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What Causes a Rollover Car Accident? | Tatum & Atkinson

What Causes a Rollover Car Accident?

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A badly damaged car after a rollover accident.

A rollover car accident may occur when a vehicle flips over on its side or roof, often due to sharp turning, road conditions, or other loss of control of the car. If you have been involved in a rollover accident due to the negligence of another driver or due to improperly cared for roads, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options for recovery.

If you or a loved one have been injured due to a rollover car accident, contact the experienced car collision attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters’, by calling (800) 529-0804 or contacting us online. With over 65 years of collective experience serving North Carolina accident injury victims, Tatum & Atkinson ‘the Heavy Hitters’  has the knowledge and skills required to ensure you receive the just compensation you deserve.

How Do Cars Flip Over?

Cars may flip over during an accident due to a driver losing control of their vehicle and drifting off the road, road obstructions, and risky high-speed driving. While there may be additional causes of rollover accidents, the reasons mentioned above are the most common.

Below find some common rollover car accident scenarios:

Driver Control

The most frequent cause of a rollover accident is a driver losing control of their vehicle. This may happen due to sleep deprivation, distracted driving, or many other causes.

Risky Maneuvers

Aggressive driving, such as speeding, weaving around vehicles, and turning at high velocities, can cause a vehicle to tip and flip over.

High Speed

Around 40% of rollover accident fatalities involved speeding. Specifically, statistics show that 75% of rollover fatalities involved a driver speeding above a posted limit of 55mph.

Driving While Under the Influence

Sadly, nearly 50% of all rollover accident fatalities involve a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Rural Roads

Rural roads that may not be paved do not have edge of road barriers, and do not have roadway centerlines are a leading cause of rollover accidents. Nearly 75% of rollover car accident fatalities occur on rural roads.

Single Car Collisions

The NHTSA reports that nearly 85% of rollover car accident fatalities are due to single car collisions, which are crashes that involve only one car and not a collision between two vehicles. While multi-vehicle rollovers are less common, they still may happen.

Rollover Statistics

Rollover car accidents are often very hazardous, although they are relatively rare. Below find some additional rollover car accident statistics:

  •   Rollovers account for almost ⅓ of accident fatalities
  •   Out of all crashes, less than one percent result in a rollover.
  • Approximately 40% of all fatal single-vehicle rollover crashes involved no collision avoidance maneuver at all
  • Approximately 45% of U.S. citizens believe they are safer traveling in an SUV than in a traditional passenger vehicle
  • Approximately 75% of all rollover accidents involved trucks, vans, and SUVs
  • Approximately one-half of all rollover accidents end in fatalities of either the driver or passengers
  • Electronic stability control prevents car accidents, especially rollovers when the driver loses control of the car.
  • Males under 40 driving on a two-way roadway without a dividing barrier account for the majority of rollover car collisions.
  • More than 55% of all single-vehicle crashes involved rollovers
  • Around 4/5 rollover accident fatalities involved drivers or passengers who were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash
  • According to the FMCSA, about 4.4% of all rollover accidents involve commercial trucks.
  • In 2017, 4.7% of all rollover collisions with injuries involved commercial vehicles

How Do I Avoid a Rollover Car Accident?

Although there is always some risk involved when riding in a vehicle, you should take the following precautions and maintain best driving practices to protect yourself against a rollover accident. Try always to follow the guidelines below when riding in a vehicle:

  •   Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 50% of rollover accident fatalities involve the use of alcohol.
  •   Understand your vehicle. Remember that cars with higher centers of gravity, such as SUVs, trucks, or vans, are more likely to roll than sedans.
  •   Maintain your speed. As excessive speed is a factor in at least 40% of rollover car accident fatalities, you must drive at a safe speed and adjust your speed according to weather conditions accordingly.
  •   Focus on driving. When driving, you should be focused on driving alone. Try to remain engaged with driving and avoid using your phone, eating, or having other distractions.
  •   Take extra care when driving on rural or dirt roads.

What If I Am Involved in a Rollover Accident?

As statistics show that most rollover accidents occur as single-vehicle accidents in rural areas, being involved in a rollover accident can’t be particularly frightening. In many rollover accidents, you may be alone without witnesses or help. Here are some essential tips for those involved in a rollover accident:

  •   Stay calm and assess yourself for injuries.
  •   Check on any passengers and communicate with them until assistance arrives.
  •   If you can, get out of your vehicle to survey the damage and try to flag down help.
  •   If you call 9-1-1 as soon as possible
  •   Seek medical attention immediately for your injuries, even if you feel okay.

What Happens After a Rollover Accident?

Rollover accident cases may be complex, as frequently the driver is responsible for the crash. However, this is not always the case. Some rollover accidents may be attributed to poor road design or maintenance, vehicle design, or another driver’s negligence. If you believe that your accident was caused by another driver’s negligence or poor road conditions, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the experienced attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters,” by calling (800) 529-0804 or contacting us online to receive your free case evaluation. If we take your case, you will pay no attorney’s fees out-of-pocket, and we will only get paid if we win your case.