It's no secret that sport-utility vehicles are popular in the United States. Dozens of TV commercials promote their lavish amenities and roomy interiors - large enough for either a kid's soccer team or a full load of gear for a weekend getaway in the wilderness.

They are depicted traveling off-road with ease, but little is ever said about the rollover risks inherent in these popular, luxurious vehicles.

Did you know that safety experts estimate a SUV is twice as likely to roll over in a Maryland auto accident
than a compact car?

SUVs have a high center of gravity, which makes them more susceptible to rollovers than a regular-sized vehicle. A sudden turn can easily cause a top-heavy SUV to lose balance and turn over on its side or flip over multiple times.

Certain models are even more likely than the average SUV to tip at the slightest provocation. Ford Explorers have gained a reputation for being notoriously poorly designed when it comes to rollover potential.

SUV makers are slowly making improvements to these vehicles, equipping many of the latest models with electronic stability control to try to minimize the risk of rollovers on flat roads.

Stability control cannot prevent all rollovers though. SUV rollovers are frequently attributed to uneven road surfaces, such as a small ditch on the side of the road that would not typically provoke a rollover.

As more and more SUVs make their way to our Maryland highways, it's important to know the risks associated with SUV rollovers and what to do if you or a family member is injured in a serious Maryland rollover accident.