Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle flips over onto its roof or side. This type of accident can cause severe injuries, as the side and top of a car aren’t built to absorb a considerable impact.
Rollovers are not as frequent as other accidents, but rollovers have a high fatality rate. They make up nearly 3% of the country’s accidents but account for almost 35% of annual motor vehicle fatalities.
Some vehicles are more susceptible to rolling over. These include SUVs, pick-up trucks, large commercial trucks (such as 18-wheelers), and vans, all with a higher center of gravity.
Rollover crashes occur in various ways, and they can be single-car incidents or accidents involving multiple vehicles. Lousy weather and roadway conditions can increase the chance of a rollover accident. Some 40% of fatal rollover crashes involved excessive speeding.
People fortunate enough to survive rollover crashes may be left with devastating injuries, such as broken or crushed bones, lost limbs, concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord damage, and internal injuries. In some cases, rollover accidents result in death. Other accident-related injuries may require extensive ongoing medical treatment and time away from work, making it difficult for victims to make ends meet. However, suppose you were hurt or lost a loved one in a rollover wreck in Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas due to someone else’s negligence. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, property damages, lost wages, etc.
An experienced Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help identify the party or parties liable for the rollover accident and file a personal injury claim for you so that you can seek compensation for the total cost of your injuries.
Common Causes of Rollover Accidents
There are a variety of reasons a vehicle rollover can occur. Some of these can be due to tripping over an object (uneven pavement or guardrail), making a quick or sharp turn without slowing down, falling over an embankment, reckless driving, driving under the influence, or experiencing a side impact with another vehicle in a multi-vehicle crash.
Liable Parties In a Rollover Accident in Las Vegas
In a rollover accident, there can be multiple parties that may be liable depending on the circumstances. Here are some familiar parties that can be held responsible:
Motor Vehicle Manufacturer, Equipment Manufacturer, or Mechanic
If the vehicle rolled over due to a defect, victims could sue the carmaker and the mechanics who may have caused the defect or failed to fix it. The manufacturer may be held accountable for a vehicle’s design flaws.
The Driver
If you are a passenger in the vehicle that rolls over, the driver can be liable for damages.
Other Drivers
If the vehicle rolled over because of a negligent driver hitting the car, then that driver can be sued. Unfamiliarity with the road, inattentiveness, and lack of driving experience can contribute to rollover accidents.
Employers
If it was a commercial driver (such as a trucker), the commercial driver’s employer might also be on the hook for causing the rollover crash.
Government Entities
Poor road conditions such as bad weather (strong wind, icy road), ongoing construction, potholes, cracks, or other poor road conditions can lead to rollover accidents. Some of these cases can be caused due to poor road maintenance, whereby the government entities may be held accountable.
A government agency, or a contractor it hires, may be liable if a defective design or poor road maintenance causes a rollover.
Other Parties
In cases where a negligent motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian unexpectedly enters a traffic lane and causes a motorist to swerve and roll over, that motorist can sue the biker or pedestrian.
Helpful evidence in Las Vegas rollover accident cases includes traffic surveillance videos, eyewitness testimonies, DUI test results from the at-fault motorist, testimony from an accident reconstruction expert, expert mechanics reports of the vehicle’s maintenance, the victim’s medical records, and police accident reports.
Pacific West Injury Law – Our Lawyers Have The Expertise In Unraveling Unique Accident Scenarios
The experienced Las Vegas auto accident attorneys at Pacific West Injury are familiar with the roads and typical driving conditions in and around Las Vegas. They have a unique understanding of the legal considerations associated with all types of auto accidents, from understanding applicable laws to navigating through complex court proceedings.
Don’t let an insurance company coerce you into settling for less. Working with an attorney at our Las Vegas personal injury law firm can help you identify factors that may have contributed to your rollover accident. Identifying the factors that contributed to the accident can increase the compensation you receive for your injuries. In many cases, other entities, including auto manufacturers and mechanics, carry insurance policies with higher coverage than the average driver.
Your initial consultation with an auto accident lawyer at our law firm is free, so don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule an initial meeting today.