Rollover car accidents occur when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof during a crash, leading to severe damage and harm. These crashes are devastating, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. Understanding the causes behind these incidents can improve road safety and prevent future tragedies.
These factors can contribute to the occurrence of rollover car accidents:
- Vehicle type and design: Vehicles with a high center of gravity are more prone to rollovers. The risk of rollover increases significantly when SUVs, trucks, and vans make sharp turns or maneuvers at high speeds.
- Narrow wheelbase: A narrow wheelbase, combined with a high center of gravity, can destabilize a vehicle during sudden turns or swerves, leading to rollover accidents.
- Roof strength: Weak or poorly designed vehicle roofs are more likely to collapse during rollovers.
- Driver behaviors: Excessive speeding is a leading cause of rollover accidents. High speeds reduce a driver’s ability to control the vehicle, especially when navigating curves or uneven road surfaces. Other reckless behaviors like aggressive driving, tailgating, and sudden lane changes also increase the likelihood of a rollover crash.
- Impaired driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs significantly impair a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time, elevating the risk of all types of accidents, including rollovers.
- Road and Environmental conditions: Roads with sharp curves or bends require careful maneuvering, especially at higher speeds. Failure to adjust speed and navigate these curves appropriately can result in a rollover.
What Are the Most Common Rollover Accident Injuries?
Rollover car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to severe, life-altering conditions. The violent nature of rollovers can cause occupants to be thrown around within the vehicle or ejected from it entirely, leading to distinct types of trauma.
Common rollover accident injuries include:
- Head and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis or loss of mobility
- Fractures and broken bones
- Internal injuries such as organ damage or internal bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries like whiplash
Occupants may also experience lacerations, burns, or contusions due to contact with broken glass, metal, or other objects within the vehicle. The severity of these injuries depends on factors like the speed of the rollover, the use of seat belts, and the design and safety features of the involved vehicles.
How Can Rollover Accidents Be Prevented?
Preventing rollover accidents requires a multifaceted approach that addresses vehicle design, driver behavior, and road safety measures. Many drivers choose vehicles with a lower center of gravity and wider wheelbase, which makes them less prone to rollovers.
Educating drivers about the dangers of speeding, reckless driving, and impaired driving promotes safe driving practices and decreases risks. Additionally, all occupants should always be reminded to wear seat belts.
Improving road infrastructure and maintenance to reduce hazards like potholes, uneven pavement, and inadequate signage can also benefit drivers and occupants. Investing in vehicles using advanced safety technologies such as electronic stability control (ESC) is also a good idea. That helps prevent loss of control and rollovers in emergencies.
Contact a Delaware Car Accident Lawyer at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC for Legal Guidance After a Rollover Crash
If you or a loved one was injured in a rollover car accident, seek legal guidance from an experienced Delaware car accident lawyer at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC. Call us at 302-888-1221 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Wilmington, Delaware, we serve clients in Dover, Newark, and Middletown.