Rollover

Rollover crashes result in a high percentage of car crash injuries and deaths

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2013 a total of 7,067 passenger vehicle occupants died in rollover crashes. Twenty-seven percent of these did not involve any other impact. Crashes in which a vehicle rolled over accounted for 33% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in that year.

Why are rollover collisions so dangerous?

All passenger vehicles are susceptible to rolling over given the right travel conditions. However, pickup truck and SUV crashes are more common than passenger-car rollovers because they:

• Have a higher center of gravity than passenger cars;
• Have narrower track widths, the distance between the right and left tires, than passenger cars;
• Are more likely than passenger cars to be driven on rural roads where most rollovers occur.

The likelihood of a rollover crash resulting in a fatality is increased because of the tendency for vehicle occupants to be ejected from their vehicle when it rolls over. Lack of seat-belt usage greatly increases the risk of being ejected.

Determining negligence in rollover accidents

After a serious rollover crash, victims are left with injuries, medical bills, lost income from missed work, and other costs. In a fatal collision, family members are left with these bills plus funeral and burial expenses and the cost of lost future wages, among other costs. It is important to determine negligence in the collision so that an insurance claim can compensate the crash victims.

What is the first step to financial recovery after a rollover accident?

As injured people and their families struggle to manage after a serious crash, it is important for them to get legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the obstacles they face and can help them begin the process of financial recovery. An injury lawyer cannot take away the pain and suffering after a bad crash, but can launch the insurance claim that will bring relief to the financial burdens that come with an injury rollover collision.