Helping in the Aftermath of a Vehicle Rollover in New York and New Jersey
If you’ve been injured in a rollover accident, there may be legal options available to you. Contact the personal injury attorneys at Metro Law to explore your legal options.
When you are on the road, nothing is scarier than losing control of your vehicle. If you have been in a rollover accident, you know this feeling, and now you face the equally serious challenge of protecting yourself. The injuries suffered in rollover accidents tend to be serious and long-lasting, especially if seat belts were not used.
No one plans to be involved in a motor vehicle accident, however, there is a very high chance that you will be involved in at least one collision during your lifetime. Car accidents can result in painful injuries that may require extensive medical care. If you have been injured as a result of a rollover accident, you may have legal options available to help you recover.
At the New Jersey and New York law offices of Metro Law, we are dedicated to helping personal injury victims get the medical treatment and financial compensation they deserve. If you have been involved in a roof crush or rollover accident, we can help make things right again.
Rollover Accidents and Roof Crushes
Rollover accidents are common in trucks, SUVs, and other cars that have a high center of gravity and are generally unstable. Even if you have never had an incident in your car before, you could still be susceptible to a rollover accident in the right circumstances.
In many cases, truck and SUV rollovers are the results of a design flaw. We can help you file a claim against the manufacturer. In other cases, you may be able to file a claim against a municipality for badly designed roads, such as an exit ramp that is not properly banked. Sometimes, you won’t know if you have a case until you talk to an experienced attorney.
Our lawyers are not afraid to stand up to insurance companies and make sure you get the full extent of compensation you deserve. We work with experts in a variety of fields, including investigators to gather information, doctors to examine your injuries, and financial experts to help you make a full recovery.
Common Causes of Rollover Accidents
Although motor vehicle crashes can happen for a variety of reasons, we often see various factors contributing to collisions that result in one or more vehicles rolling over. These include:
Driver Control: Most rollover collisions occur when a driver loses control of their vehicle. There are many instances where people fall asleep while driving, use cell phones, and engage in other distracting behaviors that cause them to lose focus on the road. When drivers jerk their wheels, strike curbs, or hit other objects in the road, it can throw off the vehicle’s center of gravity and cause it to flip over onto its side or top.
Risky Maneuvers: Another leading cause of rollover crashes is driving aggressively. When drivers perform risky maneuvers, like swerving or turning at high rates of speed, they dramatically increase the chances of becoming involved in a rollover crash. These maneuvers can cause friction between the surface of the road and the vehicle’s tires, which can result in the vehicle tipping onto its side or flipping over completely. Vehicles that are top-heavy, like trucks, vans, and heavily loaded vehicles, are more likely to flip over due to these actions.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes: The majority of rollover accidents are single-vehicle collisions. However, when there are multiple vehicles involved in an accident, the chances of a rollover are increased. This is particularly true in cases where vehicles are struck side-on and pushed over. There are also instances where vehicles are pushed into objects, like guardrails, causing them to roll over.
Rollover crashes often result in traumatic injuries that require immediate assistance. Should you be harmed in a rollover accident, you must reach out to a New Jersey car accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
How to Avoid Rollover Accidents
Any time you enter the roadway, either as a driver or a passenger, there is some risk of being involved in an accident. Although you do not have the ability to control every situation, like the weather, driving conditions, and how others share the road behavior, you can take various steps to reduce your chances of being harmed in a crash. You can help to protect yourself against a rollover collision by abiding by the following practices:
Understand your vehicle: Every type of passenger and commercial vehicle has the potential to roll over depending on the conditions at the time of travel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans are more likely to roll over when compared to sedans and other passenger vehicles. These vehicles have a higher center of gravity and more weight, which means they can become unstable easier. You must always be aware of your vehicle and the potential it has for tipping over.
Control your speed: Driving too quickly can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle easily. This is especially true while traveling around corners. Speeding is a known factor in more than 40% of all fatal rollover crashes. It is crucial that you adjust your speed based on the conditions of the road, weather, and other factors. Just because a road has a posted speed limit does not mean that it is always a safe speed to go.
Always drive sober: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never a good idea. Not only does it put your life at risk, but it creates dangers for everyone sharing the road. Driving while under the influence can impair your vision, judgment, and coordination. Taking a turn too quickly can be dangerous under any circumstances. Performing this action while impaired just makes it even more dangerous because of your inability to control your vehicle. Nearly 50% of all fatal rollover crashes involve drivers who were impaired.
