What You Need to Know About Rollover Accidents

Rollovers are serious accidents that are often deadly. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 35 percent of all traffic fatalities are attributed to rollovers. Additionally, rollovers have a higher rate of fatality than any other type of crash.

Common Causes of Rollover Accidents

A rollover accident occurs when a vehicle goes out of control, swerves on its side or front, and keeps rolling. Too often, other drivers are responsible for these types of accidents. Common scenarios leading up to a rollover include:

• Impaired or distracted drivers. Drivers who are drunk, on drugs, or distracted in some way can cause another car to roll over. These drivers often veer into other lanes, clip cars next to them, and cause the other driver to swerve suddenly.
• Speeding. When drivers feel rushed or are impatient behind the wheel, they may speed, and this can cause rollover accidents. Often, speeding vehicles cut off other drivers and hit them from the side, which can create a rollover effect.
• Aggressive Driving. Some people may demonstrate aggressive driving behavior while behind the wheel. Road rage and impatience can lead to unsafe road practices such as erratic lane switches, sudden maneuvers to agitate other drivers, or tailgating. In all cases, aggressive drivers put you and your family at risk of a rollover accident.

The Aftermath of a Rollover

Because rollover accidents often cause a vehicle to go rolling like a ball, many serious injuries can occur to passengers. Some of the most common consequences of rollovers are:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI). When the wheels of a car stop moving but the rest of the car keeps going, the jolting effect puts passengers at a high risk of hitting their heads on side posts, the steering wheel, or moving objects within the car. Serious brain injury can result, and victims may suffer memory loss, a coma, or loss of bodily functions.
• Spinal injuries. Because rollovers cause so much sudden movement, the spinal cord can suffer severe trauma during a crash. The spine can compress and discs can be damaged, and the victim may require serious and prolonged medical attention.
• Internal bleeding. The sheer impact of the crash can often cause serious trauma to internal organs. When this happens, organs can bleed into the abdomen. Since internal bleeding is a difficult injury to identify, it often results in death.
• Broken bones. The impact of a rollover crash can break multiple bones in your body. Rollover victims often experience broken arms, legs, and ribs. Additionally, a broken bone might cut into an artery or even puncture a lung.
• Death. Rollovers often put the human body through a great deal of trauma. The severity of the injuries can result in death.

Get the Help You Need

If you or a loved one suffered injuries after a rollover accident caused by another driver, you may be faced with expensive medical bills and lost wages. You need an advocate on your side to help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact the skilled lawyers at Tavss Fletcher using our online contact form to get started on your case today.