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A rollover car accident can potentially leave you with serious injuries and costly treatments stretching far into the future. Every vehicle accident may cause injury, but rollover accidents are extremely dangerous. Anytime a vehicle rolls over onto the roof or its side is a rollover accident.
When someone loses control of the car, they’re at an increased risk of a rollover incident. In many situations, these accidents cause life-changing, serious injuries like brain injuries, broken bones, soft tissue injuries, and more. One-third of US traffic fatalities every single year are due to rollover accidents. Over 10,000 people suffer rollover fatalities annually, and many of these accidents can be prevented.
Certain vehicles carry a higher risk of rollover incidents, including pickups, minivans, and certain SUVs.
The right Charleston car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you need to move on with your life. Contact Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney in Charleston to file your claim for a rollover accident now.
Types of Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents are classified into two categories: tripped vs. untripped.
95% of rollover vehicle accidents involving only one car are tripped. Tripped rollover accidents occur when some outside force causes the vehicle to flip over. This can include the vehicle striking a guard rail, and the momentum and change in force will cause the car to flip over. These rollovers typically happen when a vehicle slides to the side and a collision with an obstacle forces the car to roll.
An untripped rollover is caused by the interaction of gravity with the vehicle’s own movements. If a top-heavy vehicle travels at excessive speed and takes a corner too quickly, the momentum will cause the vehicle to tip over. It is very rare for untripped rollover accidents to occur. But if someone swerves left to avoid something in the road and over-corrects, the vehicle cannot stabilize, causing rollover accidents and injuries.
How Do Many Rollover Accidents Happen in Charleston?
Most rollover accidents happen when a driver overcorrects in a driving emergency. A driving emergency can cause someone to panic and swerve too far to one side of the other. Other common causes of rollover accidents include impaired driving, curving country roads, speeding, tire condition, drowsy driving, and driving distracted.
Although most rollover accidents involve only one vehicle, multiple-vehicle crashes can also cause rollovers, especially when driver impairment, excessive speed, and failure to adjust to road conditions occur. If you believe you were involved in an accident caused by a defective car part, a dangerous road condition, or another driver’s actions, you may be entitled to recover compensation.
If someone else strikes your car suddenly and you lose control, you may be able to hold them accountable by filing a rollover accident lawsuit.
Injuries in Rollover Accidents
The forces involved in a rollover crash mean that people can suffer numerous injuries and that different passengers in the car may sustain different injuries. A motorcyclist thrown into the road may not be fully protected with their helmet and gear. Being ejected from the bike can cause road rash due to the impact of striking or being dragged across the ground.
Slipped discs, whiplash, and herniated discs can all occur easily in this kind of crash. Serious back injuries, including damage to the spinal cord, can also cause permanent disability, such as becoming a quadriplegic or paraplegic. Bruises, lacerations, broken bones, or soft tissue injuries may occur.
One of the easiest ways to minimize the impact of a rollover accident is to wear a seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt could reduce your fatality risk by as much as 75%. Many of the traditional protections inside a car, like airbags, may not fully protect you from wide-ranging injuries in an accident.
You may only realize the full scope of your injuries days or even weeks later. A doctor can help you with diagnostic tests and treatment plans, but most motorcycle riders need long-term medical care.
FAQs About Rollover Accidents
Am I entitled to compensation?
If you can show that another party is responsible for your injuries, you may name them in a personal injury lawsuit. This can include the manufacturer of a defective vehicle part that caused your car to tip over, or a party who was driving aggressively, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You’ll need evidence showing that someone else is responsible for your injuries.
If you were unable to gather evidence at the scene because you were taken away for medical treatment, talk to an attorney about what materials may be used to determine liability in your lawsuit.
How do we know who is liable for a rollover accident?
It’s not always easy to determine who is at fault for a rollover wreck, especially if yours was the only vehicle involved. A thorough investigation of the accident scene may be required in order to determine what happened. An evaluation may reveal that the maker of a defective part or a government entity responsible for road hazards is liable, for example.
It is vital to communicate with a qualified personal injury lawyer right away. Doing so allows them to gather and review evidence to identify all potentially responsible parties. Deciding to file a lawsuit is a complicated issue and one that should be handled by a knowledgeable professional who has been through this process before.
When should I file a lawsuit?
In South Carolina, you have a maximum of three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. It’s best to contact an attorney immediately after the wreck to put you in the best position to recover compensation.
Injured in a Rollover? Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Charleston
If you are dealing with the impact of a serious rollover accident caused by someone else, you need the support of an attorney. A Charleston car accident lawyer is an advocate and resource for you when you’re trying to determine what comes next.
Reach out to us at Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney in Charleston for a look into your case and legal options.
