Rollovers are one of the most serious types of vehicle accidents drivers and passengers face on the road. When a car rolls over onto its side or roof during an accident, the likelihood of severe bodily injury or death dramatically increases.
In fact, even though less than 2.1% of all car accidents result in a rollover, these dangerous and violent types of accidents account for nearly 35% of all passenger fatalities. Pope & Howard, P.C. – located in Atlanta, GA – is an experienced personal injury law firm that is dedicated to helping people affected by rollover accidents receive compensation and damages to help put their lives back together after such a terrible event.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s crash data show that nearly 85% of all rollover-related incidents that involve a fatality are single-vehicle crashes. Therefore, the primary causes for these fatal crashes is usually a combination of the driver’s actions and condition and type of vehicle.
The sheer force and unpredictable trajectory involved in most rollover accidents puts passengers at severe risk for head and neck injuries from whiplash, blunt trauma caused by colliding with windows or the dash, and even being thrown from the vehicle. If the roof is crushed during a rollover incident, broken glass and metal put passengers at risk for severe and possibly fatal cuts or puncture wounds.
Over 90% of fatal single car rollover accidents occur when a driver is completing a normal and routine driving action such as taking a gentle turn or driving straight. However, the routine nature of these tasks can often give drivers a false sense of security, which leads them to drive more carelessly.
Approximately 40% of fatal rollover crashes involve a driver who is speeding, and many take place in areas where the speed limit is already over 55 MPH. In addition, nearly half of all these accidents involve some level of alcohol – even if the driver is under the legal blood alcohol limit.
Vehicles that have a higher center of gravity and heavier weight – such as SUVs, commercial trucks, and larger vans – make them more prone to rollover crashes than smaller, lighter vehicles. Even under normal driving conditions, these vehicles are much more likely to roll over due to their design and weight distribution.
The strength and design of the roof in many smaller vehicles is required by law to withstand 1.5X the weight of the vehicle in order to be sold. However, this same requirement is not enforced on larger and heavier vehicles – even though they are more prone to rollover. Therefore, many tractor trailers and heavier trucks are designed with roofs that are likely to collapse under the weight of the vehicle in the event of a rollover accident.
If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a vehicle rollover accident, Pope & Howard, P.C., may be able to help recover damages to help cover medical expenses, funeral costs, and other financial hardships that resulted from the accident. Fill out our online contact form or call us at 404-885-9999 to schedule your consultation with one of our experienced auto accident attorneys.
With years of experience as trial lawyers, Marc Howard and Geoff Pope represent clients' interests who have been injured or treated wrongly due to the negligence of others. If you have suffered from any of the above wrongs, contact the experts at Pope & Howard P.C. to set up a free consultation. Contact us via our contact form or by phone: 404-885-9999.