The injuries incurred in a rollover accident can be severe and life-threatening. When a vehicle rolls over, the occupants can be ejected from the vehicle. Victims ejected from the vehicle are at risk of additional injury from the vehicle crushing the person or from other vehicles on the road. Traumatic injuries may result in long-term impairments and ongoing expenses. You need an attorney who fights for maximum compensation for your claim.
If you or a close family member is a victim in a rollover accident, you need to hire a Michigan rollover accidents attorney to fight for a fair and just settlement for your injury claim.Contact The Clark Law Office by calling 517-347-6900 to schedule a free legal consultation with our Michigan rollover accident attorney.
What are the Common Causes of Rollover Accidents?
According to the NHTSA, any vehicle is subject to a rollover accident. Even though the type of vehicle may be a factor in the cause of a rollover crash, other factors may also cause a rollover accident. That being said, rollover accidents aren’t as common as other forms in Michigan. The causes for a rollover are slightly different than the top 5 causes of car accidents in Michigan simply because it takes alot of momentum and loss of balance for a vehicle to actually rollover. The six factors that could cause a rollover accident according to the NHTSA are:
Vehicle Types — All types of vehicles can roll over. However, a vehicle with a higher center of gravity, such as an SUV, bus, van, or truck may be more likely to roll over when involved in a single-car collision.
Speed — Roughly 40 percent of fatal rollover accidents involved speed as a factor. Speed can play a significant role in rollover crashes.
Alcohol —Almost one-half of all fatal rollover accidents involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Just a small amount of alcohol can negatively impair a driver’s judgment, coordination, and vision increasing the risk of an accident.
Location — Almost 75 percent of fatal rollover accidents occur on rural roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher.
Routine Driving — Over 90 percent of fatal, single-car rollover crashes occur during routine driving conditions. Therefore, this may indicate that driving behaviors play a significant role in deaths in rollover crashes.
Single-Vehicle Crashes — Over 8 in 10 rollover-related fatalities involve a single vehicle only.
Rollover accidents can be deadly and terrifying. The good news is that accidents involving a rollover are not as common as other types of car crashes. However, rollover accidents are deadlier. Even though rollover accidents only accounted for 2.1 percent of the 9.1 motor vehicle crashes in 2010, 35 percent of the motor vehicle-related deaths were attributed to rollover accidents.
Other Factors That May Contribute to the Cause of a Rollover Accident in Michigan
In addition to the six factors outlined by the NHTSA, other factors may contribute to the cause of a rollover crash including:
Road Conditions. If the road is uneven or poorly maintained, the poor road conditions can create a tripping hazard, especially for larger vehicles.
Weather Conditions. Poor weather conditions may also cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. Depending on the other factors, the vehicle may roll over.
Defective Suspension. A vehicle’s suspension system helps keep the vehicle stable. A defense suspension system can increase the chance of a rollover accident.
Tire Conditions. Defective or worn tires may also increase the risk of a driver losing control of a vehicle causing the vehicle to roll over or flip. Tire blowouts can be extremely dangerous and increase the risk of a rollover accident.
Sharp Turns. Sharp or hairpin turns may contribute to the cause of a rollover if the driver is speeding through the curve.
Drivers who do not pay attention going up or down ramps may roll over. However, ramps that are too steep can also cause a vehicle to tip over.
Determining the factor or factors that contributed to the cause of a rollover accident is an essential element in a personal injury case. The factors that contributed to the rollover crash help your Okemos rollover accident attorney identify the party or parties liable for the crash. You can only hold parties who were responsible for causing the crash liable for damages. If you cannot prove fault and liability, you cannot recover compensation from that party.
What Compensation is Available If I File a Rollover Accident Claim?
If you are injured in a rollover accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The amount of compensation depends on several factors, including whether you can be blamed for any portion of the cause of the crash. Common damages included in rollover accident claims include:
Medical expenses, including future medical costs for permanent disability or ongoing medical care
Loss of income, including wages, bonuses, overtime, future lost wages, and loss of earning capacity
Physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering
Scarring, disfigurement, impairment, and disability
Other out-of-pocket financial losses
A Lansing rollover accidents attorney can help you investigate the crash, gather evidence, identify liable parties, file an injury claim, negotiate a fair settlement, and file a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary.
Can You Avoid a Rollover Accident?
You may not be able to prevent another driver’s actions that could cause a rollover accident. However, you can take some steps to reduce your risk of causing a rollover crash and steps to reduce the severity of your injury in a rollover accident.
Newer vehicles have the latest safety technology, including stability control, airbags, braking systems, and side-curtain airbags. Try to purchase a newer vehicle with all safety features whenever possible.
Wear your safety belt every time you are in the vehicle. In a rollover crash, a seat belt may prevent you from being thrown from the vehicle.
Be careful when loading a vehicle. Overloading vehicles, especially vans, SUVs, and trucks can increase the risk of a rollover accident.
Excessive speed and reckless driving can increase the risk of flipping over in a crash. Slow down and drive carefully.
When on rural roads, slow down and pay attention to the road. Watch for drop-offs and roads without barriers.
When entering construction zones, be alert and slow down. These areas can be dangerous and care should be taken to prevent a rollover.
Make sure your tires are always in good shape and inflated to the correct pressure.
Call an attorney if you are injured in an accident. Even though you may believe you could be partially at fault, you still need to understand your rights regarding an accident claim.
Contact an Okemos Rollover Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review
If you were injured in a rollover accident or you have lost a loved one in a rollover accident, call our hard working attorneys at 517-347-6900 to schedule a free legal consultation with our Michigan rollover accident attorney.
The injuries incurred in a rollover accident can be severe and life-threatening. When a vehicle rolls over, the occupants can be ejected from the vehicle. Victims ejected from the vehicle are at risk of additional injury from the vehicle crushing the person or from other vehicles on the road. Traumatic injuries may result in long-term impairments and ongoing expenses. You need an attorney who fights for maximum compensation for your claim.