Rollover car accidents are one of the most catastrophic types of collisions. A motor vehicle is not designed to withstand impacts against its roof. The forces involved in rollover accidents can inflict serious injuries on the vehicle’s occupants, including injuries from being ejected, crushed or trapped inside the car. If you get involved in a rollover accident, learn your rights and legal options with assistance from a car accident lawyer in Surprise.
Rollover Accidents and Catastrophic Injuries
When a vehicle rolls or flips over, those within the car are often helpless to protect themselves. Seat belts and airbags are generally unable to protect victims in a rollover accident as they do in standard vehicle collisions. For this reason, rollover accidents often cause catastrophic and deadly injuries, such as:
- Bone fractures
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Head trauma and brain injuries
- Injuries from vehicle ejection
- Internal organ injuries
- Lacerations
- Paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic amputations
Sadly, fatalities are common in rollover accidents in Arizona. If a victim survives the rollover, he or she may have permanent disabilities that require lifelong treatment, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation. Rollover accident injuries can result in millions of dollars in medical care alone, as well as significant pain, suffering and emotional distress.
What Causes Rollover Accidents?
Rollover accidents are almost always preventable. Human errors such as driver mistakes are the most frequent cause. If a reckless driver runs a red light and T-bones another vehicle, for example, the impact could cause the second car to flip. Drivers in Arizona can cause rollover crashes with various examples of negligence and traffic law violations:
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Driver inattention
- Drunk driving
- Failing to yield
- Reckless steering
- Speeding
- Wrong-way driving
Dangerous vehicle design can also contribute to rollover accidents. SUVs that are built with a high center of gravity, for example, are more likely to tip onto two wheels or roll onto their sides. Finally, bad weather and road hazards can cause rollovers. If a vehicle hits a pothole and “trips,” for example, it may flip.
Who Is Liable for a Rollover Car Accident in Arizona?
After a car accident in Arizona, the state’s insurance laws make the at-fault party financially responsible or liable. The injured crash victim or his or her car accident attorney has the burden of proving that the other party caused the crash. The burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely to be true than not true. An attorney can help you determine the liable party/ies in your rollover car accident case.
One possibility is another driver for negligently or recklessly causing the accident, such as by breaking a traffic law or driving recklessly. Another is the manufacturer of a dangerously designed vehicle or defective car part, such as a bad tire that blows out and causes a rollover. If the accident was caused by a road defect, on the other hand, the government agency responsible for road maintenance could be held liable.
If you or a loved one was recently involved in a rollover accident in Arizona, contact the Law Offices of John Phebus for a free consultation about liability and your options moving forward.