Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | July 24, 2021 | Car Accidents
During a rollover accident, your body may experience several types of trauma. The circumstances of the crash dictate what happens to your body as the vehicle rolls over.
A person may be thrown around the interior of a vehicle during a rollover accident. The impact from the collision could cause the seat belt to release, resulting in your body being slammed into multiple surfaces. However, you could still slam into the steering wheel, dashboard, front seat, or door while wearing a seatbelt.
Many people are thrown from the vehicle during a rollover accident. They may be thrown through the windshield or be partially ejected through a side window. If the door opens, the person could be ejected.
Ejection during a rollover accident can result in additional injuries as the body slams into another object or the ground. There is also the chance that the vehicle will crush the person, or another car will run over the person.
Cabin intrusion is another factor in rollover crashes. As the vehicle rolls over, the sides and the roof “cave in,” causing the occupants to be crushed within the vehicle. The occupants may be pinned inside the vehicle with massive injuries.
Also, the objects in the vehicle become projectiles as they fly through the vehicle’s interior as it rolls over. Objects may cause blunt force trauma and penetrating brain injuries as they hit the passengers.
Common Injuries Caused by Rollover Accidents
Rollover crashes generally result in catastrophic injuries. Being ejected from the vehicle often results in death. However, you could sustain life-threatening injuries, even if you remain secure in your seat.
Common injuries associated with rollover accidents include:
- Brain damage
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Crushed limbs and chest
- Internal organ damage or failure
- Multiple fractures and broken bones
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Internal bleeding
Immediate medical care is required to reduce the risk of death or permanent disabilities. In many cases, the victims may be unconscious after a rollover accident. They may spend days or weeks recovering from their injuries in a hospital or rehabilitation center.
What Are the Causes of Rollover Accidents?
A rollover accident is a deadly type of car crash. Even though rollover crashes represent a small percentage of traffic accidents each year, these traffic crashes account for about 30 percent of the traffic deaths each year.
Tripping events are the most common causes of rollover crashes. The vehicle encounters an object that causes it to “trip” and roll over. Hitting a curb is an example of a tripping event.
Top-heavy vehicles have a higher risk of rolling over in some situations. For example, SUVs and trucks can roll over if the driver goes around a curve too fast. In addition, these vehicles may be more prone to rollover accidents when the driver runs off the road or over-corrects.
However, there is a risk of rolling over for any vehicle that goes off the road or down an embankment. In addition, colliding with another vehicle or object head-on can also create a rollover situation.
Who Pays for the Damages Caused by a Rollover Accident?
As with other types of car crashes, the party who caused the collision can be held liable for the damages caused by the crash. In a single-vehicle rollover accident, the driver may be held liable for the damages sustained by passengers if the driver was negligent in causing the accident.
Other drivers may be held liable for damages if they cause a rollover crash. Speed, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and other traffic offenses could contribute to the cause of an accident.
However, you could also have situations where a government entity is liable for a rollover accident caused by a defectively designed road. You would need to prove that the road design contributed to the cause of the rollover accident.
Defective designed brakes or tires could contribute to the cause of a rollover crash. If so, the manufacturer could be liable for the victim’s damages.
A thorough investigation is required to determine how the crash occurred and identify the factors that contributed to the cause of the accident. Those factors allow accident attorneys to identify the liable parties.
What Damages Can You Recover for a Rollover Accident?
The types of damages included in rollover accident claims include, but are not limited to:
- The past, present, and future cost of medical and personal care
- The past, present, and future loss of income and benefits
- Reductions in the victim’s future earning potential
- Pain and suffering, including emotional, mental, and physical suffering
- Reduced quality of life or enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement, permanent impairment, or disability
The value of your damages depends on your injuries, financial losses, and degree of fault for the cause of the rollover accident. Insurance companies fight personal injury claims.
A claims adjuster may pressure you to accept a settlement offer. However, unless you have completed medical care and are confident you know the value of your injury claim, signing a settlement agreement without an attorney may not be in your best interest.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in New York City – Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our New York City car accident lawyers at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. to schedule a free consultation.
Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C.
100 Wall St 15th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007