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Injured in a rollover car accidents? Get the maximum financial
compensation you deserve by securing the DLG Advantage.
A simple fender bender or rear-end car accident can be a traumatic experience, sometimes leading to injuries that can leave a victim with prolonged pain and suffering. But when rollover car crashes occur, they often lead to catastrophic injuries or, in the most severe cases, fatalities.
Preventing a rollover car accident can save your life and possibly keep you from having to endure a long stay in the hospital, lost wages, physical therapy or rehabilitation, and more.
Below we’ll look at the most common causes of rollover car accidents, review which vehicles are more prone to such crashes, and offer information on how to file a personal injury civil lawsuit in the event of a motor vehicle collision injury.
Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.
A rollover crash (commonly referred to as a ROC) is one where the vehicle tips over – onto either its side, or completely end-over-end where it lands upside down on its roof. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has identified rollover crash categories based on different initiation scenarios. Those categories include:
As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported, rollover car crashes are more likely than any other type of motor vehicle collision to result in fatalities. Among fatal rollover crashes, the highest percentage occur in light trucks (47%), compared to passenger cars at 22%.
Additionally, the NHTSA reported that nearly three-fourths of occupants killed in rollover crashes were not using seatbelt restraints, while slightly less than two-thirds of victims were completely ejected from their vehicles.
If you experienced a car accident injury, don’t wait to file a claim. Contact our expert attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
Rollover car accidents most commonly occur as a result of the driver losing control of the vehicle. However, that loss of control can be due to any number of factors – whether drowsy driving, distracted driving, reckless driving, etc. Therefore, while it’s fair to say that the most common cause of rollover car accidents is a driver losing control of his or her vehicle, it’s important to always further clarify the factor behind said loss of control. Our Top Ten List below will review the various reasons why drivers commonly lose control of their vehicles and end up in rollover crashes.
1) Speeding: While we’ve all done it at one point or another (whether in a rush to get to work or hurrying to reach a business before closing time), speeding is not only dangerous but a common way to end up injured in a serious rollover car accident. When you speed, your reaction time is limited, and if another vehicle or object suddenly appears in the road, swerving to avoid it can easily lead to a rollover crash.
2) Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol: As with speeding, operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol can reduce reaction time. Impaired driving can also affect your faculties, leaving you with difficulties in judgement, concentration, comprehension, vision, and more. Diminishment in even one of these areas can lead to a rollover accident.
3) Vehicle Defects: Some rollover crashes have nothing to do with operator error, but rather a manufacturing defect that impacts the vehicle’s safety. In February, 106 Ford Bronco SUVs were recalled due to rollover risk. The company announced that an incorrect lower control arm could “result in reduced vehicle stability and increase the risk of a rollover crash at maximum roof load.” To check your vehicle’s safety rating (and for any outstanding recalls), visit the NHTSA’s page.
4) Tire Problems: Tire failure is actually a leading cause of rollover car accidents. Tire defects can range from faulty stems to bead failures, as well as tread cracks, poorly constructed sidewalls, and more. Any one of those defects can lead to a tire explosion (or blowout), frequently resulting in a rollover car crash.
5) Distracted Driving: We’ve highlighted the dangers of distracted driving in many blogs. Drivers who have to take their eyes off the road (or hands off the wheel) to text or answer an email are three times more likely to be in a crash. Moreover, the average text sent while driving takes the driver’s eyes off the road for around five seconds. When traveling at 55 miles per hour, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a football field while blindfolded. And when you suddenly do return your eyes to the road, an unexpected obstruction (vehicle, pedestrian, object, etc.) can cause you to react by swerving, which can lead to a rollover car accident.
6) Drowsy Driving: Just like distracted driving, drowsy driving can cause the driver to take his or her eyes off the road for an extended period of time. When the driver finally awakens, their vehicle could have veered off the road completely, or they could be forced to slam on the brakes to avoid another vehicle. These are just two of the countless drowsy driving scenarios that commonly lead to rollover car crashes.
7) Aggressive or Road Rage Driving: Aggressive driving can lead to dangerous scenarios that result in serious injuries or even fatalities. Road rage can cause a driver to behave erratically, swerving or speeding to get around another vehicle. It’s a recipe that commonly leads to rollover crashes.
8) Roadway Hazards: Our nation’s roads and highways can be quite majestic, but they can also be exceedingly dangerous. As many studies confirm, the United States government has been underfunding its roadway system for years – with a reported $786 billion backlog of road and bridge capital repairs. Accordingly, potholes, unstable bridges, uneven pavement, lack of guardrails, and even lack of proper signage can lead to serious car accidents – many of which end up being classified as rollover crashes.
9) Lack of Driving Experience: As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, younger drivers are statistically more dangerous. Teenage drivers may be unfamiliar with how a particular vehicle handles on certain roadways, or their lack of experience may cause a simple error in judgement. Regardless, rollover crashes can often be the result of a driver simply not having enough experience to know how to react in certain situations or under difficult driving conditions.
