While it’s hard to imagine a vehicle accident that isn’t scary, rollovers have particularly dangerous aspects. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they tend to happen on rural roads that lack barriers like guard rails. This means that the vehicle can end up in a ditch or down an embankment. Also, the faster the vehicle is going, the higher the chance it will roll. Faster speeds result in harder impacts. Drunk or distracted driving also tend to factor into rollover crashes. As these are typically single-vehicle accidents, a driver who is drunk or distracted is inattentive and careless to the conditions on the road. Even a simple curve in the road can start the chain reaction of circumstances that result in a rollover. Swerving to avoid a pothole, or a tire blow out can result in flipping your vehicle over.
Certain vehicle designs have a higher chance of rolling over, as well. High centers of gravity, such as what you find in SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and 15-passenger vans are more apt to topple over in a crash.
While rollover accidents are statistically less common than other types of accidents, such as red-light running or rear-end collisions, they are more dangerous. Rollover accidents have a higher rate of fatality. One way to increase yours and your passengers’ chances of survival in case the vehicle rolls is for all occupants to wear a seatbelt. Staying in the car during a roll is the safest place to be.
If you have been involved or injured in a rollover accident, call Bill Coats Law today. He is well experienced with the complexities of auto accident claims, and offers his assessment of your case free of charge. You have nothing to lose. Contact him today.