Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Following Too Closely

Over 80,000 motorcyclists are injured in traffic crashes with thousands of fatalities. In as many as three-quarters of all accidents in which a motorcycle and a passenger car were involved, the motorcyclist was not at fault. There are many specific causes of motorcycle accidents however the primary cause is simple lack of visibility coupled with drivers of passenger vehicles who don’t take the extra time and caution to look for motorcyclists sharing the roadways. A fairly large portion of motorcycle accidents occur in intersections and when vehicles either back out of their driveway or a parking space at a store.

Drivers often misjudge the speed and distance of an oncoming motorcyclist, making a left-hand turn directly in front of the motorcyclist. The motorcycle rider is unable to stop or make any type of defensive maneuver therefore slams directly into the side of the car. Other times vehicles will change lanes on freeways or in the city without looking for a motorcyclist, sideswiping the motorcycle rider and sending him careening into other traffic. In the vast majority of motorcycle accidents the motorcyclist’s right-of-way has been violated although there are instances in which excessive speed or an inexperienced motorcycle driver can lead to an accident as well.

Following Too Closely and Driver Distraction

Many motorcyclists end up being hit from behind from a vehicle which is following much too closely. These accidents are either caused by reckless or aggressive drivers who are impatient and in a hurry and simply want the motorcyclist to get out of their way or they are caused—like many other accidents—by driver distraction. Driver distraction is a major cause of all auto accidents and can come from many sources.

Despite the latest legislation in many states drivers still talk on their cell phones and even text while they are supposed to be driving. Texting has been deemed to be almost as dangerous as driving while impaired, yet drivers continue to engage in this extremely dangerous behavior. Drivers have been known to read a map, read a book, apply makeup or turn around to swat the leg of a misbehaving child while they are driving. Still others fiddle with their radio, listen to music on headphones, try to change the settings of their GPS, look at what’s happening on the side of the road, chat with their passengers or simply daydream when they should be driving.

Why Motorcyclists Must Drive Defensively

Any of these behaviors can be deadly when an unprotected motorcyclist is ahead of the driver and whatever distraction the driver is laboring under causes them to neglect seeing the motorcycle who has come to a stop in front of them. Motorcyclists are not nearly as likely to engage in distracted driving and must drive defensively to avoid being hit by a distracted or negligent driver. Motorcyclists involved in an accident with an automobile will likely be severely injured or even killed.

Broken bones, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, varying degrees of paralysis, road rash which leads to infection and disfigurement are only a few of the extremely serious injuries a motorcyclist can sustain when a driver who is following too closely rams into the back of the motorcycle. Because motorcycle accidents generally come with a different set of complexities, it’s important that a motorcyclist injured by a driver seek highly experienced legal counsel. It’s time to concentrate on healing while your attorney concentrates on aggressively advocating for your future.

 

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When Aggressive Driving Leads to a Tragic Trucking Accident

Truck driving can be a particularly stressful career with the stress coming from essentially every direction—and usually all at once. Dispatchers yell, trucks break down, traffic gets stalled, shippers and receivers want it picked up and delivered quicker and there is usually a family at home with their own set of problems which the trucker is trying to handle from 2000 miles away. Any time a trucker is behind the wheel of the truck they are under the gun to get the load delivered yesterday.

Truckers only get paid for the time they are actually on the road, so there may be pressure from home for the trucker to continue driving even when they are exhausted and burned out simply to pay the mortgage from month to month. The company the trucker works for may also have little interest in the mental health of their driver—the longer that driver stays on the road the better their bottom line looks at the end of the month. So, truckers are pulled in every direction from a large number of people day in and day out.

Aggressive Trucking Behaviors

While some truckers learn to manage this stress through deliberately learned coping skills, others simply engage in aggressive trucking behaviors as a way of letting off steam. The patience level may be simply non-existent from the constant pressure the driver is under and when a truck driver feels others who share the road are prohibiting them from effectively meeting their deadlines, aggression can ensue. Other truckers, by virtue of the 80,000 pound truck they are driving, truly feel as though they own the road. They may feel they are not bound by the same rules of the road as other drivers are therefore may drive at excessive speeds, may refuse to use a signal when they turn or change lanes or could stubbornly hold onto the right-of-way even when a potential accident could ensue.

