What Causes Vehicles to Roll Over?

Thursday, March 25, 2021

What Causes Vehicles to Roll Over?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

What Causes Vehicles to Roll Over?

All car accidents have the potential to cause serious injuries, some more than others. Rollover accidents are often more serious, sometimes resulting in catastrophic injuries and severe property damage. In fact, these accidents have a higher fatality rate than other types of accidents. Thankfully, rollover accidents aren’t common. Of the nearly 9.1 million passenger car, pickup, SUV, and van accidents in 2010, only 2.1 percent involved a rollover. However, rollovers caused almost 35 percent of all deaths from passenger vehicle accidents. Over 7,600 people died in rollover crashes in 2010 alone. Sadly, 69 percent weren’t wearing safety belts.

If you or someone you love sustained injuries in a rollover accident, an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer could advocate for your legal rights. You deserve compensation for your injuries, and our goal is to help you receive just that.

Causes of Rollover Crashes

Like many types of vehicle crashes, rollovers can have various contributing causes. Here are the most common reasons that drivers are involved in rollover accidents.

Tripped Rollovers

The NHTSA categorizes rollovers as either tripped or non-tripped. As many as 95% of single-vehicle rollovers are classified as tripped. In a tripped rollover, an obstacle tripped the vehicle’s tires. The object might be a large stone, a curb, guardrail, or a steep slope. Sometimes they are also caused by the tires digging into soft soil as the vehicle left the roadway.

Un-tripped Rollovers

Un-tripped rollovers don’t happen as often and usually occur with top-heavy vehicles, like SUVs and larger pickups with high centers of gravity. When these types of vehicles perform accident-avoidance maneuvers, frequently at high speeds, it can cause the vehicle to roll over if the driver turns too quickly. 

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

While most rollovers are single-vehicle crashes, multi-vehicle collisions can also result in rollovers. These accidents often occur because of another driver’s negligent actions, which can include distracted driving, speeding, violating traffic laws, and impaired driving.

Defective or Damaged Tires

The safety of a driver depends on the vehicle tires’ connection to the road. Defective tires can cause a driver to lose control over the vehicle, causing it to roll over. If a tire has a blowout can be its own tripping mechanism and cause a rollover.

Roadways

Roadways are another contributor to rollover accidents. Rural highways are hazardous because they are often undivided and don’t have any safety barriers between the two lanes. Lack of proper road maintenance, insufficient signage, poor road design and construction, and other avoidable hazards can also contribute to rollover accidents.

Injured in a Rollover Accident? A Chicago Car Accident Lawyer from Malman Law Can Help

Rollover accidents are incredibly forceful and frequently fatal. They are generally the result of a complex combination of factors. If you or a family member has been injured or lost their life in a rollover crash, you need a skilled Chicago car accident attorney who is experienced in investigating the causes of rollover crashes. If you’ve suffered harm as a result of someone else’s negligence, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries.

Contact us today to receive your free consultation with the skilled the car accident attorneys at Malman Law today. Call (312) 629-0099 or use our online contact form.

Steve Malman

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.

Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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