Houston Rollover Car Accident Lawyers
PRACTICE AREAS
In the blink of an eye, a car accident has the ability to completely change your life. This is especially true for rollover accidents, which are among the most deadly types of car accidents. Many rollover crashes result in serious injuries or even wrongful death. If you suffered injuries in a rollover car accident in Houston, you need the Houston personal injury lawyers of Reich & Binstock for your case.
At Reich & Binstock, our Houston car accident lawyers have extensive experience fighting for the rights of victims and their family members after serious car accidents happen. When you’re injured and trying to recover, the last thing you want is to deal with insurance companies and lawsuits. Let the rollover crash lawyers at Reich & Binstock handle all the heavy lifting while you focus on your recovery. To schedule your free consultation with us, please call our law office at 713-622-7271 today.
What Is a Rollover Car Accident?
Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle tips onto its side or onto its roof. During a rollover accident, a car may roll only partially, one full time, or multiple times. This mostly depends on the force involved in the crash. Rollover crashes can also involve only one vehicle or multiple vehicles.
Rollover Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only around 3% of all car accidents are classified as rollover accidents. However, around half of those rollover crashes result in fatalities. When rollovers occur, passengers are much more likely to suffer rollover fatalities or catastrophic injuries when they don’t wear a seat belt. In fact, around 75% of victims who died in rollovers were not wearing seat belts.
The moral of the story is that rollover crashes are incredibly dangerous, and can even be fatal.
What Is the Most Common Cause of a Rollover Accident?
The most common cause of rollover accidents, by far, is driver error. Below, we list the most common types of driver errors that can lead to serious or fatal rollovers.
- Driving too closely to other passenger vehicles on the road (aggressive driving)
- Exceeding the posted speed limit while rounding a curve
- Distracted driving
- Drug or alcohol impairment
- Driving while drowsy or fatigued
- Oversteering
- Carrying heavy loads that overload the vehicle
However, other causes of rollover accidents exist, including the following.
- A tripped rollover, which occurs when the vehicle trips and rolls over after colliding with curbs, guardrails, or uneven surfaces
- Turning too quickly or too sharply for the current speed limit
- The car rolls down a slope or embankment
- Another vehicle collides with the side of your vehicle, causing a t-bone accident and a rollover crash all at once
What Causes a Car to Roll Over?
Many other factors contribute to the likelihood of fatal rollovers and of rollover crashes in general. Below, we list the situations and conditions that can increase the chances of both single-vehicle rollovers and multi-vehicle rollovers.
- Type of vehicle: Pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs are more susceptible to rollover accidents because of their high center of gravity.
- Speed: How fast the vehicle is going also contributes to the likelihood of rollover accidents. More fatal rollover accidents result when the driver speeds excessively.
- Type of road: Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that around 75% of all fatal rollovers involve rural roads with high speed limits.
- Road conditions: If the conditions of the road are poor, this increases the risk of all types of car crashes, including rollover crashes.
- Auto defects: Defective parts and flaws in design can also increase the risk of rollover accidents. For example, maybe a manufacturer develops a vehicle with a higher center of gravity. Higher centers of gravity increase the risk of rollover crashes in not only large passenger cars, but also smaller passenger cars, such as sedans. This could be considered a design flaw.
Rollover Car Accident Injuries
As we mentioned previously, rollover accidents are extremely dangerous, and often fatal. Below, we outline the various types of injuries that are common in vehicle rollover crashes.
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck injuries
- Nerve damage
- Permanent disability
- Bruises, lacerations, and other soft tissue injuries
What Happens to Your Body in a Rollover Car Accident?
When a rollover accident occurs, the body often suffers injuries and damage from more than one angle. It is also possible to be ejected from the vehicle, especially if you’re not wearing a seatbelt. When the vehicle comes to a sudden halt after colliding with another vehicle, this can lead to whiplash, soft tissue damage, and head injuries.
Your body can also collide with other objects inside the car and suffer injuries. Regardless of whether these accidents are single-vehicle crashes or multi-vehicle crashes, the likelihood of injury is high. Rollover accidents are notoriously dangerous, as are T-bone accidents and head-on collision cases.
Who Is at Fault in a Rollover Accident?
In a rollover crash case, it’s important to work closely with your attorney to identify who is at fault for your injuries and property damage. Any of the following parties could be held liable for your injuries and financial losses from the accident.
- The other driver: If other distracted drivers caused the accident, they can be held accountable for your injuries. This can apply to crashes involving one or more vehicles, as it is possible for multiple drivers to be responsible for an accident.
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers: Defective parts, design flaws, or failures to warn or issue a recall could lead to a vehicle manufacturer being held responsible for your injuries. For example, untripped rollovers can occur from defective parts instead of driver behavior.
- Car dealerships: Dealerships have a responsibility to notify potential buyers of any problems or defects with a vehicle before they sell it. If they fail to do this, they may be held liable for damages in the event of a vehicle rollover.
How to Prevent Rollover Accidents
Most cars these days come equipped with something called electronic stability control. This helps to prevent a driver’s loss of control of their vehicle. When a driver loses control, this can greatly increase the risk of serious injury from a crash. Therefore, stability control technology helps to lessen or even negate this risk.
Another way to lessen the risk of injuries from a rollover accident is to simply wear a seat belt. In around 75% of fatalities from rollovers, the victims were not wearing seatbelts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also recommends carefully securing or removing loose items in the vehicle. Loose items could collide with passengers or drivers in the event of an accident.
Additionally, don’t overload your vehicle. If you’re going on a long trip or moving to a different city, avoid putting too much weight in or on your car. This can raise your vehicle’s center of gravity, which decreases stability and increases the chances of a rollover.
Compensation from a Rollover Car Accident
A rollover crash has the potential to lead to mountains of medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses for those involved. This can put a great deal of financial strain on an accident victim. Working with an experienced car accident lawyer can give you the tools you need to fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Cost of ongoing medical treatment
- Physical therapy
- Medication costs
- Hospital stays and rehabilitation
- Medical equipment (such as mobility assistance)
- Loss of benefits from your job
- Temporary or permanent disability
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
Wrongful Death Claims
If you are a family member of someone who was killed in a rollover crash, you can seek compensation on behalf of your deceased loved one. You can seek all of the above forms of compensation, as well as funeral and burial costs. We understand how difficult it can be to handle a claim after the loss of a loved one. Our wrongful death lawyers can take the weight off of your shoulders so that you and your family can focus on healing during this tough time.
How Reich & Binstock Can Help Your Rollover Accident Claim
At Reich & Binstock, we use our knowledge and experience to create advantages for our clients. We don’t just take your information, charge legal fees, and string you along without any updates about your claim. We keep our clients informed and up to date throughout every step of the claims process. After all, it’s what they deserve after going through a traumatic experience like a car accident. If you want compassionate, aggressive trial lawyers on your side, contact Reich & Binstock of Houston. To schedule your free case evaluation with us, please call our office at 713-622-7271 today.