Boston Rollover Accidents Lawyer

How Common Are Rollover Accidents?

The NHTSA estimates that rollover accidents account for approximately 2.1 percent of all traffic accidents. However, rollover crashes accounted for almost 35 percent of the deaths in passenger vehicle accidents. 

The IIHS also tracks rollover accidents. In 2018, 6,583 people died in rollover crashes. Rollover accidents accounted for over 29 percent of all fatalities in passenger vehicle accidents that year. The numbers remain relatively consistent each year, with rollover crashes accounting for approximately one-third of all traffic fatalities each year.

Common Causes of Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle “flips” or rolls over. Rollover crashes have a higher fatality rate compared to other types of crashes. The vehicle may land on its side or its roof. Rollover accidents may involve one or multiple vehicles. 

Larger vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs, might be at a higher risk of rolling over because they have a higher center of gravity. However, any vehicle may roll over given the right circumstances. 

There are two types of rollover accidents – ripped rollovers and untripped rollovers.

Tripped Rollover Accidents

Almost 95 percent of all single-vehicle rollover crashes involve tripping. A tripping accident occurs when the vehicle’s wheels leave the road because they “trip” over an object. The result is the vehicle flipping over as it loses balance.

Tripping hazards include soft areas on the side of the road, curbs, medians, heavy road debris, large stones, guardrails, road shoulders, and other objects. 

Untripped Rollover Accidents

Untripped rollover accidents are less common. These types of rollover crashes usually involve vehicles that are top-heavy and traveling at high speeds. The driver swerves or executes another avoidance maneuver, such as swerving to avoid a stropped vehicle. The result in a rollover accident. 

Untripped rollovers often involve high speeds, but not always. Rollover accidents that do not involve tripping might also occur if a driver takes a turn or corner while driving too fast. 

Factors That Can Contribute to a Rollover Accident

Many factors can increase the risk of a rollover accident or contribute to the cause of a rollover crash. Some of the factors or situations that can cause a vehicle to roll over include:

• Speeding, which can make it more difficult to control a vehicle or safely reduce speed to avoid a hazard
• Overloading a vehicle making it difficult to control, especially adding weight to the top of the vehicle
• Almost one-half of rollover accidents involve alcohol 
• Defective tires or faulty tires can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle
• Worn tires decrease the grip of the tires on the road, increasing the chance of skidding and rolling over
• The type of roadway can contribute to the cause of a rollover accident, including roads with sharp curves, undivided roads, and roads without barriers
• The type of vehicle can also be a factor with SUVs, vans, pickup trucks, and other vehicles with a high center of gravity being more prone to rolling over

A thorough investigation is often required to determine how the rollover accident occurred and who is responsible for causing the accident. 

Types of Injuries Caused by Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Passengers may be crushed or thrown from the vehicle, increasing the likelihood of death or traumatic injuries. 

Examples of rollover accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Chest injuries
• Damage to internal organs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Amputations and loss of limbs
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death

Seeking immediate medical treatment after a rollover crash protects your health and increases your chance of recovering damages for a rollover accident claim. 

Who is Liable for Damages in a Rollover Accident?

If another driver caused the rollover accident, that driver could be held financially liable for your damages. When defective tires or other defective products contribute to the cause of a rollover crash, the manufacturer and other parties might be liable for damages.

Our Boston car accident attorneys will gather evidence to prove fault. We may retain experts to reconstruct the accident to determine who it occurred and who is responsible.

If you prove another party caused the crash, you could recover compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, permanent impairments, pain & suffering, personal care, and other damages. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Boston Rollover Accidents Lawyer

It can take time to investigate rollover crashes and gather evidence proving fault and liability. Your time to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party is limited by Massachusetts’ Statutes of Limitation. 

Contact our office to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Boston rollover accident lawyer as soon as possible. Waiting too long to seek legal advice could result in losing your right to pursue a claim through the courts.