Have you been driving along when suddenly another car comes into your path of travel? Did it cause you to swerve off the road and roll over your car? Or were you simply losing control of your car, which caused it to roll over? No matter the cause, it is a frightening experience to have your car roll over.
Or you may be asking what is a rollover accident? it is an accident that causing the car to roll over onto the hood of the car due to some error in driving. These types of accidents have a high fatality rate due to the nature of the accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, vehicles roll over in only 2 percent of all crashes. However, rollover crashes account for more than a third of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
Causes of a Vehicle Roll Over
There can be many causes of a vehicle rolling over. One cause of rollover accidents is when a vehicle runs off of the road. This can be caused by icy roads, ditches, speeding, over correcting or swerving to avoid another vehicle. If you were exceeding the speed limit when approaching a sharp turn, it is possible to roll over your car.
The type of car you drive may also play a factor in a rollover accident. Some types of SUVs, pickup trucks and buses are more top heavy than smaller compact cars. This can cause a rollover accident when turning, jerking the steering wheel, and speeding. In order to reduce the number of occurrences of rollovers, manufacturers have created more stable vehicle designs. This involves installing electronic stability control to prevent sideways sliding that leads to rollovers. However, even though this new technology may decrease the occurrence, it is still very possible to be in a rollover accident.
Consequences of a Vehicle Roll Over
Vehicle rollover accidents can cause serious and even deadly injuries. In a rollover accident, the roof is oftentimes damaged severely because the roof is not designed to withstand that type of impact. The stronger the roof, the more you will be protected in such an accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in order for a roof to be effective in an accident, there must be occupant survival space when the roof hits the ground. So, when force is placed on the roof, there are many consequences that can occur such as:
Vehicle Ejection
Rollovers occur due to the excessive force placed on the car. There are times where the passengers in the car may be ejected outside of the car through a window upon rolling over. This momentum can cause serious injuries that will affect you for the rest of your life. If you or a loved one has been involved in a rollover accident and have been injured, call a Baltimore personal injury attorney.
Common Rollover Accident Injuries
Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can be life-changing. They often occur during accidents when the skull strikes another object. However, the sheer force in some accidents can cause TBIs. When you have sustained such an injury you may be out of work for months and have other aspects of your life impacted.
Back Injuries
Herniated disks, compression fractures and soft tissue bruising are just a few injuries that characterize back injuries. There are 23 disks located in the vertebra and when you suffer trauma any one of the 23 can be injured. On top of that, the tissue and tendons surrounding the vertebra can also be bruised causing serious pain. The pain from these injuries can follow you the rest of your life and may lead to numerous surgeries.
Neck Injuries
The most common form of neck injury is whiplash. Whiplash is characterized by a number of symptoms such as neck pain, headaches and shoulder pain. the symptoms of whiplash can last a year or longer depending on the severity of the injury. If you were in an accident and suffered whiplash you may suffer far into the future. However, whiplash isn’t the only neck injury you could also sprain your neck or pinch a nerve. Call a personal injury lawyer to discuss what options you have open to you.
Broken Bones
You can break bones doing everyday activities. However, when you get a broken bone from a car accident you deserve to be compensated. You can break a number of bones including wrist, arms, ribs and even legs depending on how your car is impacted. As you probably know, broken bones can take weeks or months to heal and can impact your everyday activities.
Lacerations
Lacerations is a deep cut or tear in the flesh. Lacerations can often occur on the face due to the airbag being deployed or debris from broken windows. Depending on how deep the laceration is, the bleeding can be stopped by applying pressure or may require stitches. Though on the less serious side of injuries resulting from a rollover accident, it can still require medical attention leading to medical bills.
Severe Vehicle Damage
When you are in a car accident, vehicle damage is to be expected. However, when involved in a rollover accident there can be severe vehicle damage due to the nature of the accident. As already discussed, the roof is often the most damaged, which is costly to repair. When dealing with repairing your vehicle, dealing with the insurance companies can be tedious. Call a Baltimore personal injury attorney to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Maryland Rollover Attorney Today
If you were injured in a rollover accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you need a Maryland car accident injury attorney. At the Law Offices of Randolph Rice, we will walk you through the claims process and your possible routes of action to get justice for your injuries. Come in for a free consultation or call (410) 288- 2900.