Were you or a loved one injured in a car rollover accident?
In the moments following a rollover accident, time is of the essence in getting the medical care and financial compensation you need to make the best possible recovery. While most folks realize that they need an experienced doctor to properly diagnose their injuries and recommend the best treatment, fewer accident victims understand the benefits of hiring professional legal representation following a serious rollover crash due to the complexity involved in determining the cause of the accident.
For over 50 years, our Georgia car accident attorneys at the law firm Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson have taken on complex motor vehicle accident claims involving serious injuries and death—including catastrophic single-vehicle and multiple-vehicle rollover crashes. With offices in Macon, Albany and Warner Robins, we help clients statewide in Georgia and across the Southeast.
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What is a rollover crash?
Rollovers typically happen when a driver turns too quickly, causing the vehicle to tip and roll over. Accidents also occur when the operator loses control of their vehicle. A car, truck or SUV may slide sideways and make contact with an obstruction on the road or uneven surface, resulting in the vehicle rolling over.
Rollover crashes are typically classified into 2 categories.
- Tripped rollovers account for a vast majority of these types of crashes and occur when a vehicle’s tires encounter an external tripping force such as a curb, guardrail or soft road shoulder.
- Untripped rollovers are less common and generally occur when the vehicle swerves suddenly—perhaps while trying to avoid a collision with another vehicle or object on the road.
Car accident settlements
What compensation (damages) can you get for your car accident in Georgia? Learn about the different types of damages available, as well as damage caps.
What causes a car or truck to roll over?
Whether a rollover crash is tripped or not, there are many factors that can cause a car, SUV, truck or another vehicle to tip over—such as:
- High-speed
- Vehicle center of gravity
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving (falling asleep at the wheel)
- Poor road conditions (loose gravel, soft shoulders, potholes, etc.)
- Bad weather (icy, wet or snowy conditions)
- Animal or person in the road
- Overcorrection
- Collision avoidance maneuver
- Tire blowout
- Vehicle defect
Rollover fatality rate and injury statistics
It’s a common misconception that only top-heavy vehicles like trucks and SUVs are susceptible to rolling over. While it’s true that those types of vehicles have higher rates of rollover injury and fatality, the reality is that virtually any vehicle can roll over if the circumstances are right (or wrong).
Recent data and statistics show just how widespread the issue of rollover accidents are here in Georgia and across the U.S.:
- A total of 6,358 passenger vehicle occupants died in rollover crashes in 2019. In Georgia alone, 314 people were killed in rollover fatalities that same year.
- While most rollovers (74 percent) were associated with a pre-rollover impact (tripped), over a quarter (26 percent) of rollover crashes occurred without any impact beforehand (un-tripped).
- Although rollovers occur in only about 3 percent of all serious crashes, they accounted for 28 percent of all passenger vehicle fatalities in 2019. The rollover fatality rate was higher for SUVs (39 percent) and pickups (38 percent) than it was for cars (20 percent).
- The number of crash fatalities was higher in single-vehicle rollovers (49 percent) than multiple-vehicle rollovers (12 percent).
- Since 1978, fatality rates for single-vehicle rollover crashes have declined nationwide across all types of passenger vehicles (particularly SUVs). This is likely due to improved technology such as electronic stability control, traction control systems and side airbags.
- Speed is the biggest contributor to truck rollover crashes, followed by inattention and loss of control. It’s estimated that excessive speed plays a role in 45% of rollovers.
Sources:
https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/02/rollover-101/index.htm
https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/SASStoredProcess/guest
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256782/
Common rollover accident injuries
The odds of surviving a rollover crash are not good if the occupant isn’t wearing a seatbelt upon impact. If the driver and/or the passengers were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the rollover, disabling injuries and fatalities are likely—particularly when the occupants of the car are ejected.
In a rollover accident, the following areas of the body are most commonly injured:
- Head/neck (traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, concussion, spinal cord injury)
- Thorax (fractured/bruised ribs, internal organ damage, internal bleeding)
- Abdomen (traumatic appendicitis, kidney trauma, blunt force trauma)
- Upper limbs (broken arms)
- Lower limbs (broken legs and ankles, foot injuries)
Compensable damages in your Georgia rollover accident
As you can imagine, the cost of emergency medical treatment when you suffer a serious car accident injury can be steep. But there are also short and long-term healthcare expenses to consider, such as physical therapy, pain medications, in-home care, etc.
In addition to medical bills, filing a personal injury lawsuit against a person, company or party who is responsible for your rollover crash can help you recover financial compensation for the following economic and non-economic damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses (in cases of wrongful death)
- Property damage (totaled vehicle, damaged property in the vehicle, etc.)
- Lost wages (missed time at work while you recover)
- Loss of earning capacity
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
What to do after a rollover crash
Following any car accident in Georgia, including single vehicle and multiple-vehicle rollover crashes, you should immediately notify the authorities by dialing 911 and telling the operator if you or anyone else appears injured. If your injuries are serious, wait for first responders to arrive and obtain emergency medical care. Even if your injuries seem minor or you feel fine, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible since certain injuries have delayed symptoms.
After you seek medical attention, notify your auto insurance company about the accident and then contact an experienced car accident attorney in your area for legal advice. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that an insurance company is on your side. Like all company’s, an insurer’s main goal is to maximize its profit by paying out as little as possible on your claim.
It’s important to keep in mind that the statute of limitations for car accident and personal injury lawsuits in Georgia limits the amount of time you have to file a claim.
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"Mr. Hinson handled a personal injury matter for me. He kept me well informed and did an excellent job. I was very pleased with the outcome."
Get legal advice from experienced attorneys in Macon, GA
Determining liability in a rollover accident is often particularly complex because the cause of the tripped or untripped rollover must be found. For this reason, it’s in your best interests to seek legal advice from a law firm with the experience and resources needed to successfully navigate your injury claim.
With thorough investigations and a network of respected engineers, accident reconstructionists and medical experts, the team at Westmoreland Law has maximized compensation for injured clients and grieving family members. We will cut to the chase in uncovering evidence and identifying the party responsible, whether it is another driver on the road or a product manufacturer.
With over 200 years of combined experience, our Georgia injury attorneys are committed to exceptional results by investing the time and resources necessary to secure fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact us to schedule your free consultation. You will owe us no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
