Common Causes of Rollover Accidents

Common Causes of Rollover Accidents.

Many types of car accidents can lead to serious injuries for drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Although less common than other car crashes, rollover accidents are particularly fatal to those who are involved. According to statistics by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rollovers accounted for 29% of vehicle passenger deaths in 2022.

Critically, victims who survive these types of accidents are often burdened with catastrophic injuries — and the medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering that can come with them. In such cases, a victim may be eligible to file a personal injury action to recover their losses.

What is a Rollover Accident?

A rollover accident is a type of motor vehicle accident in which a vehicle flips onto its side or roof, essentially, “rolling over.” Depending on the force of impact, a vehicle may roll over once or several times before coming to a complete stop. These types of accidents can involve one or more vehicles — but single vehicle rollover accidents are among the most common.

What Causes a Rollover Accident?

There are many different reasons a vehicle might roll over. While some of the causes can include things that are beyond a driver’s control — such as weather conditions or high winds — rollover accidents are most often caused by negligence. A rollover can also be the subsequent result of an initial collision. Importantly, certain types of vehicles, such as SUVs and 18 wheelers, are already at a heightened risk of these types of accidents due to having a higher center of gravity than passenger cars.

Whether the accident involves a passenger vehicle, SUV, or truck, some common causes of rollover accidents can include the following:

  • Hazardous road conditions
  • Improper vehicle maintenance
  • Driver distraction
  • Lack of driver experience
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Impairment by drugs or alcohol
  • Inattention
  • Cell phone use while driving
  • Loss of control of the steering wheel
  • Failure to break in time
  • Excessive speeding
  • Reckless driving
  • Overloading or improperly loaded cargo
  • Sharp turns

A vehicle’s design flaw, defect, or an equipment malfunction can also cause a rollover accident. For example, a vehicle may have left the assembly line with faulty brakes, tire defects, or a defective steering wheel. A faulty suspension system or electrical system issues may also contribute to causing the vehicle to rollover. In such cases, not only might others on the road be to blame — but the vehicle manufacturer may be held liable for the harm they caused a victim to suffer.

What Injuries Can Be Sustained in a Rollover Accident?

A rollover accident may be more severe than other types of collisions. The injuries a victim suffers will largely depend upon which position the car ends up in and where they were situated in the vehicle. For instance, the car may settle on its roof, the passenger side, or the driver’s side. A victim’s body may come into contact with the dashboard, airbags, steering wheel, broken glass, or other elements of the vehicle.

Common injuries that can be sustained in a rollover accident can include:

  • Broken bones
  • Fractures
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Lacerations
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Internal organ damage
  • Crush injuries
  • Knee injuries
  • Disfigurement

Due to the severity of these crashes, a victim’s injuries may result in permanent disfigurement or disability. Extensive medical treatment is often required, and can include doctors’ visits, surgical procedures, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medication, and other forms of treatment. A victim may also require the use of durable medical equipment and, depending on the injury, various accommodations may need to be made inside the home.

Compensation for Rollover Accidents in Alaska

If another party’s negligence caused the rollover accident, a victim may be entitled to hold them responsible in a personal injury lawsuit — and recover the economic and non-economic losses they suffered in connection with the accident. A wide range of economic damages may be awarded, based on the specific losses suffered. For instance, a victim may be able to recover their unreimbursed medical expenses, future medical costs, lost wages, future lost earnings, medical equipment costs, and out-of-pocket costs incurred due to the accident.

Non-economic damages are those that are not pecuniary in nature. While they are much more difficult to quantify, this category of damages often represents a substantial portion of a personal injury award. Also referred to as “pain and suffering” damages, a victim may be eligible to receive compensation for the physical pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and disfigurement they experienced as a result of the accident. Alaska generally caps non-economic damages at $400,000, or the victim’s life expectancy in years multiplied by $8,000 — whichever is greater. However, in cases where there is permanent physical impairment or severe disfigurement, a victim may be awarded the greater of up to $1,000,000 or their life expectancy in years multiplied by $25,000.

Contact an Experienced Alaska Personal Injury Attorney

If you suffered injuries in a rollover accident caused by another’s negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury action to recover your damages. However, these cases can be complex and it’s essential to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney by your side who can help ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.

Proudly serving accident victims in Anchorage, Soldotna, Kenai, Palmer, Wasilla, and other areas of Alaska, The Trial Guy, Eric Derleth, is dedicated to representing clients for a broad scope of personal injury matters, including those involving car accidents. Call 907-262-9164 to schedule a free consultation at our Anchorage or Soldotna office, or contact us online. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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