On Sunday, November 23, in the early morning hours, a rollover van accident occurred in Greene County that involved a 2001 Chevrolet van. Present in the vehicle were two adults and two young children: a toddler and kindergartner. The van was driving westbound on Hwy 98 near Jim Powell Road when it rolled over. Investigations continue into what caused the van to rollover.
The 57 year old mother of the driver was killed in the accident. The driver of the vehicle and her two young children were injured. One child was considered in serious condition and airlifted to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. The other child and the driver were driven by ambulance to the same hospital. The family’s current condition is unknown.
Rollovers are extremely dangerous accidents that have the highest fatality rate, exceeding all other types of car crashes. Rollover accidents account for 33 percent of all passenger fatalities. Over 10,000 people each year are killed in rollover crashes. Even when these accidents do not result in death, they usually lead to serious injuries that could potentially create lifelong disabilities.
Causes of Rollover Accidents
Certain vehicles are far more at risk of rollovers. SUVs, minivans, and trucks are the primary vehicles that become involved in rollover accidents. Nearly 40 percent of all fatal SUV crashes are due to rollover, while just 15 percent of all fatal passenger car accidents are caused by this type of crash.
Rollover accidents are related heavily to a vehicle’s stability in turns. Stability of a car is influenced by the relationship between the truck width (the distance between the wheels on each side) and the center of gravity. If a truck has a high center of gravity and narrow build, that vehicle will become unstable in the event of a fast turn or sharp directional change. This increases the odds the vehicle will tip over once it begins to skid to the side.
Studies show that most fatal rollovers involving four wheel drive vehicles are single vehicle accidents. These accidents occur most often on weekend nights and male drivers under the age of 25 are frequently involved. Sadly, alcohol is found to be a contributing factor in many rollover crashes.
In 75 percent of all fatal rollover accidents, the victims were ejected from the vehicles, indicating that they were not wearing their seatbelts. Seatbelt use significantly reduces the risk of death in rollover accidents as it holds the driver and passenger in the vehicle even has I flips over.
Despite pressure to create a federal rollover standard, it does not yet exist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, introduced a rollover rating system back in 2001, ranking vehicles with stars according to their engineering and likelihood of a rollover crash.
Barrett Law PLLC: Aggressive and Experienced Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys
Rollover and other automobile accidents can have devastating consequences, leading to considerable medical bills, time off work, and possibly even long term disabilities. For those who lose a loved one in any sort of automobile accident, the financial impact can be tremendous. The Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC have represented clients in Mississippi and the southeast since 1936. Our law firm, which traces its roots back more than 75 years, has provided clients throughout the decades with the high quality representation necessary to obtain the best possible outcome. Our focus on our clients, experience level, and exceptional talent has earned us a reputation across the community for outstanding legal services. Allow us to provide you with this same excellence of legal services. Call Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.