Blind Spots

Truckers are also hindered by serious blind spots which prevent them from seeing the much smaller passenger cars directly behind them or in certain spots on either side. An overly tired, short on patience trucker may exhibit aggressive lane changes without ensuring there are no vehicles in his blind spot, leading to a sideswipe accident which could have potentially fatal consequences. Drivers who were in a huge hurry to get on the road may have neglected to ensure their cargo was properly secured or mandatory pre-trip inspections could be skipped. At present only about a quarter of the states have addressed the problem of aggressive driving through legislation and it was an uphill battle for those states.

Getting the Help You Need

Serious, life-changing injuries or fatalities can result from an aggressive trucker’s disregard for the safety of others. Those injuries lead to medical expenses, time away from work and emotional trauma. It is important that an experienced personal injury attorney be consulted in order to ensure all damages are properly compensated. Aggression and anger caused by the extremely stressful working conditions can lead to inattentive, aggressive, angry drivers who may even engage in drug abuse in an attempt to deal with their toxic emotions. If you’ve been injured by a truck driver you believe was engaging in aggressive behaviors your attorney will thoroughly investigate the accident in order to ensure you are not left with medical expenses as well as long-term injuries to deal with.

 

 

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The Reality of Bicycle Accidents

There are more than five hundred bicycle fatalities and 50,000 injuries resulting from a collision between a bicycle and an automobile each year. In fact, the fear of colliding with an automobile is perhaps the single greatest barrier to getting more people riding bicycles. Many people want to ride their bike but just feel like they are extremely vulnerable to injury or death. In truth, a large number of bicycle accidents don’t involve an automobile but are solo accidents which are caused by a defect in the bicycle itself or an unexpected road hazard.

Further, many bicycle victims are children who perhaps have not learned the appropriate safety rules before sharing the road with automobiles. Whether the bicycle accident is a solo accident or there is an automobile involved, there is generally negligence involved. The negligence may be on the part of the driver who was distracted or reckless or on the part of the bicyclist who was taking excessive risks in traffic. Should the driver be deemed to be negligent, the bicyclist has the legal right to be compensated for injuries and damages.

Driver Distraction as a Cause of Bicycle Accidents

Driver distraction is a huge cause of accidents, both in vehicle/vehicle as well as vehicle/bicycle or motorcycle. Drivers today tend to view the inside of their automobile as if it were their office. They will change radio stations, eat and drink, apply makeup, try to read a map, watch the billboards at the side of the road, turn around to discipline the children, chat with passengers, talk on their cell phone, text, and even read a book in traffic. All of these behaviors can lead to an accident with potentially fatal consequences.

Getting Medical Attention

When a bicyclist is hit by an automobile they should always be checked out at the emergency room even if they think they are “okay.” In many cases serious injuries can manifest once the adrenaline rush from the accident wears off. Minor injuries can morph into serious or permanent injuries at a time later on when it is too late to identify the negligent or distracted driver. If you are able, take photographs at the scene and try to identify any potential witnesses. Particularly if the driver who hit you drove off before you could obtain any information from them, your description of the scene may allow the police to find the driver and make them pay for your injuries.

Keeping Meticulous Records

Keep a detailed journal of every single detail you can think of that could be important down the line should a lawsuit be necessary to make the driver pay for your injuries and damages. You will want to carefully record all your physical symptoms and document through photos and notes the damage done to your bike as well. Never communicate with the insurance company prior to speaking with a highly experienced personal injury attorney. While they may sound like they want to help you, it is more likely they are simply gathering information to use against you later to deny your compensation. What you may see as an attempt to be honest could be turned on you later.

Finding an Attorney to Help With Your Bicycle Accident

Your attorney needs to have a thorough understanding of bicycle traffic laws, the prevailing prejudices against cyclists by motorists and how to best negotiate your bicycle accident case with the insurance company. Let your attorney advocate for your rights while you concentrate on healing your injuries.

