What Every Driver Needs To Know Before Loading the Roof Rack

Rollover accidents can be one of the most deadly type of car accidents.

Late this past October, a young Missouri couple was seriously injured when they were ejected from their vehicle as it rolled over. Rollover accidents are second only to head on crashes as being the most deadly type of car accident you can be in. The rise in SUVs on American highways over the last two decades contributes greatly to that number. 60% of reported accidents involving an SUV are rollovers. A variety of factors can contribute to a rollover accident. If you were injured in one contact a car accident attorney to help you deduce if negligence was the cause.

Contributing Factors To Rollover Accidents

Besides just being an SUV, there are some other contributing factors to rollover accidents. A driver may cause his own vehicle to rollover if he jerks the steering wheel too far in the opposite direction that the car is traveling. The quick, sudden change in direction can make a vehicle  flip. Guardrails and medians or just uneven ground can cause a rollover accident if the car hits it at a certain angle. A weighed down vehicle is also at a higher risk for a rollover. The further from the ground your cars center of gravity is, the more likely it is to flip over. The use of a cars luggage rack will increase your chance of having a rollover accident.

The worst type of rollover accidents result from reckless or aggressive driving. Traveling at a fast speed and quick lane change maneuvering can cause a motor vehicle to tip. Since high speed is involved there is an increased chance of severe injury to the driver and his passengers, as well as the chance of colliding with another vehicle. A young Missouri passenger was seriously injured in a rollover accident and received a monetary settlement of $121,000. The plaintiff claimed that the driver may have drunk alcohol earlier and was not following the Missouri “rules of the road”. If you were the passenger in a car that flipped over, you should bring the details of the accident to a Missouri car accident attorney for review. An error in the drivers’ judgment may have been to blame and you could be entitled to compensation.

Type Of Possible Injuries

The amount and type of possible injuries sustained in a rollover accident are endless. One key factor plays a role in determining what types of injuries are most likely to be experienced. That is the use of a seat belt. When a car flips over, there is a high probability that the occupants will be ejected if they are not restrained. The force at which they hit the ground can break bones and cause spinal and head trauma. Restrained passengers are more likely to suffer major head trauma and internal bleeding.

How To Get Help

The large number of fatalities associated with a rollover accident makes it something you would want to avoid at all costs. Always travel at a safe speed and do not try to change direction too quickly. It is best if your car leaves the roadway to gradually reduce speed and then ease it back onto the pavement. If you do find yourself the victim of a rollover accident, consult with Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200 to see if someone else may be liable for your pain and suffering.