A rollover accident is one in which a vehicle rolls onto its side and/or roof. In high-speed or particularly severe rollover accidents, a vehicle may even turn over several times before coming to rest. Rollover accidents have a higher fatality rate than other types of crashes, but understanding how a rollover works can help you protect yourself and others in the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
About 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents each year, and thousands more are injured. Although nearly any vehicle may roll in the right circumstances, taller and narrower vehicles are more likely to roll over. In addition, a vehicle that is loaded with cargo over or behind its rear axle is more likely to roll over.
Forty percent of rollover accidents involve speeding, according to the NHTSA. Alcohol is a factor in about half of single-vehicle rollover crashes. As many as 90 percent of rollover crashes occur while a driver is executing a routine maneuver, such as taking a curve or going through an intersection. Seat belts are the single best line of defense in a rollover crash, and as many as 75 percent of those who suffer fatal rollover crash injuries were not wearing a seat belt when the accident occurred.
Rollover accidents can cause serious injuries and even death. Poor vehicle design, defective seat belts, and the negligence of others on the road may all be factors in a rollover crash. If you’ve been injured in a rollover, the dedicated auto accident attorneys in Colorado Springs at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help. Call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free case evaluation.