
Imagine you are driving along the highway and another vehicle tries to move over into your lane. It nearly clips your car. You react suddenly, jerking the wheel and overcorrecting. In a split second, your tires hit the soft shoulder of the road and send your car end over end. This isn’t a movie. You just experienced a rollover accident.
If you or a loved one are a victim in a rollover accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights. The team at Anthem Injury Lawyers handles complex issues including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation. We’ll even come to you at your home or in the hospital, if needed. We encourage you to speak to our Las Vegas car accident lawyers so we can pursue your case if you’ve been injured in a rollover accident caused by another.
What Causes Rollovers?
Rollovers are complex car accidents. There is no single cause of a rollover. A car accident can be the result of one or many factors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists the following factors as rollover causes.
Vehicle Type
All types of vehicles can rollover. However, taller, narrower vehicles have higher centers of gravity. Thus, the following types of vehicles are more susceptible to rollover if involved in a single-vehicle crash:
- Sport utility vehicles (SUVs)
- Pickups
- Vans
Speed
Most fatal rollover crashes are speed-related. According to the NHTSA, 40 percent of fatal rollover crashes involve excessive speeding. Additionally, nearly three out of every four fatal rollovers took place where the posted speed limit was 55 miles per hour or higher.
Alcohol
The NHTSA reports that nearly half of all fatal rollover crashes involve alcohol. A small amount of alcohol can impact a driver’s judgment, muscular coordination, and vision.
Location
Rural roads tend to be undivided and without barriers. Thus, rural roads are more likely to be the scene of a fatal rollover. Almost three out of every four fatal rollovers occur in rural areas. These are areas where the posted speed limit is typically 55 miles per hour or higher (NHTSA).
Routine Driving
Over 90 percent of the vehicles in fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes were involved in routine driving maneuvers at the time of the crash (NHTSA). Routine driving maneuvers include going straight or negotiating a curve. This suggests that driver behavior plays a significant role in rollover crashes. Driver behavior may include distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving.
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Nearly 85 percent of all rollover-related fatalities are the result of single-vehicle crashes (NHTSA). This means that the majority of rollover crashes and fatalities do not involve any other vehicle besides the one that rolled over. This also suggests that driver behavior plays a significant role in rollover crashes.
If a rollover crash injures you or a loved one, consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers are an experienced team of personal injury lawyers. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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Types of Rollovers
According to the NHTSA, rollover crashes are either tripped or un-tripped. A tripped rollover happens when a vehicle leaves the roadway and slides sideways, digging its tires into soft soil or striking an object. This can be a curb or guardrail. The high tripping force applied to the tires in these situations can cause the vehicle to roll over. Un-tripped rollovers involve mostly top-heavy vehicles. Instead of an object serving as a tripping mechanism, un-tripped rollovers usually occur during high-speed collision avoidance maneuvers.
Tripped Rollover
The NHTSA reports that 95 percent of single-vehicle rollovers are tripped. The following are the different types of tripped rollovers:
- Soft soil
- Guardrail
- Steep slope
What Injuries Can Result from Rollovers?
Rollovers are serious accidents. Many rollovers result in serious injuries and even death. Our car accident lawyers can help you by protecting your rights should you become the victim in a rollover accident caused by another driver. Don’t wait – if you’ve suffered a rollover accident caused by someone else, you have the right to compensation. Let our personal injury lawyers aggressively represent your interests and win you the compensation you are due. Call us now: (702) 857-6000.
The following are some of the injuries to be aware of if you are involved in a rollover.
Spinal Cord Injury
A rollover can result in a spinal cord injury. If you are involved in a rollover, look out for the following symptoms of a spinal cord injury:
- Pain
- Loss of feeling or sensation below the injury
- Incontinence
- Loss of control of arms or legs
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty balancing
- Unusual twisting of the back
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury is an injury resulting from a violent blow or jolt to the head. A traumatic brain injury can have many different levels of severity. The victim of a traumatic brain injury may recover completely or could end up with a lifelong disability. If you are suffering from a mild traumatic brain injury, you may experience some of the following symptoms:
- Brief loss of consciousness
- A state of being dazed, confused, or disoriented
- Dizziness, loss of balance
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Problems with speech
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Bad taste in mouth
- Change in ability to smell
- Memory loss or concentration problems
Whiplash
According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. It occurs when the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) of the neck extend beyond their typical range of motion. Whiplash can also injure:
- Bones in the cervical spine
- Discs between the vertebrae
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Nerves
- Other soft tissues in the neck and back
Whiplash can cause long-term pain and discomfort. Symptoms of whiplash include:
- Back pain in the upper back
- Blurred vision
- Burning or itching sensation in the neck, shoulders, or arms
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
- Irritability
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Memory problems
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Sleep disturbances
- Shoulder pain or stiffness
- Stiffness in the neck or upper back
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back, or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Worsening of pain with neck movement
If you are the victim in a rollover accident, consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers are an experienced team of personal injury lawyers. Our office is in Henderson and we handle personal injury cases all over the Las Vegas area including North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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How to Prevent a Rollover Accident
Accidents can and will happen. Even the most cautious driver can be involved in a car accident. However, there are certain steps drivers can take to lessen the chances of being involved in a rollover crash.
- Avoid speeding. Especially on rural roads.
- Avoid distracted driving. Put down your cell phone.
- Drive sober. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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What Do You Do if You Are Involved in a Rollover?
A rollover can be a scary and traumatic experience. If you are involved in a rollover accident, do the following:
- Remain calm
- Call 911
- Obtain medical help
- Record information (if possible)
- Exchange information
- Document your injuries
- Do not admit fault
- Contact a personal injury lawyer
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
Has a rollover accident injured you or a loved one? Was it the fault of someone else? If so, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas. A personal injury lawyer can give you legal advice and help protect your rights. Our Las Vegas car accident lawyers understand that being an accident victim can be one of the most difficult things you will ever face. As you deal with injuries and wonder how to navigate the system, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced lawyer. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation.
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