Always wear a seatbelt: People who do not wear seatbelts are at risk of being ejected from their vehicles during rollover collisions. Wearing a seatbelt can truly save your life. In fact, the majority of fatal rollovers involve people who are not wearing seatbelts. Single-vehicle rollovers end in ejections at a rate that is nearly eight times higher than any other type of vehicle collision.
Focus on the road: While driving, you do not need to be talking, texting, eating, or engaging in other distracting actions. Instead, focus on the road ahead. Although any road can be dangerous to travel on, rural roads with a speed limit over 55 MPH are some of the most deadly. In fact, more than 75% of all rollover crashes that occur on rural roads end in fatal injuries. It is crucial that you remain focused while behind the wheel of your vehicle.
You can take as many steps as possible to prevent being involved in a rollover accident but there is no way to prevent others from engaging in reckless, negligent, and malicious acts while operating their vehicles. If you have been injured in a rollover accident, due to the actions of another driver, seek the assistance of our New Jersey and New York personal injury lawyers right away. Our team can teach you about the different legal options available to help you get justice.
Common injuries from Rollover Accidents
Being involved in a rollover accident means that you will most likely require some type of medical treatment. Victims who are involved in rollovers are at a higher risk of being ejected. This is especially true in cases where drivers and their passengers do not wear seatbelts.
We see many people in the New York City area suffer debilitating injuries that require extensive medical care and force them out of work. Some of the most common injuries our clients have suffered from include:
Burn Injuries: When vehicles roll over, there is a high probability that victims will become trapped inside. When vehicles catch on fire due to rolling over and crashing, it can have a life-altering impact on people who are unable to exit their vehicles. People who are trapped inside their vehicles can suffer severe burns that require immediate medical attention. In other cases, victims suffer from inhalation of smoke and a lack of oxygen.
Cuts, Scrapes, and Abrasions: Various parts of vehicles, including glass and objects within the vehicle’s interior, are often thrown around during rollovers. These objects can hit victims and cause severe injuries. Some victims suffer from punctures that can be life-threatening.
Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can be debilitating and result in some extent of paralysis. The type and severity of the injury will determine if a victim is temporarily paralyzed or if they will be forced to deal with paralysis indefinitely. Depending on the location on the spinal cord, victims may lose their ability to use their legs or both their arms and legs.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Brain injuries can impact the mental and physical health and wellbeing of victims. In many cases, injured parties have problems with balance, concentration, and memory.
Broken Bones: The impact of broken bones depends greatly on how severe the fracture is. When people suffer simple bone fractures, they often have to wear a cast for several weeks as they recover. Compound fractions can require surgery and force victims off their feet for several weeks or even months.
Head and Neck Injuries: The neck and head areas of victims are often exposed during collisions. As a result, we see many people left with skull fractures, whiplash, and even herniated discs in the neck area. These injuries often require extensive medical care and are extremely painful to recover from.
Back Injuries: Back injuries can prevent victims from lifting, stooping, and squatting. These injuries can be so severe that they prevent injured parties from ever returning to work. Many back injuries cause lasting pain and can lead to victims being left permanently disabled.
Victims involved in a rollover are likely to suffer these and other severe injuries. When people are ejected during their accidents, the chances of being severely harmed are even higher.
What if I am Involved in a Rollover Accident?
Rollover accidents are often single-vehicle accidents. They often occur on rural roads, which can make the experience even scarier for victims. Given the unfortunate circumstances, victims involved in rollovers face, it is important to take various steps immediately following your crash. These include:
- Staying calm
- Assessing yourself by checking your body, face, and feet for injuries
- Checking all passengers to see if they are injured
- Exiting the vehicle
- Calling for help
You must receive medical attention as soon as possible to make sure you are not suffering any life-threatening injuries. If you are suffering severe injuries, medical care is imperative.
Contact a New York or New Jersey Rollover Accident Attorney
Rollover accidents often have life-altering impacts on those involved. This is especially true in cases where victims are ejected and are left with severe injuries. In many instances, insurance companies will try to take advantage of vulnerable victims. Accident victims should never speak with insurance companies without first consulting with a skilled and knowledgeable New York car accident attorney.
Our seasoned lawyers at Metro Law have decades of experience fighting to protect the legal rights of victims in New York and New Jersey who have been injured in accidents. We have helped thousands of rollover crash victims get justice and compensation for their pain and suffering.
If you have any questions about what you can do after your rollover accident, we are ready to help you find answers. We offer free initial consultations as well as weekend and evening appointments. Spanish and Portuguese translation is available in the office. Contact us at 973-344-6587 today.