Rollover Accidents

It’s terrifying to imagine being trapped in a vehicle that has turned over or flying through the windshield due to the force of the impact, and it’s easy to see how the drivers and passengers involved in such an accident could face lifelong financial, physical, and emotional consequences.

If you or a loved one were injured in a rollover accident, and if that accident was caused by the negligence of another person or entity, you may be able to get compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs, or other damages. However, the car accident lawsuit process is complicated, and you need a strong legal team on your side.

The experienced rollover accident attorneys at WKW are ready to help.

What Is a Rollover Accident?

Rollover accidents occur when a car rolls onto its side or upside-down. In the most severe cases, the vehicle can completely flip over more than once.

These accidents, while not as common as other types of car accidents, are extremely dangerous and almost always lead to serious injuries or even fatalities.

Why Are Rollover Accidents So Dangerous?

A vehicle rolling over and over results in particularly dangerous circumstances. Two of the most serious possibilities are drivers or passengers getting thrown through the windshield or the car’s roof collapsing onto people trapped inside the vehicle.

Additionally, loose objects or glass can break and get tossed around the vehicle, colliding with occupants or shattering and causing lacerations. Anyone not wearing a seat belt could similarly be thrown into other people, seats, or glass.

Rollover accidents have much higher rates of injuries and death due to the dynamics of the vehicle flipping over. Victims are at more risk of serious, long-term complications compared to other car crashes.

What Causes Rollover Accidents?

Car crashes can be caused by a variety of factors, and while rollover accidents share some similarities, they have unique aspects that differentiate them from other collisions.

A rollover accident lawyer can help you determine the cause of the crash, and if your accident was caused by someone else’s negligent action or lack of action, you should hold them financially responsible.

Tripping

Most single-vehicle rollover crashes are caused by tripping. Tripping is when a car hits an obstruction in the road, like a curb, pothole, rock, or bump. The trip disrupts the vehicle’s forward motion and causes it to sway to one side, lean back toward the other side with more momentum, and then act like a pendulum until the car finally rolls over.

High Center of Gravity

Although any car can be involved in a rollover accident, vehicles with a higher center of gravity are more at risk due to their design, structure, and size. Examples of such vehicles are SUVs, pickup trucks, tractor-trailers, and large vans.

Newer cars come with safety features to protect drivers and passengers from rollover accidents, but still, occupants can get seriously hurt after a crash.

Unsafe Distribution of Weight

When trucks, cars, or vans transport oversized or unevenly distributed loads, they can more easily tip over, especially when drivers go too fast.

Tire Failure

If a vehicle’s suspension system or tires are defective, they can cause a loss of control that causes a car to flip over. Flat tires, tire blowouts, or excessively worn tires often contribute to rollover accidents.

Speeding

Driving too fast is a common cause of car accidents, including rollovers. Taking a turn too quickly can cause a vhicle to tilt just enough to fall on its side.

Oversteering

When drivers overcorrect to avoid colliding with deer, pedestrians, or other vehicles, they can accidentally drive into a ditch, off a cliff, or into a guardrail or other roadway barrier—any of which can cause the vehicle to rollover.

Weather Conditions

Ice, rain, snow, and other dangerous weather can increase the risk of rollover accidents. Drivers who slide or slip and then overcorrect in an attempt to get back on track can, unfortunately, cause their vehicle to flip over.

Roadway Hazards

Poor road maintenance, a lack of warning signs, or roadway obstructions can start the chain of events leading to tipping for unlucky drivers who encounter those conditions.

T-Bone Collisions

When vehicles are struck from the side by other vehicles in what is known as a “T-bone” accident, the force of the collision can make the car flip onto its side or cause it to rollover several times.

Rollover Accidents: Who Is Responsible?

Before filing a rollover accident lawsuit, you must discover the cause of the accident and decide who acted negligently. One or more parties could be liable for your accident:

• Another driver
• Car designer
• Tire manufacturer
• Entity in charge of road maintenance

Your legal team will investigate the accident scene, analyze evidence, and speak to experts to determine who is responsible for your injuries.

Contact a Rollover Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a rollover accident, contact the Indianapolis Automobile Accident Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you recover for the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.