Vehicle Rollover Accident Attorneys

In recent years, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have ranked among the most dangerous counties in Florida for auto accidents. The most dangerous type of accident is a vehicle rollover. Florida has an annual average of 2,500 – 3,000 auto accident fatalities. Out of those fatal accidents, around 20% of them involve a vehicle rollover.

A major factor that can contribute to a vehicle rollover is the design of the car, SUV, van or other form of transportation. Light trucks and sport utility vehicles tend to have higher centers of gravity. In fact, the amounts of fatalities who are occupants of SUVs are continually growing every year – half of these deaths are coming from rollovers. Because additional passengers in vehicles with a high center of gravity mean an increased risk in a rollover accident, fully loaded 15 passenger vans have a very high risk of vehicle rollovers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has rollovers in two different categories – Tripped Rollover and Un-Tripped Rollover

Tripped Vehicle Rollover

NHTSA data shows that 95% of single vehicle rollovers are tripped. This is when a vehicle leaves the road and slides sideways, then digs its tires into soft soil or strikes an object like a curb or guardrail. There are three types of tripped rollovers

  • Soft Soil Rollover: vehicle swerves and as driver attempts to recover control they steer too sharply and vehicle’s wheel digs into gravel, soil shoulder, guardrails, pavement surface, banks or curb.
  • Guardrail Rollover: front portion of car rides up a guardrail in a ramp like motion causing the car to become airborne and rollover.
  • Steep Slope Rollover: Usually off road, when a driver drives down a slope and picks up speed then attempts to turn and the momentum of the vehicle causes it to rollover. This can also happen if an incline slope is too steep.

Un-Tripped Vehicle Rollover

Un-tripped vehicle rollovers are less common and occur less than 5% of the time. This mostly happens with top-heavy vehicles. These rollovers occur when a vehicle avoids a collision at a high speed and the maneuver causes the rollover.

When a vehicle involved in an accident rolls over, the injuries can be incredibly severe and may include the following:

  • Fractures
  • Internal Organ Damage
  • Disfigurement
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Serious lacerations
  • Paralysis
  • Quadriplegia
  • Paraplegia
  • Head and Brain Injuries
  • Neck Injury
  • Loss of Limbs
  • Death

In addition to the physical damage, the injuries caused by a vehicle rollover can have a devastating financial impact for anyone involved and their families. A victim could receive financial compensation for loss of past and future wages, medical bills, accident and property bills and expenses. The victim may also be able to recover financial compensation for decreased life expectancy due to severe injuries caused by the accident.

The Injury Attorneys at Madalon Law understand the pain and suffering a victim of a rollover can go through, which is why we want to handle all the details of this type of complex case for you. We will start by giving you a free consultation to go over all the details and answer your questions to see if you have a case. If we feel you have a case, we will take on all the expenses of your case and not bill you unless you win. Contact our Vehicle Rollover Accident Lawyers today for your free consultation.

What Are Car Companies Doing to Help Prevent Rollovers

A vehicle rollover is one of the worst things that can happen in a car accident. Even though they are not common, they account for 30% of auto accident fatalities. A rollover can happen to any vehicle, but vehicles with a high center of gravity are more prone to these types of accidents. All it takes is a quick turn at the right amount of speed to have a vehicle go sideways then tip (or flip) over.

What are vehicle manufacturers doing to help prevent rollovers?

Vehicle manufacturers are doing their part by creating rollover avoidance technologies as well as better vehicle designs.

  • Just the right amount of tire grip: Too much tire grip can actually play a role in these auto accidents. A tire with too much grip can allow excessive sideways forces to build until the vehicle flips over, where a tire with the right amount of grip will let the vehicle slide instead of tip over.
  • Electronic Stability Control technology: This is a computer based system that helps drivers maintain control of their vehicle in the event of an abrupt maneuver or unfavorable road conditions. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is available in all SUVs sold in the U.S. since 2009. Studies show that ESC is reducing the tendency of SUV rollovers.
  • New SUV Designs: Tall and top-heavy was the traditional design of SUVs for years, but the older SUV body style was also prone to rollovers due to its high center of gravity. The modern SUVs now have a more car-based design and are proving to be more difficult to flip.
  • Rollover Airbags: Side airbags or “curtains” are triggered when a side impact or rollover is detected. These airbags can protect passengers from injury or ejection during a rollover accident.

What is the Government doing to help?

The Government is also doing their part with stronger government regulations.

  • The Fishhook Test: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts a dynamic rollover test on most new SUVs, minivans and pickups. The tests score rollover propensity by putting vehicles through a handling maneuver called a fishhook. A fishhook is a quick left-right turn at increasing speeds from 35 to 50 mph. This simulates a driver overcorrecting the vehicle’s steering, something that can happen in an emergency. If the vehicle lifts two wheels off the ground it is considered a “tip-up” and the testing stops. If the vehicle slides out or gets through the test without incident at 50 mph, it passes.
  • Roof Rule is strengthened: The new roof rule says that vehicles weighing 6,000 pounds or less must be able to withstand a force equal to three times their weight applied to the right and left sides of the roof. The roof cannot bend far enough that it would touch the head of a median-height-male test dummy. The NHTSA estimates that a collapsing roof kills about 600 and injures about 900 people every year, even though they were wearing their seat belts.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle rollover accident, you need to contact a firm that understands how to approach these types of auto accidents. The Injury Attorneys at MADALON LAW will give you a free consultation and pay for all the expenses if we take the case. You will not be billed unless we win. Contact us now and get answers today.