Rollover accidents are less common than most other types of auto accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that fewer than 3% of all vehicle crashes end in a rollover. That may be because It takes a complex combination of interactions to cause a vehicle to turn over.
Although they’re rare, rollovers often result in serious injuries and account for a large percentage of highway fatalities. Being ejected from the vehicle is one of the most serious risks associated with these accidents, along with broken bones and head trauma.
If you or someone you care about has been injured by or died in a rollover accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the person who caused the crash. Schedule a free consultation with the experienced personal injury attorneys at Gautreaux Law in Warner Robins, GA, to learn more about your rights.
Causes of Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents are defined as vehicle crashes that result in a commercial or passenger vehicle tipping onto its roof or side or rolling over more than once before stopping. Passengers may be trapped in the car upside down and have to wait for extraction by emergency responders.
The main causes of rollover accidents include loss of driver control, reckless driving, and multivehicle collisions. Sometimes vehicle defects contribute to a rollover as well.
Loss of Driver Control
Being distracted or losing focus for even a few seconds can have disastrous results. Texting, talking on the phone, or attending to other tasks that divert a driver’s attention are examples of being distracted. Falling asleep at the wheel or driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol can also lead to loss of control.
Weather and road conditions can also play a role in driver control. True accidents happen, but if a driver is driving at a safe speed and paying attention, they should be able to avoid a serious crash even under difficult conditions.
Reckless and Aggressive Driving
Reckless and aggressive driving are serious infractions in the state of Georgia. Either charge can result in fines of up to $1,000, jail time, and a misdemeanor on your criminal record.
Swerving around traffic at high speeds or making quick motions that cause tires to lose their grip on the road surface are common risky maneuvers. Overloading a vehicle, especially a tall vehicle such as a van or truck, is especially dangerous when combined with reckless driving or risky maneuvers.
Multivehicle Crashes
Many rollover accidents involve just one vehicle, but if an oncoming car or truck hits another vehicle on the side at a high speed, it can cause that vehicle to roll over. Striking another car and pushing it into a guardrail or up on a curb or embankment can also result in a rollover accident.
Injuries Caused in Rollover Accidents
Every type of auto accident can lead to serious injuries, but many injuries from rollover accidents involve the entire body, head to toe. Being trapped upside down creates even further risk. Some of the most common injuries that result from rollovers include:
- Whiplash
- Damage to internal organs
- Blunt trauma to the head
- Crushed limbs
- Broken bones
- Puncture wounds and lacerations
- Paralysis and spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
Imagine all the ways a rollover can crush and crumble a vehicle. It is difficult to think about, but the same thing happens to the people inside.
Recovering Damages in a Rollover Accident
If you or a passenger in your vehicle has been injured in a rollover accident caused by another driver’s neglect or recklessness, you have the right to seek financial compensation. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Psychological trauma
- Disfigurement
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
- Cost of therapy and rehabilitation
- Cost of emergency and ongoing treatments
- Lost wages and benefits
- Cost of long-term care
- Decreased quality of life
- Pain and suffering
For a stronger chance of receiving the compensation you deserve, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
The American legal system is complex and sometimes intimidating. But a skilled personal injury attorney understands the system and knows how to fight for their clients.
Insurance companies often try to reduce the payments they make to accident victims. Having a lawyer by your side will put you on an even footing as you fight for the compensation you deserve, including compensation for future medical costs and care.
Gautreaux Law Represents Rollover Accident Victims
If another driver’s carelessness or reckless behavior causes injury, we believe that person should be held legally and financially responsible. That’s why Gautreax Law wants to be on your side.
Our legal team is dedicated to winning fair compensation for our clients under the law. For questions about a personal injury lawsuit in Macon, GA or Warner Robins, GA, contact Gautreaux Law today and schedule your free consultation.