Car accidents can cause serious injuries that may lead to permanent disability or even death, putting a person or family’s financial future in jeopardy.
One of the most dangerous types of car accidents is rollover accidents. While it is possible to survive a rollover accident uninjured, most victims suffer from serious injuries or fatality.
Personal injury attorney Scott Sumner helps victims of rollover car accidents in and around Walnut Creek, CA recover damages for their injuries. If you have been injured in a rollover accident, attorney Scott Sumner can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Rollover Car Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rollover car accidents have a higher fatality rate than any other kind of crash.
The NTSA also found that rollover crashes accounted for only 2.1 percent of crashes in 2010 but accounted for almost 35 percent of car accident deaths. Of the 7,600 people who died in 2010 in a rollover crash, 69 percent were not wearing a seat belt.
The good news here is that rollover crashes are not the most common type of car accident and wearing a seat belt can help reduce the risk of death.
Common Causes of Rollover Car Accidents
Rollover accidents have many possible causes. Some of the most common causes include:
- The type of vehicle: Any car can be involved in a rollover accident, but some vehicles are more likely to rollover in the event of an accident. Vehicles with higher centers of gravity, such as SUVS, vans, and pickup trucks, are more likely to rollover than other vehicles.
- Speeding: Speeding is dangerous, especially when taking corners too fast. Speeding is a common cause of rollover accidents.
- Driver distraction: Distracted driving occurs when drivers don’t give the road their full attention. For example, driving while talking to passengers, texting, grabbing something from the passenger seat, or changing the radio can take a drivers attention away from the road. It only takes a few seconds of distraction to end up in a rollover accident.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol significantly impairs a person’s ability to drive. Driver impairment, such as blurred vision, slowed reaction times, and impaired judgment can lead to a rollover accident.
- Vehicular or product defects: Sometimes, rollover accidents are not the fault of the driver, but are rather caused by a defect within the vehicle itself. A vehicular defect may include steering problems and a product defect cause the tires to blowout while driving. Both examples could cause a driver to lose control and rollover.
Common Injuries in Rollover Car Accidents
Rollover car accidents are extremely dangerous and can result in serious, life changing injuries, as well as death. Some common injuries in rollover accidents include:
- Head and traumatic brain injuries: Rollover crashes can cause passengers to land on their head, resulting in head or traumatic brain injuries. Head injuries may include skull fractures, broken jaws, or lacerations. Brain injuries may happen as a result of the impact at the time of the crash, or if an object penetrates the brain.
- Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries are a major risk of rollover crashes and can result in permanent disability, including paralysis.
- Neck injuries: Rollover accidents can also cause serious neck injuries. Some may sustain a broken neck from landing on the head while others may experience whiplash or nerve damage from the force of impact.
- Broken bones: People involved in rollover accidents may experience broken bones in the arms, hands, legs, ankles, or other areas of the body.
- Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries, such as bruises, torn ligaments, and lacerations are common in rollover accidents and often occur with other, more serious injuries.
Contact Sumner Law
If you have been involved in a rollover accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Personal injury lawyer Scott Sumner can help. To discuss your legal options, please call 925-278-6170 and schedule an appointment.