6 Reasons Why Rollover Crashes Happen
Any car accident can be a dangerous and deadly one but rollover accidents produce some of the highest rates of severe injuries, catastrophe, and death. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 42,939 lives were lost in car accidents in the United States in 2021. For rollover crashes, though, despite only making up less than 3% of reportable accidents in the country, they are responsible for as high as 35% of all deaths from crashes.
A rollover accident occurs when a vehicle flips over and lands on its side or roof. Certain vehicle designs have a greater chance of rolling over than others, but all vehicles can roll over when an accident happens.
Suppose you were harmed in a rollover car accident in Oregon. In that case, you need experienced and skilled legal representation to help you get the most compensation possible from a personal injury claim. Call the Portland rollover car accident attorneys at Rosenbaum Law Group to learn more.
Factors that Contribute to Rollover Crashes Happening
Rollover accidents can cause crushing injuries to passengers inside a vehicle, and they can also eject passengers from a vehicle. Ejecting individuals typically happens when passengers are not wearing proper seatbelts, seat restraints, or are not in car seats. Broken bones, amputations, lacerations, brain injuries, internal injuries, and more can all be suffered in a rollover accident.
When a car has a higher center of gravity, it is more vulnerable to rolling over when it is involved in a crash. Pickup trucks and SUVs are common examples of these types of vehicles.
Rollover crashes can happen when a car makes a sharp and quick turn, tripping over a curb or other object on or near the road, due to driver error, or when it is overloaded with items. There are several causes of rollover accidents, but certain factors make the chances of a rollover accident happening much higher. These would be any of the following:
- The vehicle type: cars with a higher center of gravity have the most risk of a rollover accident.
- Speeding vehicles are more likely to be involved in a rollover than those that are driving at a more moderate pace.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that rural roads with speed limits over 55 mph have a greater risk of rollover accidents.
- Distracted driving or inattentive driving can lead to rollover crashes.
- The defective design of a vehicle or equipment failure can cause a rollover crash.
- Bad weather, construction on the road, and other unsafe road conditions can cause rollover crashes.
Speak to an Oregon Rollover Accident Attorney Today
There are several ways that rollover accidents can happen, and certain factors contribute to the likelihood that a rollover accident will take place. If you were injured in a car accident in Portland, then you need experienced legal counsel and representation to help you get the most out of your claim.
For more information on filing a car accident injury claim in Oregon, please call a Portland, OR, personal injury lawyer at Rosenbaum Law Group at (503) 288-8000. Initial consultations are free.
Source:
iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics