A toddler has sustained major injuries in a car accident after the Dodge SUV that her mother was driving crashed and overturned on the Highway 101 in Monterey County. According to a news report in the Monterey Herald, the girl was riding in the right rear seat of a Dodge Durango SUV driven by her 23-year-old mother, Luz Acosta, the morning of November 19, 2009. Acosta lost control of the Dodge. The SUV rolled over and the child was ejected from it. It's not clear how seriously Acosta was injured in this car crash.

I sympathize with the family of this young girl and Luz Acosta for what they are going through. I wish both Acosta and her daughter the very best for a quick and complete recovery for their injuries. This family will certainly be in my prayers.

Rollover Car Accidents Can be Devastating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there are about 10,000 fatalities each year involving rollover accidents in the United States. That constitutes one-fourth of all traffic accident deaths in the country. Rollover car accidents can be deadly because of the intensity and violence of these crashes. This is particularly true of crashes that involve SUVs because these vehicles are more prone to rollovers because of their design.

Was this Accident Caused by a Vehicle Defect?

The question in this case is what went wrong and why did Acosta lose control of the Dodge Durango? Was there a vehicle defect or a malfunction in the Dodge Durango, which caused it to drift and roll over? It would also be important to find out whether the toddler was properly restrained in the back seat? If so, why was she ejected from the vehicle? Did her seat belt fail?

It would be in the best interest of the Acosta family to preserve the Dodge Durango in its current state, unaltered, so it can be examined carefully by an expert for any vehicle defects or malfunctions. A truly reputed California personal injury lawyer, who has successfully represented victims of auto product defects against large auto makers, will be able to advise this family about their legal rights and options. The best auto product defect law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.