until a minor turns 18. Even so, waiting is risky, because the vehicle and other evidence rarely survive that long.
The product side runs on a separate and sometimes shorter clock. A strict product liability claim generally must also be brought within 12 years of the vehicle’s first sale, lease, or delivery of possession by a seller, or 10 years from delivery to its first user or consumer, whichever expires earlier. Narrow exceptions can extend that window, including a limited discovery rule when the injury happens inside it.
The second rule is fault. If you are found more than 50 percent responsible for your own injuries, you recover nothing, and at 50 percent or less your damages are cut by your share. That matters here because the insurer’s reflexive defense in a single-vehicle roll is that the driver overcorrected. Building the engineering record early is how that gets answered.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Northbrook SUV Rollover Lawyer
If you or someone in your family was hurt when an SUV rolled, we would like to hear what happened. There is no charge to talk with us, and if we take the case you owe no attorney fee unless we recover for you. We represent injured people throughout Northbrook, Chicago, and the north suburbs, including catastrophic outcomes such as traumatic brain injuries. Contact us today to speak with an attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a claim if my own SUV rolled over and no other car was involved?
Yes. A single-vehicle rollover does not mean the driver was at fault. If the stability design, tires, roof, or restraints failed, the claim runs against the manufacturer or component maker. Illinois also lets you recover when you bear some fault, so long as your share is 50 percent or less.
How long do I have to file after an Illinois SUV rollover?
An injured person generally has two years from when the claim accrued, and a wrongful death claim generally two years from the date of death. A strict product liability claim generally carries an added outer limit of 12 years from first sale by a seller or 10 years from delivery to the first user, subject to narrow exceptions. Have your dates reviewed early.
What should I do with the SUV after the crash?
Do not let it be repaired, scrapped, or sold, and tell the insurer in writing that you want it preserved. The vehicle is evidence. Its roof, belts, tires, and crash data are what an engineer needs to show whether a defect caused your injuries.
