We all know what a rollover crash looks like. Chances are you’ve seen a fantastic rollover crash scene in at least one movie or television show in the past month. The make-believe accidents can last for several seconds, while the cars strike many other cars, objects and bystanders and the occupants inside of the vehicle always walk away no worse for the wear.
But in real life, rollover crashes aren’t as common (thankfully), or as benign as Hollywood would have us believe.
Rollover Crashes Are One of the Worst Things That Can Happen to You on the Road
Rollover accidents occur in only about 3 percent of all serious car accidents in the United States, but they are responsible for 30 percent of all fatalities in car accidents.
So, in other words, being in a rollover accident puts you and your family at a greater risk of dying than any other type of accident.
What Causes a Vehicle to Roll Over?
To answer this question, we need to examine the initial causes of the rollover or tip-over accident and what protection vehicles provide in the event of one.
Tall, narrow vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, Vans, and Jeeps are more susceptible to rollover than a car due to its higher center of gravity. These vehicles are top-heavy and prone to being caught in what is known as a pendulum effect, in which the vehicle rocks from side to side before toppling over. This occurs when a driver turns the wheel in one direction and the attempts to turn the wheel the opposite direction rapidly. This often occurs when the driver is trying to avoid a collision with object or another vehicle.
Single-vehicle rollovers are usually not caused by steering maneuvers. Usually the vehicle has “tripped” on something, like a curb or an obstruction on or beside the highway. In several instances, drivers will drive off the side of the road, overcompensate with the steering wheel and trip the vehicle on the curb. Even though government agencies such as the NHSTA have determined that 95% of all rollovers are caused by “tripping”, Consumer Reports has recently published an opinion stating otherwise. In crash tests performed by Consumer Reports, observers witnessed SUV’s rolling over as a result of deformed tire walls that occurred during emergency maneuvers. The report stated that the vehicle simply tripped over itself, not another car, curb, or object on the road. Therefore, the cause of the accident shold be attributed to poor design or a defective product, not a “tripping” accident as car manufacturers would like for all of us to believe.
Other rollover accidents have been caused by tires with too much grip. It sounds counterintuitive, but having tires with too much grip can cause the vehicle to become stuck to the road and not slide. When the vehicle cannot slide, momemtum causes the vehicle to teeter and roll onto its side. This usually occurs when the consumer has purchased aftermarket “performance” tires.
Why are Rollover Accidents so Deadly?
Rollover accidents cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries to occupants, especially if the occupants are not wearing seatbelts. Occupants are tossed about inside the vehicle at a high rate of speed, sometimes partially ejected through windows or windshelds, or completely thrown out of the vehicle.
In many vehicles, roof crush is a problem. When the vehicle is tossed onto its roof during a rollover, the roof caves in and crushes the occupants of the vehicles often killing them or causing serious head, neck and spine injuries which can result in traumatic brain injury and paralysis.
The Keys to Surviving a Rollover
- Wear a Safety Belt- Wearing a safety belt will keep you in the seat and most importantly, inside of the vehicle if you are in a rollover crash. Many deaths occur when occupants are ejected from the vehicle.
- Check the Tires Monthly- Under inflated or over inflated tires can contribute to vehicle rollovers. Adhere to the manufacturers guidelines for inflation and replace tires with tires similar to the factory tires.
- Read the Owner’s Manual- Trucks and SUV’s are often purchased for their practicality. Pay special attention when loading the vehicle. Do not overload it or decrease its stability by placing heavy objects on the sides or the back of the vehicle.
The Thomson Law Firm represents injured people and their families after they have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a car accident, call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm today for a FREE consulation. (540) 777-4900
