Rollover accidents are when a vehicle rolls off of its wheels and onto its side or roof. Thanks to modern engineering, technology, and safety features, cars have become quite adept to keeping themselves upright, making these accidents far less likely. But that being said, they do still occur and are still some of the most deadly and dangerous types car accidents you can be involved with.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 20% of all fatal crashes are rollover accidents despite rollovers making up a significantly lower portion of all types of accidents. This is also remarkable when you consider that rollover accidents are usually single-vehicle crashes. The majority of deaths and serious injuries come from vehicle occupants not wearing a safety restraint, which frequently leads to complete ejection from the vehicle.
CAUSES OF ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS
One of the easiest ways to prevent a rollover accident is to know what causes them and avoid those causes. Rollover accidents are unique in that most of the serious risk factors are entirely under the vehicle driver’s control and can be avoided with some extra care and precaution.
Some factors include:
- Driver issues: drowsiness, inattentiveness, or inability to control a vehicle resulting in turning too sharp too quickly are all key causes of rollover accidents.
- Road conditions: Sharp turns, slippery roads, and soft shoulders have all been found to cause rollover accidents. Be particularly careful on cloverleaf highway interchanges.
- Vehicle design: It should come as little surprise that large pickup trucks, SUVs, passenger vans, commercial trucks, and passenger buses all have some of the highest rollover ratings of any vehicles. Their higher center of gravity makes them more prone to rolling over around corners.
- Cargo load: A vehicle that is tall is already a rollover risk, but placing more weight in the cabin can further increase that risk, since it further elevates the center of gravity. Likewise, more mass requires more effort to get it to change direction, so turning sharp with more cargo increases roll risk.
PREVENTING ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS
Want to prevent a rollover accident? Recognizing the risk factors and working to avoid them is simpler than most people may think. There are two times when you can prevent a rollover accident: before your trip, and during your trip.
Before your trip, be sure to educate yourself and any other drivers on the risks of driving a large vehicle, including the elevated roll rate. Knowing the risk often helps drivers adjust to safer practices. Always make sure all passengers understand that wearing a seatbelt in one of these vehicles is important because of how large they are. Be sure to always buckle up.
When driving, be sure to get enough rest to avoid fatigue and lack of awareness, and always make sure you drive according to the road conditions. If the weather is rainy or snowy, or vision is reduced at all, turn your headlights on and drive while giving yourself lots of extra time to react to situations.
If you have been injured in a rollover accident, Justice Injury Law may be able to help. As a Louisville car accident lawyer, Attorney Scott Justice fights to help victims of car accidents claim the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Attorney Justice analyzes all of the evidence in your case, and works to help you seek the financial relief you need. Whether your accident was caused by poor road conditions, the actions of another driver, or even a defective part, Attorney Justice can fight for you and give your case the attention it deserves.
Schedule your free consultation today! If you have been injured in a rollover accident, call Justice Injury Law today at 502-584-5455 to get started.