Causes of South Carolina Rollovers
Traffic collisions occurred every 3.7 minutes in South Carolina in 2019, according to statistics. Among the different types of accidents, rollovers caused 2,064 injuries as well as 108 fatalities during this period, according to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book. Even though only around 3 percent of all accidents involve rollovers, they account for about 30 percent of traffic fatalities. When you’ve suffered an injury in a rollover caused by a negligent driver, you may benefit from the advice of an injury lawyer.
Rollovers Occur in One of Two Types:
- Ninety-five percent of rollovers are tripped. They happen when a vehicle strikes something that initiates the accident. This can include another vehicle, guardrail, curb, median or soft shoulder on the roadway.
- The remaining 5 percent of rollovers are untripped. They often occur with top-heavy vehicles such as SUVs, light pickups and vans. Most of the accidents involving an untripped rollover happen by going around a curve too fast or swerving.
Common Causes of Rollovers
Although some vehicles are more likely to experience a rollover, any car or truck can turn over under the right circumstances, which include:
- Speeding makes it harder to come to a stop and increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle. In rollovers, speed is responsible for about 40 percent of accidents.
- Defective tires or brakes can lead to a rollover. A tire blowout at highway speeds can cause the driver to attempt an emergency maneuver, leading to a rollover. Defective brakes or steering can also cause this dangerous type of accident when the vehicle hits another car or object.
- Distracted driving is a potential cause of a vehicle overturning. The vehicle of a motorist who is texting travels about the length of a football field in under five seconds at 55 mph. When the driver spots a potential collision coming up, they may try to hard brake or make an emergency maneuver to get out of the way. This can overbalance the vehicle and make it roll.
- Improperly balancing a load or overloading a vehicle can cause it to roll. The strain placed on the vehicle’s tires increases the problem of maneuvering. In top-heavy vehicles, the balance can shift, resulting in a rollover.
- Fatigue can cause a vehicle to overturn if the driver drops off to sleep or drifts over the centerline and collides head-on with another car.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
When someone is injured in a rollover that wasn’t their fault, a car accident lawyer can help them get compensation to pay for their losses. Some of the areas in which an injury lawyer helps include:
- Reviewing your case to see if you can file a claim, answering your questions and telling you what options are available to collect compensation.
- Negotiating on your behalf with the insurance company, so you obtain the best settlement possible.
- Determining all liable sources in your case, such as in a multiple-vehicle collision.
- Speaking to your physician and other experts to help determine how long your injury will last and how serious it is to help calculate your medical damages.
- Informing you of the legal process involved, so you can decide whether to negotiate with the insurance company or take the case to court.
- Being your representative in civil court, which includes filing your claim well within the statute of limitations, attending the pre-trial hearing and conferences, presenting your case and helping in the collection of your award.
Morris Law Firm
Morris Law is there for you after you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in a rollover accident. We are aggressive but professional, working on your behalf with the insurance company but are comfortable in taking your case to court if necessary. Call us to schedule your free, no-obligation case review today at (803) 232-0944 or (803) 470-4444. You can also reach us online.