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What are the Odds of Surviving a Motorcycle Accident?

The sheer size difference between a motorcycle and an automobile are the first danger to a motorcyclist during an accident, while the second is the fact that the motorcyclist is extremely vulnerable due to lack of any protection other than possibly a helmet and protective clothing. The driver of an automobile has the advantage of a heavy steel cage surrounding them as well as safety equipment such as airbags and seat belts. Motorcycle accidents are among the most disastrous collisions on the road yet because of certain biases against motorcyclists they may not get the compensation they fully deserve after being struck by a negligent or distracted driver.

The Dangers of Driving a Motorcycle

Motorcycle riders involved in crashes with automobiles are nearly forty times more likely to die and at least eight times more likely to be seriously injured than the passengers and driver of the passenger car. Distracted drivers are a huge factor in motorcycle accidents and, actually, all accidents. Our increasingly busy lives have led to drivers who get behind the wheel and engage in a variety of behaviors other than actual driving. They may be watching what’s happening on the side of the road, reading billboards, checking their makeup, reading a map, trying to find a radio station they like, talking on their cell phone or worse, texting, or scolding the children in the back seat. Whatever they’re doing, it’s not paying attention to those around them and this inattention can lead to tragedy.

Taking the Extra Time to Ensure the Motorcyclist is Seen

While the smaller motorcycle may be more difficult to spot, drivers have a responsibility to spend an extra few seconds ensuring they are not about to crash into a vulnerable motorcyclist who is doing nothing wrong, and following all rules of the road. Many motorcycle accidents occur in intersections when a car makes a left-hand turn, seriously misjudging the speed and distance of an oncoming motorcyclist. The rider of the motorcycle has absolutely no choice but to slam into the side of the car which will obviously lead to extremely serious injuries or death. Drivers often change lanes on a freeway or city street without taking the time to look for motorcyclists or back out of driveways or parking spaces looking only for other cars.

Motorcycle accidents can also be caused by road hazards which have little impact on the automobiles on the road. While a deer can damage a car it is unlikely to kill the driver. On the other hand when a motorcyclist slams into a deer the consequences can be deadly. Minor differences in road height, potholes or debris in the road can be relatively harmless to the driver of an automobile yet can lead to extremely serious accidents for the motorcyclist. Weather conditions are also a factor in motorcycle accidents; a motorcyclist sliding across an icy or slick road can lead to an impact with another vehicle or a fixed object such as a tree.

Getting Legal Help Following Your Motorcycle Accident

Those who have been involved in a serious motorcycle accident should immediately contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who is highly skilled in motorcycle accidents in particular. Because motorcycle accidents are typically much more complex than auto accidents, it’s essential that an experienced attorney advocate on your behalf to obtain equitable compensation for your injuries and damages.

 

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Multi-Car Accidents

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A multi-car accident is any accident which involves three or more vehicles, including motorcycles, trucks or passenger vehicles. Because there was likely an underlying cause which initially caused the crash, a multi-car crash can be a nightmare on many different levels. Dealing with your insurance company will be much more complex, and you may find it harder to pinpoint who the negligent party actually was, meaning it may be more difficult to prevail in a personal injury case. If you have been involved in a multi-car accident, it’s important to get experienced legal representation as soon as you possibly can.

What Caused the Accident?

The cause of a multi-car accident will likely be the same as in an accident involving two cars. Human error could be a cause of the accident, or it could be attributed to driver fatigue, driver distraction, drunk driving, mechanical failure, inclement weather or sheer recklessness. Many multi-car accidents happen on freeways when cars are driving too fast and too close to one another. When a car stops suddenly way up the road, the cars behind don’t have enough reaction time to avoid an accident.

Who Will Be Liable for the Accident?

Determining the level of responsibility for each driver involved will be an extremely complicated and ultimately incredibly stressful process. Each driver will have a different version of the car crash, and there will be much more data to factor in. A report from the police departmetn is critical even if the police decline to state which driver was at fault. The police report will, at the very least, state the details surrounding the accident such as weather and road conditions, time of day, and approximate speeds the cars were traveling. If it is very obvious who was at fault, then that fact will be in the report.

