One of the most catastrophic car accidents is the rollover accident. There is no way to stop the vehicle once it begins to roll, and passengers and cargo are tossed around. While seatbelts can help to keep drivers and passengers in their seats, these safety mechanisms cannot prevent lose items from striking the people in the car. Additionally, as the car strikes guardrails or other objects on the road, the vehicle will sustain damage, potentially injuring the person nearest the location of the impact. After a rollover auto accident, victims may want legal representation to help hold negligent parties responsible while they focus on recovery. If you or a loved one was the victim of a rollover car accident, consider calling an experienced personal injury lawyer from the Mark Casto Law Firm, PC, at 706-450-7071 to learn more about your options.
What Is Considered a Rollover Auto Accident?
All vehicle accidents are potentially dangerous, but rollovers can result in people being ejected from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injuries. Rollover auto accidents can happen when a car moves past the shoulder on the side of the road or when a collision causes one vehicle to flip over onto its roof. SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher probability of being in rollover accidents due to their design and weight distribution. Commercial trucks can also be involved in rollover crashes in which there may be little harm to the truck driver but extensive damage to the passenger vehicles.
What Is the Most Common Cause of a Rollover Auto Accident?
According to the National Library of Medicine, rollover accidents account for more than 10,000 deaths yearly, and the risk of death is greater when seatbelts are not used. To prevent these accidents, it helps to know why they happen. Rollover accidents have several causes, and certain factors can affect the severity of the accident. Injuries can be extensive, and other vehicles can get in the way.
Speeding, drunk driving, and worn tires can all cause rollover accidents. Drowsiness is also a concern, especially for truck drivers or other drivers on long road trips. The most common causes of rollovers include:
- Dangerous roads
- Driver errors
- Manufacturing defects
Dangerous Roads
Safe streets are essential to the safety of everyone who uses them. A defect or design error can be deadly. In many places, the shoulder is meant to be a safe place to pull over and wait for help. However, if the shoulder is soft or has other defects, a vehicle might end up falling into a ditch or off the embankment. Broken or damaged guardrails can also be hazardous because they are meant to prevent cars from rolling over.
Driver Errors
Driving over the speed limit and not paying attention to the road are common driver errors. Even a minor momentary lapse in judgment can cause an accident. When traveling at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, one error can cause a driver to collide with another car, sending either vehicle into the guardrail and off the road.
Manufacturing Defects
Vehicle manufacturers must consider all possible road hazards and situations. If they design a vehicle that is prone to rollovers or other issues, they may be held liable for an accident. Additionally, regular car maintenance is important to keep vehicles functioning safely on the roads. Parts manufacturers also play a vital role in keeping vehicles in working order, as defective parts might also be responsible for accidents. There are many causes of rollover accidents in Georgia, but a skilled attorney from the Mark Casto Law Firm, PC, can investigate the cause and work to determine the responsible party or parties.
What Types of Injuries Are Seen in Rollover Car Wreck Collisions?
Surviving a rollover auto accident might be considered a miracle, but the victim might be left with catastrophic injuries. These can include lifelong pain and permanent disability. Some accident victims will need ongoing care, which can result in astronomical medical bills. Some types of injuries that people might experience in rollover collisions include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)—a blunt force trauma to the head that may be anywhere from mild to severe with many lifelong symptoms
- Spinal cord injury—neck or back injuries that can affect a person’s arms, shoulders, torso, and legs. Spinal injuries may require surgery and can result in chronic pain
- Paralysis—not all spinal cord injuries cause permanent loss of use, but some injuries can cause temporary or permanent paralysis
- Internal organ damage—these injuries can be caused by being thrown from the vehicle, being crushed in the vehicle, or even seatbelt use
- Cuts and lacerations—broken glass, twisted metal, and loose items in the car can cause serious injuries to a person’s skin that require stitches or staples and recovery time
- Broken bones or fractures—these injuries can be minor or severe and can be painful and take several weeks at minimum to heal.
What Are the Odds of Surviving a Rollover Car Crash?
Rollover accidents only account for two percent of traffic accidents nationwide, but they result in one-third of the deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Vehicles sliding or hitting a guardrail account for 95 percent of rollover accidents, and the other 5 percent are due to avoidance maneuvers or speeding. While a person can survive a rollover accident, he or she might suffer from catastrophic injuries that can change the person’s life.
Not wearing a seatbelt contributed to 66 percent of rollover deaths in 2014. SUVs are more likely to be involved in fatal collisions than other vehicles. Half of all rollover accidents result in death. Those who survive these accidents might suffer serious injuries to the limbs, abdomen, chest, neck, or head. People rarely walk away from rollover accidents with no injuries, and many victims are airlifted from the scene in critical condition.
Contact an Accident Lawyer Following a Rollover Car Crash
Rollover accidents have many intricacies, and the damages can be severe. A victim of a rollover auto accident will want to focus on recovery. These accidents do not just affect the person involved, but family members often have to become caregivers. In many cases, an accident victim would benefit from compensation for missed work, job loss, vehicle repair, and medical care. If someone else was the cause of your rollover accident, consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney at the Mark Casto Law Firm, PC, by calling 706-450-7071 to scheduling a consultation.