Rollover accidents occur when a car tips over to its side or the roof. This could be due to taking a sharp turn or falling down an embankment. Although they are not very frequent, they account for a large number of fatal car accidents. If you’ve been in a rollover accident, you should hire an Augusta car accident lawyer to help you gain compensation.
What Causes Rollover Accidents?
Knowing what is responsible for an accident can help you prevent it. In this section, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of rollover accidents.
Drunk Driving
Driving while drunk is a sure recipe for car accidents. A drunk driver has their senses impaired, making it difficult for them to make decisions. Unfortunately, while most of your journey can go by uneventfully, you may often need to make split-second decisions that could determine whether you get into an accident or not.
High Center of Gravity
Some cars are more likely to be in a rollover accident than others. A sedan for example has a low center of gravity and is less likely to be in a rollover accident when compared to a van or truck.
Unfavorable Weather Conditions
If you’ve ever tried operating a car after the rain or in foggy weather, then you understand how difficult it is to drive in bad weather. For example, driving in foggy weather presents visibility issues making it difficult for you to swerve or avoid obstacles.
Unfavorable Road Conditions
Unfavorable road conditions can cause rollover accidents. The way a road is designed could contribute to accidents. For example, if a driver is driving on a bumpy road, they could get into a rollover accident.
Overspeeding
Driving over the recommended speed limit makes motorists more likely to get into car accidents. For example, if a driver was overspeeding and suddenly stopped, they would find it more difficult to bring the car to a halt. As a result, the vehicle may rollover. However, if they had been driving at an even pace, their response time would have been shorter and faster.
How To Avoid Rollover Accident
A human factor causes most accidents, and as a result, crashes are preventableTherefore, knowing what to do to prevent a rollover accident could save lives. This section points out some things to do to avert rollover collisions.
A good practice for every driver is operating a vehicle when alert. This means that you should not drive when drunk, angry, sleepy, or tired. Several accidents have taken place because the drivers were too tired and slept off while behind the wheels. In addition, do not drive when you’re distracted.
Drive at reasonable speeds, especially when negotiating a turn. Not slowing down before making a turn could put you at risk of a rollover accident as you may hit an obstacle on the roadway.
Some people drive their cars for months without proper maintenance. Such a practice puts you in danger, so always have your vehicle checked out by a competent mechanic. Also, always have your tires checked to ensure that they are in perfect condition.
Since cars with a high center of gravity are more likely to roll over, you can opt for a sedan. However, if you decide to get an SUV, you should go for a vehicle with electronic stability control (ESC), as it uses technology to prevent vehicles from skidding and rollovers.
What To Do After a Rollover Accident
Even if you were to observe all the precautions we’ve discussed, you could still get into a rollover accident. If this happens, the first thing you must do is to ensure you are attended to by a medical practitioner even if you don’t appear to have any injuries.
As soon as you have done that, you should document the accident and call the police. Their report will be valuable when you file a lawsuit.
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Augusta
Rollover accidents are often fatal. However, if you survive, you may be able to seek compensation for the damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost income. Our car accident lawyers at Ted A. Greve and Associates can help you through the process. Over the last decade, we’ve helped several clients secure financial compensation.
We’ll help you gather evidence, find credible witnesses, and represent you in court if needed. Our legal expertise is not all we bring to the table. We strive to work with empathy because we know that our clients are likely to be in pain. Contact our Augusta injury lawyers today for a free case review.