10) Lack of Roadway Familiarity: The NHTSA confirms that almost three-quarters of fatal rollovers occur in rural areas on roads where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour or more (roadways that tend to be undivided highways without barriers). In its latest report, the NHTSA confirmed that there is a projected increase in the proportion of fatalities that occurred in rural areas. Said increase was specifically found among younger “risky drivers” ages 16 to 24 – both in accidents involving rollovers and ejections as well as among occupants of older vehicles (10+ years). The NHTSA’s data indicates that the increased total fatality rate – an astounding 24% – is strongly driven by the higher fatality rates on rural local/collector, arterial, and interstate roadways during the first half of 2020.
While they’re typically the deadliest type of motor vehicle accident – representing approximately 30% of all passenger vehicle occupant fatalities – rollover crashes actually only account for roughly 3% of all serious car crashes. As Consumer Reports notes, a common rollover crash scenario occurs when sideways forces develop as a vehicle rounds a curve and the center of gravity shifts to one side. This can have a dramatic effect on the vehicle’s balance, and the lateral forces increase with speed (and with rapid changes of direction). An example of this is when a driver makes too sharp a turn one way and then overcorrects in an effort to return the steering wheel the other way. These quick transitions can, according to CR, set up “a pendulum effect, with larger and larger swings and an eventual loss of control.”
Although any vehicle is susceptible to a rollover crash, taller and narrower vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans are more susceptible than traditional cars due to their higher center of gravity (making these types of vehicles more top-heavy). The NIH confirmed that motor vehicle crashes involving SUVs have 11 times increased risk of rollovers when compared to passenger cars.
In February, U.S, News & World Report released its “Safest SUVs for 2021” list. Although there were dozens of vehicle manufacturers and types included, the top ranking SUVs included:
A study by the National Institute of Health identified specific factors that can impact the severity of rollover crashes (ROCs). Those factors include:
Injuries sustained through a rollover car accident can be severe, often categorized as catastrophic. Some common rollover car accident injuries include:
Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.
Filing a personal injury civil lawsuit can be a critical step in ensuring an injured rollover car accident victim is made “whole.” What that term – ‘whole‘ – means is that the injured victim is properly compensated for any losses resulting from the rollover car accident. At Dordulian Law Group (DLG), we have over 50 years of combined experience helping California’s injured car accident victims recover the maximum financial compensation they deserve.
Founded by a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian, DLG is the leading car accident law firm in the Los Angeles, California-area. We offer injured clients an unparalleled level of experience, dedication, skill, and (what clients often find most important) proven results, including a 98% success record and history of successfully recovering more than $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts.
When you’re injured in a rollover car accident, you want the firm with the experience and results that will give you peace of mind while making your recovery. At DLG, clients can be confident that our passion for justice and past success is a true indication of how much we care about each and every client that places the important responsibility of handling their car accident claim in our hands. Unlike settlement mill firms that may be quick to accept a lowball offer from an insurance company, at DLG we prepare every case for trial, fighting to recover any applicable type of damage – economic and non-economic – you’ve endured. Some examples of compensable car accident damages include:
If you believe you have a personal injury case and wish to pursue a claim, don’t hesitate to contact our award-winning expert attorneys online or by phone today.
Our founder and president, Sam Dordulian, has successfully accrued over 100 jury trial victories throughout his career. That’s a level of experience you simply can’t find at most car accident law firms, and it means that you can be confident that we won’t settle for anything less than the maximum financial damages award you deserve.
Contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. Our consultations are always free and completely confidential, and we’ll take time to answer all your questions and outline your options for maximum financial compensation under the law. With our No Win/No Fee Guarantee, you never have to worry about out-of-pocket expenses or upfront costs. At DLG, we believe all California car accident victims deserve the very best legal representation available – regardless of economic means or financial hardships. When you bring your rollover car accident claim to DLG, you won’t pay a penny until we recover maximum financial compensation on your behalf.
For a car accident injury, the best call you can make is to DLG.
Client Review
“I was hit by a car while crossing the street at a 4-way stop. Pretty cut and dry. I was fairly banged up but ended up with only a broken foot. But I couldn’t go back to work and I knew I’d have a lot of medical bills. I didn’t know what to do. A friend, an attorney herself, suggested I call Arpi Yeremian, at Dordulian Law Group. Arpi took care of everything, from dealing with the hospital to working with the driver’s insurance company. There’s no way I could’ve done this myself. Three months later we reached a very satisfactory settlement and I could not be any happier. I highly recommend to contact Arpi Yeremian any concerns about your case.”
A. Karapetyan
Do you have a case? Let's find out.
Do you have a case? Let's find out.
Our founder and president, Sam Dordulian, has successfully accrued over 100 jury trial victories throughout his career. That’s a level of experience you simply can’t find at most car accident law firms, and it means that you can be confident that we won’t settle for anything less than the maximum financial damages award you deserve.
Contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. Our consultations are always free and completely confidential, and we’ll take time to answer all your questions and outline your options for maximum financial compensation under the law. With our No Win/No Fee Guarantee, you never have to worry about out-of-pocket expenses or upfront costs. At DLG, we believe all California car accident victims deserve the very best legal representation available – regardless of economic means or financial hardships. When you bring your rollover car accident claim to DLG, you won’t pay a penny until we recover maximum financial compensation on your behalf.
For a car accident injury, the best call you can make is to DLG.