Comparative vs. Contributory Negligence in a Multi-Car Accident

The fault in a multiple car accident will be determined through either comparative negligence or contributory negligence. If your accident falls under the laws of contributory negligence the person who was hurt in the accident is only be able to receive reimbursement for medical expenses if they did not contribute to the accident in any way. In other words, if you were speeding, therefore could not avoid a pile-up in front of you as a result of that speed, then you would be unable to get compensation. Under comparative negligence, liability for the accident will be weighed according to how much fault can be attributed to each driver, meaning your own damages could be reduced because you were speeding, but you would still be entitled to recover a percentage of the damages.

Whose Insurance Will Cover Your Medical Bills?

Insurance companies will be even more apt than usual to deny claims or point the finger of blame at everybody other than their own insured in a multi-car accident. Remember not to admit fault in a multi-car accident even if you feel the blame was yours. Get medical attention immediately for any injury, no matter how small, as this will weigh heavily when your attorney is negotiating with the insurance companies.

Why Do I Need an Attorney?

Sorting out the complicated mess of all the parties involved may involve accident reconstruction, securing witness statements and considerable amounts of investigation. There will be extended communications with the various insurance companies and drivers involved in the accident. While law enforcement personnel may cite the individual drivers if it is readily apparent who was at fault, many times they will simply let the lawyers figure it out. Finding who is at fault can be almost impossible which is why you need an attorney who will defend your rights and aggressively prove your lack of fault or reduce your liability in any way possible. The statute of limitations in multi-car accidents can actually be as short as thirty days, and it is wise to allow your attorney to navigate the complexities and be responsible for meeting critical deadlines.

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Complications of Trucking Accidents

Trucking accidents are well known for leaving devastation behind and survivors trucking accidents may have their lives forever changed due to the extent of their injuries. Between 4,000 and 5,000 deaths occur each year in the United States as a result of trucking accidents due to the sheer size difference between a heavily loaded truck and a passenger vehicle. Unfortunately, aside from death and serious injury, trucking accidents also come with specific complications not seen in “normal” auto collisions between passenger vehicles.

Who’s Responsible?

Trucking accidents often involve much more serious injury than other accidents and since insurance companies are famous for wanting to pay as little as possible to victims of accidents, the presence of a highly experienced trucking attorney is critical. Most commercial trucking accidents are governed by federal laws and regulations rather than state; while federal regulations are fairly stringent, drivers don’t always abide by those rules. . Determining liability in a trucking accident can be particularly challenging as there are a variety of potential defendants.

It could be that the driver is obviously at fault in the accident however the company he or she drives for may share that liability, particularly if they overlooked the fact that the driver was over on their allowed hours, or failed to properly train the driver before sending them out on the road. If the accident was the result of a defect in the truck itself, the trailer, the tires or the brakes, then the manufacturer of the truck or the part could be liable for the accident. If the accident was a direct result of poorly maintained brakes, tires or any other part, then the company responsible for the truck maintenance could be held liable. It is common for all these parties to argue ferociously about who is responsible for the accident and many victims of trucking accidents have found themselves suing only the driver who likely has no assets and even less cash.

How Experienced Trucking Attorneys Approach an Accident

Trucking accidents are nearly impossible for the plaintiff to attempt to handle on their own. These cases are built by gathering facts and because trucking companies are well aware of this fact they will often try to block the plaintiff’s attorney at every turn. They will generally send entire teams of investigators to the scene within hours of the accident in an attempt to locate any piece of evidence, no matter how small, that gets their driver and their company off the hook. In other words, it can be difficult to level the playing field following a trucking accident. If the victim of such an accident does not have a knowledgeable trucking attorney in their corner they could find themselves stuck with huge medical bills, lost wages and a life that will never be even remotely normal again.

