Any type of vehicle can be involved in a rollover, but due to their high center of gravity, light trucks, such as pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are most prone to rollover accidents, and fully-loaded 15-passenger vans are especially vulnerable. Because these vehicles handle much differently than regular passenger cars, sharp turns or other sudden maneuvers may increase the likelihood of rollover. Additional weight on top of the vehicle, such as bicycle racks, may also be a factor in rollover accidents.

In addition to vehicle type, driver age, skill, and behavior may contribute to vehicle rollovers, along with road and weather conditions. The majority of fatal rollovers occur in rural areas with posted speed limits of 55 miles per hour or faster. Not surprisingly, 50 percent of all fatal rollover accidents involve the use of alcohol, and 72 percent of people who died in rollover accidents in 2002 were not wearing seatbelts.

Rollover accidents are among the deadliest of all vehicle accidents. Although rollovers accounted for only 3% of the nearly 11 million crashes involving passenger vehicles in 2002,  they accounted for nearly 33% of all deaths from those crashes. Even non-fatal rollover accidents may result in extreme injuries due to the violence of crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle rollover accident, contact our office immediately. Failure to take prompt action could jeopardize a potential claim.

Call toll-free 1-866-778-5500 today for your free legal consultation.