San Diego SUV Rollover Accident Lawyer
Table Of Contents
SUV rollover accidents expose vehicle occupants to extreme injuries to the head, neck, and other body parts. Often, these injuries wind up becoming long-term or permanent disabilities.
Receiving just compensation is essential for accident victims’ recovery. It provides for medical treatment, replaces lost income, and compensates for pain and suffering.
Every SUV accident victim deserves just compensation. Contact Shamon Law to discuss your SUV rollover accident case in San Diego.
FREE Consultation Call With Our
Car Accident Lawyer Serving San Diego!
What Is Considered A Rollover Accident?
An accident is considered a rollover accident when the accidents occur when a vehicle flips. It may roll once and land on its top, side, or wheels. However, multiple roll accidents are common and increase the chances of severe injuries and fatalities.
SUVs have an increased risk for rollovers compared to cars with a lower center of gravity. Because of their top-heavy design, the weight in the upper portions pulls the rest of the vehicle with them, causing it to roll.
Safety experts have identified 4 common types of SUV rollover accidents:
Soft Soil Rollovers
Soft soil rollovers happen when an SUV driver takes evasive maneuvers. For instance, another vehicle, pedestrian, or animal may present itself in the SUVS’ path, forcing the driver to swerve. When the SUV rolls off the road onto the soil, the tires dig into the soft Earth, causing the vehicle to “trip” and flip.
Ramp Rollovers
Ramps present dangers for SUV drivers and occupants because curves while speeding threaten to topple high-center-of-gravity vehicles. The more severe the curve, the higher the risk.
Guardrail Rollovers
Guardrails save lives by preventing vehicles from leaving the roadway, where they may tumble into a ditch, hit a tree, or even fall from a cliff. However, when SUVs strike them at high speeds, the impact often causes the vehicle to roll over, creating a great hazard for the occupants.
Steep Slope Rollovers
Steep slopes increase the risk for SUV drivers. Being aware of steep slopes and reducing speed can prevent a rollover when in hilly areas or driving off-road. For example, while offroading, an SUV motorist may misjudge the steepness of the terrain and make a turn going too fast. The top-heavy design and physics take over, causing the vehicle to roll over.
In another typical example, an SUV topples while traversing an upward slope, particularly off-road. As the vehicle ascends, the steepness of the grade increases, raising its center of gravity. The vehicle may roll backward if the center of gravity gets too high.
Sideway Skid Rollovers
Sideway skid rollovers manifest themselves when the rear tires lose traction, causing the vehicle to fishtail. Without control of the vehicle, the driver becomes powerless to avoid roadside barriers, curbs, and other hazards. For this reason, SUV drivers need to be particularly careful on wet, snowy, or icy roads.
Get Your Compensation Now!
What Are The Most Common Causes of A Rollover Accident?
There are 9 most common causes of a rollover accident. These are:
Negligent Drivers
Negligent drivers cause most accidents. Speeding, following too closely, failure to yield, and overcorrection can all lead to rollover accidents. Drunk or drugged drivers severely increase the risk of human error SUV rollovers.
Heavy Loads
It’s dangerous to overload an SUV. Too much cargo increases the weight at the vehicle’s center of gravity, presenting a hazard.
Evasive Maneuvers
SUVs often roll over when the driver must dodge a road hazard quickly at high speed.
Overloaded Roof Carriers
Roof carriers provide excellent functionality for SUVs. However, the weight up top increases the chances of a rollover. Never exceed the recommended weight limit for roof carriers.
Defective Tire Design
A defective tire design can put an SUV on its head. For example, Firestone and Bridgestone released faulty tires that caused many accidents, including SUV rollovers.
Worn Tires
When tires are worn, they become dangerous. They make it more difficult to stop and increase the likelihood of losing control.
Excessive Lift Kit Height
Lift kits are great for off-road vehicles, but they increase the propensity for SUVs to roll.
Poor Road Design
An unsafe road design can force an SUV driver to take a curve or turn too quickly or engage in dangerous evasive maneuvers.
Construction Companies
Companies need to create a safety plan when planning a road construction project. A poorly executed or non-existent safety protocol can result in poorly designed construction zones that result in SUV rollovers.
What Types Of Injuries Occur In Rollover Collisions?
Victims suffer severe head and neck injuries when they are ejected from the vehicle in rollover collisions. 13 of the typical SUV rollover accident injuries include the following:
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Sprains
- Whiplash
- Torn muscles
- Eye injuries
- Scars
- Crushing injuries
- Fatal injuries
San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Near Me
Who Is At Fault For An SUV Rollover Accident?
According to pure comparative negligence, all parties to an accident have a theoretical fault of liability from 0% to 100%.
In court, a jury decides whether one party has all responsibility or whether to split the liability pie among the litigants. In short, one party can be responsible, or both parties to various degrees. For insurance, the jury may assign one driver 70% liability and the other driver 30%.
The plaintiff suffers reduced compensation when found partly at fault, so comparative lawyers hotly contest comparative negligence in settlement negotiations and trials. That’s why consider hiring a top notch auto accident lawyer for your case.
What Damages & Compensation Can Be Recovered In Rollover Accident Lawsuit?
California personal injury law provides for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages include the following:
- Ambulance charges
- ER bills
- Intensive care
- Diagnostic tests
- Medication
- Hospital stays
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Lost wages
- Lose self-employment income
- Lost business income
- Lost benefits
Non-Economic Damages include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages rarely apply to personal injury cases.
Contact Top Rated San Diego SUV Rollover Accident Lawyer
Contact Shamon Law for a free consultation if you have sustained injuries in a San Diego rollover accident. Shamon Law’s top-rated San Diego rollover accident lawyers build bulletproof cases, negotiate large settlements, and win cases at trial.