Factors in Trucking Accidents

Mechanical failures of the truck and driver error are the most common causes of trucking accidents. Driver error can include fatigue, negligence, recklessness or distraction. Driver fatigue is very common among truck drivers as they often drive more hours even than they are legally allowed to do. At present a driver can drive for eleven hours before he or she must take a rest break and many groups want to change that to ten hours. Think about how you feel when you have been behind the wheel for ten or eleven hours straight, then multiply it by twenty. A driver of a big rig must be much more vigilant and alert because driver error on their part can end up in serious injuries or fatalities. Many truckers carry hazardous or toxic chemicals meaning they must be even more conscious of the safety of others.

A great attorney who has your best interests at the forefront will do their best to compile medical records, witness interviews and depositions of trucking company employees in order to ensure you receive full compensation for your injuries. Don’t wait to speak with an attorney—call as soon after your accident as possible.

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Dangerous Driver Conduct Which Leads to Serious Bicycle Accidents

Although bicycle riders are not all that uncommon, particularly in cities, many automobile drivers give them little thought other than to view them as an annoyance. The truth is a bicyclist is extremely vulnerable to serious or fatal injury when hit by a car. Although any act of negligence by a driver can lead to a grave accident, there are several behaviors exhibited by drivers which can be particularly dangerous to bicyclists. Many times auto drivers may become so impatient at an intersection they will turn in front of the bicyclist.

If they are making a left-hand turn the bicyclist’s path is effectively blocked, causing them to collide with the vehicle while if the automobile is making a left-hand turn they may knock the bicyclist completely over. Drivers should always ensure the bicyclist has cleared the intersection before attempting to turn and should dial down the impatience level in order to avoid injuring or killing a bicyclist who has every legal right to share the roadways.

Other Dangerous Behaviors

Drivers oftentimes will pass a bicyclist much too closely, either forcing them off the road or striking them with the side mirror. Many times a driver parked on the side of a street will open their door without even looking to see if anyone is coming. This is a primary way both motorcycle riders and bicyclists are injured or maimed. Drivers are also guilty of overestimating the braking ability of bicycles—bicycle brakes are not nearly as effective as car brakes. Added to this, a bicyclist who brakes suddenly may find themselves flying over the handlebars. Drivers also tend to underestimate the speed of a bicycle rider, causing them to make a turn or open a car door with little regard for the bicycle coming up close to them quickly.

The Negligence of Bicyclists

Bicycle riders can also ignore the rules of the road and end up actually being responsible for the accident in which they are hit by a car. Because it takes a fair amount of effort for a bicyclist to come to a complete stop at stop signs or intersections with traffic lights many are guilty of glancing both ways and going right on through. A stop sign and red light are meant for the bicyclist in exactly the same way they are meant for a driver. Bicyclists are often guilty of passing a line of stopped cars, however if the cyclist reaches the intersection at the same time the front car makes an unexpected right-hand turn, the consequences can be deadly. In some cases bicyclists ride at unsafe speeds, perhaps while going downhill or on a straight road. This can be dangerous, however, should the bicyclist lose control or encounter a road hazards and be unable to stop safely.

Safety Measures

All bicyclists should wear helmets, and children should be fully schooled in bicycle safety before they are allowed out on their own. Children rarely appreciate the risks of riding in an area where cars drive and may not fully understand the rules of the road as well. Children are also much more likely to be showing off for friends while on their bicycle, creating some special safety hazards. Bicyclists who have been injured by being hit by a driver who was driving unsafely should contact an attorney who has significant experience in bicycle accidents. Because there is a statute of limitations in bicycle accidents it’s important that you consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

 

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Is Driving Inherently Risky?

With over 45,000 deaths each and every year in America caused by auto collisions it can make you think twice about the safety of getting behind the wheel. In fact, the average adult who spends fifty years of their lifetime driving has a one in a hundred chance of dying in a car accident. Of course to put those numbers into better perspective, statistics also show that you have a four in a hundred chance of being a victim of a violent crime at some point in your life. It’s impossible to live life while avoiding all risks—the very act of breathing in and out certainly puts you at a risk of something negative happening to you. There are ways, however, to ensure that your driving risks are at least somewhat minimized.

