It’s frightening to think about a rollover accident when you’re riding in a convertible. You’re suddenly very conscious of how exposed you are. But how common are these accidents?
The truth is that they don’t happen often. A convertible tends to be low to the ground and have a low center of gravity. This makes it less likely that it will roll, even in an accident. So, though it may be more exposed in a crash, the crash itself is also less probable, which helps keep people safe.
The way that convertibles are used also plays a role. More people have them as second cars, not primary cars. This means they may just drive them for fun or go out for a weekend cruise. They don’t use them as daily commuters. These people are again exposed to less risk just because they’re in the cars less often.
The big exception to this rule is a sports utility vehicle that has no roof, like a Jeep Wrangler. In fact, as Wrangler owners know, these Jeeps actually have rollover warning signs to tell drivers to slow down and be careful. They’re taller and smaller than most convertible cars, so the odds of a rollover are much higher. Of course, that is also why the Wrangler has a steel cage of rollbars that protect the occupants, which many of these cars lack.
Regardless of the odds and risks, we do know that rollover accidents happen, and they can be very dangerous. Those who get injured in these accidents need to know what legal rights they have to compensation.