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There are many possible factors that can cause or contribute to a rollover accident

Rollover Accidents: Why They Happen

Rollover accidents are one of the most serious types of car accidents, capable of causing severe injuries, significant emotional trauma, and even death. Rollover accidents are more common than you might think. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rollover accidents take over 100,000 lives per year. This represents one third of all traffic fatalities in the US.

Why Vehicles Roll

There are a variety of factors that can cause or contribute to a rollover accident:

High Speeds: Speeding is a factor in about 40 percent of rollover accidents, with 75 percent of accidents occurring on roads where the speed limit was 55 mph or higher. Speeding makes it more difficult for drivers to control their vehicles and if they jerk the steering wheel or underestimate the sharpness of a curve, an accident could result.

Driver Impairment: Nearly half of all rollover accidents involve alcohol. Drinking impairs drivers’ judgment, coordination, vision, and response time, making it more likely they will get into a situation where they lose control of their vehicle.

Driver Error: In many cases, rollover accidents happen because a driver panicked in an emergency situation. They may have overcorrected after drifting out of their lane or allowed their tires to catch on the shoulder of the road, either of which can cause a vehicle to flip.

Bad Tires: Worn tires can’t grip the road as well, giving drivers less control. Improperly inflated tires can overheat and blow out. In either situation, drivers are likely to engage in the kind of panicked reactions that can cause a vehicle to roll.

Defective Vehicle Design: While any vehicle can roll in certain circumstances, taller, more top-heavy vehicles like vans, pickups, and SUVs are more prone to rolling. Some vehicles can actually roll with surprisingly little provocation due to defective designs that place their centers of gravity too high within the vehicle.

Collisions: Rollover accidents can occur when vehicles collide at high speeds, especially on slippery road surfaces.

Tripped Rollover Accidents: Most single-car rollover accidents are tripped rollovers. A tripped rollover is triggered by the vehicle running over something that throws it off balance. Common examples include obstacles like stones, curbs, guardrails, or road debris, as well as steep or soft road edges.

We Specialize in Rollover Accidents

At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we make an excellent choice of rollover accident lawyer because we specialize in this area of law. We can help you identify any parties that may have caused your accident and make sure they provide the compensation you deserve under the law. We handle all kinds of traffic accidents including cases involving vehicle defects. To learn more, contact us at 800-333-0000 today.