Lowering Your Risk

If you want to immediately lower your risk of being involved in a traffic collision, you can stop engaging in any sort of risky behavior when behind the wheel of your car. Most people are well aware that texting while driving is actually more dangerous than driving while impaired. Those who text while driving are twenty-two times as likely to end up in an accident while the simple act of dialing the phone gives you a three-fold risk. Even talking on the phone while driving at least marginally increases your chances of being in an accident which is likely why most school zones are implementing extremely high fines for those caught using their cell phone while driving through a school zone.

Those who have a pattern of getting behind the wheel after having a couple of beers increase their risk of an accident at least 15-25%. Those who live in extremely busy cities could have an even greater risk than those in more rural areas. Drivers and passengers who neglect to buckle up have a sixty percent higher risk of dying or getting extremely serious injuries in the event of an accident. Drivers of SUVs have a significantly higher risk of being involved in a deadly rollover accident than drivers or passenger cars. As you can see, you have some immediate control over lessening the possibility of getting into an auto accident.

Distracted Drivers

Some estimates put the number of accidents which are directly related to distracted drivers as nearly 75%. Even in cases where a distracted driver may not have been the primary cause of the accident, it can contribute. Distractions occur in many forms: drivers use their cars just like a home office; they eat, they change radio stations, talk on their phones, watch their GPS, read a map, discipline the children, talk to their passengers, watch the passing billboards or simply daydream about anything other than the task of driving. Most distractions could be easily prevented if drivers resolved to do only one thing when behind the wheel—drive.

Driving Too Fast and Other Risky Behaviors

Driving over the speed limit is believed to be a factor in as many as half of all collisions. Driving too fast for the road conditions significantly decreases your reaction time. Since as many as seventy percent of all American drivers admit to speeding at one time or another, you can see this is an area of risky behavior that can be significantly minimized. Engaging in road rage,  exhibiting aggressive or reckless driving behaviors or neglecting to take poor road conditions into account when driving can also be a cause of accidents. If you want to minimize your risks when you get behind the wheel, work on losing these risky behaviors. If you have been the victim of a negligent or reckless driver contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

 

 

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Is Your Car Accident-Prone?

Sounds silly, right? After all, humans can be accident-prone, but surely not a hunk of metal in the form of an automobile? There are all sorts of reasons that auto collisions occur, with the large majority of those being traceable to some sort of driver error. Drivers get fatigued, distracted, reckless or negligent. They drive in situations they are not equipped to handle or drive vehicles they are not particularly trained to drive. They drive after ingesting drugs or alcohol or get behind the wheel fully aware their vision is impaired enough to be a hazard. Driver distraction can come in many forms in our multi-tasking society. Cell phone use, texting while driving, applying makeup, reading a map, eating while driving, fiddling with the radio station or GPS device, turning around to scold the children in the back seat, talking to passengers or simply daydreaming about anything other than driving contribute to driver distraction.

High-Performance Cars

All of these factors contribute to the fifteen million car crashes that occur each and every year, resulting in over forty thousand fatalities as literally millions of accident-related injuries. Many of these car crashes result in life-altering consequences for those involved and the government spends untold amounts of money in their attempt to make drivers aware of risky behaviors they may be engaging in. A certain portion of auto crashes can be directly linked to the specific make and model of the car being driven. Studies prove that particular models are simply much more likely to be involved in a car collision. Cars with high-performance motors are not at risk simply because they can accelerate quickly, reaching high rates of speed, rather because of the driver behind the wheel who runs the risk of losing control and crashing. This fact likely is a primary factor of higher insurance premiums for sporty cars with powerful motors. Even so, a situation such as this still hinges on the driver’s ability rather than the car’s performance.

Which Cars are More Likely To Be Involved in a Collision?

There are some cars on the road today which are simply less safe to drive—proven by their track record of collisions. Although Toyota is regularly considered one of the safest, most reliable brands on the road today, one of their cars, the Scion, actually tops the list of the cars most likely to be involved in a car crash. Others who are more frequently engaged in car crashes than normal include the Honda Civic, Mitsubishi’s Galant, Subaru’s Impreza, Hyundai’s Tiburon and Chevrolet’s Cobalt. Now remember that these cars are not inherently unsafe simply because they top the list of collision incidence.

