Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents, where a vehicle overturns and lands on its side or its roof, account for about three percent of all accidents but more than a third of accidents that involve fatalities.  People who are new to driving SUVs and pickup trucks sometimes worry about the risk of rollover accidents, but the size and shape of the vehicle is just one of many factors, and not even the most important factor, that determines whether a vehicle will overturn during a collision.  In February 2023, a collision in Chesterfield County involved two vehicles overturning.  A Honda SUV and a GMC pickup truck collided after one of the vehicles crossed the centerline.  The impact caused the cars to veer off to the side in opposite directions.  The pickup truck overturned after going off the side of the road, and the SUV overturned after hitting a tree.  The driver of the SUV was killed, and the driver of the pickup truck suffered injuries, as did passengers in both vehicles.  If you have been injured in an accident in which a vehicle overturned, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.

Facts About Rollover Accidents in South Carolina

These are some statistics related to rollover accidents:

• Although vehicles with a high center of gravity are at a higher risk for rolling over, rollover accidents can happen to any type of vehicle. The risk of death varies according to the type of the vehicle, with the highest risk for SUVs, followed by pickup trucks, vans, and passenger cars.
• Approximately three quarters of rollover accidents take place on rural roads. Uneven surfaces, embankments, and trees near the side of the road are more common on rural roads than on city streets.
• 85 percent of rollover accidents are single-vehicle collisions. Striking a stationary object carries a greater risk of rollover than striking another moving vehicle.
• In 90 percent of single-vehicle rollover accidents that result in at least one fatality, the driver was going straight or negotiating a curve in normal driving conditions. In other words, driver error was the cause of the accident, rather than dangerous conditions or an obstacle in the road.  In many cases, excessive speed, distracted driving,  or impairment by alcohol or drugs was involved.
• The quarters of fatal rollover accidents involve drivers or passengers being ejected from the vehicle, which indicates that they were not wearing seatbelts.
• Most drivers involved in rollover accidents are males under the age of 25.

You have the right to seek compensation from parties legally responsible for a car accident if you suffer injuries because of the accident.  This rule applies even if your vehicle was the only one involved, and even if you were the one driving.  Contact a lawyer to find out more about your options.

Let Us Help You Today

The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you have been injured in a car accident in which your vehicle overturned.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

wsoctv.com/news/local/one-killed-crash-chesterfield-county-saturday-night-state-highway-patrol-says/RZ4L5VA7UVD2FMYMSY55M6NDKM/