A rollover accident occurs when a vehicle, mainly a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), truck, pickup truck, van, or car flips over onto its roof or side.  Rollover accidents are the number one cause of deaths involving SUVs.  They are second behind only head on collisions as the primary cause of all vehicle related accidental deaths.  Each year, over 10,000 vehicles are involved in fatal rollover accidents.  When a rollover crash does not result in death, it will often inflict serious and sometimes permanent injuries.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that rollover accidents are more likely than any other sort of accident to result in serious injury and fatality.

In Brownwood, Mississippi, 23 year old Howard L. Adams was recently killed in a rollover crash.  Adams was driving his Ford model SUV when the vehicle left the road and overturned on Interstate 20, close to the Toomsuba exit.  Adams, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the overturned vehicle.  Emergency responders declared him dead at the scene of the accident.

Factors Contributing to Rollover Crashes

The following factors have been found to cause or contribute to rollover accidents:

  • Unstable or top heavy vehicles: Vehicles that are tall with a high center of gravity, such as SUVs, buses, trucks, vans, and minivans, are more likely to be involved in a rollover crash than are smaller, low to the ground sedans.  The increased height of larger vehicles makes them less stable and more likely to rollover.  Securing large objects to the roof, such as kayaks, luggage, bikes, and the like, will also increase the risk of rollover.
  • “Trips” and jerking the wheel: When a vehicle hits a median, curb, or other object, this is referred to as “tripping.”  The U.S. Department of Transportation has found that an estimated 80% of all rollover accidents are caused by tripping.  Rollovers can also occur when the driver makes a sudden or sharp jerking movement of the steering wheel.
  • Multiple vehicle accidents: When a vehicle, especially an SUV, truck, or other top heavy one, is struck by another vehicle, it can lead to rollover.  These accidents account for some 20% of all rollovers.
  • Speeding and distracted driving: Speed is a common cause of rollover accidents, as drivers traveling at an excessive speed are less likely to be able to stop to avoid a trip or another vehicle.  Distracted driving is also a major cause of rollovers because distracted drivers take their eyes and mind off the road for several seconds at a time, during which they could hit an object or another vehicle.
  • Wet weather: Poor weather conditions increase the risk of all vehicle accidents.  For those vehicles prone to rollover, skidding on a slippery surface can cause the driver to overcorrect the wheel and accidently cause a rollover.

Due to the often serious nature of rollover accidents, all accident victims will require the assistance of a licensed Mississippi car accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash.  Your auto accident attorney will investigate the accident and seek recovery for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Barrett Law PLLC: Experienced Representation for the Victims of Rollover Accidents

For decades, the Mississippi Auto Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC have provided aggressive representation for the victims of rollover and other car accidents across the state.  Our car accident attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources to obtain the results you desire.  Barrett Law, PLLC operates on a contingency fee basis and the first consultation is always free.  The attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC pride themselves on ensuring each and every client receives superior representation, with passion and zeal.  Call today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.