More likely the combination of relatively high-performance vehicles in the hands of younger, more inexperienced drivers creates a higher risk of collision. While these are the cars of today that top the list, the accident-prone cars of the past include the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro. Although Ford’s Mustang Shelby and the Chevy Corvette do make the list of the top 150 cars most likely to be in an accident they remain at the bottom—probably because younger drivers are unable to afford them. As a whole, older drivers tend to exhibit better judgment when behind the wheel of a powerful sports car.

The Effect of Your Car’s Color on Your Likelihood of Having an Accident

An Australian survey found that black vehicles are statistically more likely to be involved in a car accident than white vehicles, probably due to the ability of humans to see some colors better than others. Surprisingly, silver cars—the most prevalent color on the roadways—come in right behind black vehicles for high crash rates and difficult in being seen. Hybrid car drivers are about 25% less likely to be involved in an accident; whether that is because of the extra weight of the hybrid battery or because hybrid drivers are simply more cautious is unknown. Those who have been injured in a car collision should contact the most qualified personal injury attorney available as soon as possible following the accident. Your claim will be evaluated and your attorney can advise you on whether you should pursue a claim.

 

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Deadly Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents are definitely among the most deadly of all vehicle accidents, although rollovers are relatively rare. Most rollovers are single car accidents and while any vehicle certainly has the capacity to roll over, it is much more common among vehicles with a high center of gravity. Between three and four percent of car accidents involve a rollover, yet a third of all vehicles which rollover will have at least one fatality. Rollover accidents are centered around how stable a vehicle is during a turn. The distance between the left and right wheels is known as the track width and the relationship between this distance and the vehicle’s center of gravity determines overall stability. Four-wheel drive pickups and sport utility vehicles which sit up high have a much greater chance of a rollover accident since they have much higher ground clearance for off-road driving.

When Rollover Accidents Occur

The majority of rollover accidents are single-vehicle accidents which occur at night on Saturdays and Sundays. Most of the drivers are male, under the age of twenty-five, and drinking alcohol. A full seventy-five percent of rollover fatalities result in the victims being ejected from the vehicle which suggests they were not wearing a safety belt. Although pressure is building for the government to subject cars and trucks to federal rollover standards there are none in place at present. The NHTSA did implement a rollover rating system in 2001. This system consists of a simple five-star system in which an engineering analysis is used to base the rating. Vehicles who receive five stars have a rollover risk of less than ten percent while those vehicles which only receive one star have over a 40 percent increased risk of rollover.

SUV Rollover

SUVs are famous for rollover accidents; rollovers are nearly three times as likely among SUVs than in traditional passenger vehicle. SUV’s are top heavy and more likely in a one-vehicle accident to tip over and roll. Many rollover accidents happen when the driver jerks the wheel sharply to avoid a road hazard or animal or when the driver takes a curve too fast. In some instances even a relatively minor turn of the wheel can result in a rollover. Rollover rates are highest in Ford Explorers followed by three Jeep products—the CJ, Wrangler and the Cherokee. Ford has endured over five hundred lawsuits regarding the Explorer as there are specific defects in the overall design which causes it to tip.

Fifteen Passenger Vans and Likelihood of Rollover

Fifteen passenger vans are popular with schools, churches, community groups and shuttle services but pose a grave threat of rollover when they are heavily loaded. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a consumer advisory regarding these vans nearly every year. While these vans are very convenient, the NHTSA cautions that tire condition should be routinely checked, passengers should always wear safety restraints, drivers should have experience and training and no loads are placed on top of the vehicle. As the number of passengers increase in these vans, the rollover risk also increases. Most of those who died in fifteen passenger rollovers were not buckled up; wearing safety restraints greatly increases the chance of survival in such an accident.

The Complexities of Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents can be very complicated when they reach the litigation stage for those who are involved in such an accident should choose the most experienced attorney who will identify the multiple defendants and ensure victims receive compensation for all medical expenses, damages and lost wages. Your case will be carefully investigated and if necessary accident reconstruction experts, highway safety specialists, engineers and other professionals will be included in the case.

 

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