How do SUV Rollovers Happen?

Posted in Car accidents on February 3, 2020

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are great for providing plenty of interior space, and many drivers feel safe in these larger vehicles. However, SUVs are more likely to be involved in rollover accidents because they are taller and narrower vehicles. They have a higher center of gravity, and this can make them unstable in certain situations.

Rollover accidents with us movies are amongst the most dangerous types of accidents that occur on the roadways. These incidents can lead to serious injuries in fatalities. Contact a Nashville car accident lawyer if you’ve been in an SUV rollover accident in Tennessee.

How often do SUV rollover accidents happen?

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 3% of all crashes in the US are rollover incidents. However, these incidents make up as much as 35% of all annual traffic fatalities. Rollover incidents are much more severe than other types of vehicle crashes and these accidents account for more than 10,000 deaths across the US each year.

Rollover incidents occur in one of two ways – tripped or un-tripped. The NHTSA says that approximately 95% of all rollover accidents are tripped. These incidents occur when the conditions under the vehicle or other objects contribute to the rollover incident.

There are several types of tripped rollover causes:

  • Soft soil. These incidents happen when a driver veers onto soft soil shoulders and the vehicle loses control.
  • Guardrail. When a vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed, one side of the vehicle can ride up on a guardrail and be forced into a rollover accident.
  • Steep slope. When there is a severe slope in an off-road situation, this steep incline can cause the vehicle to lose upright stability and topple over.

Un-tripped rollover accidents typically happen when a driver performs collision avoidance maneuvers. This can include a driver avoiding striking another vehicle or an object in the roadway.

Rollover accidents are much more likely to happen due to a driver’s careless or negligent actions. The following can exasperate an accident and lead to higher rates of rollover incidents:

  • distracted driving
  • driving impaired by alcohol or drugs
  • traveling at high rates of
  • location of the incident speed (nearly 3/4 of all rollover accidents happened in rural areas with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher)

What are the most common rollover accident injuries?

Rollover accidents often lead to severe injuries for victims inside the vehicle. It is not uncommon for those inside a vehicle involved in a rollover accident to sustain the following:

In many cases, vehicles in rollover incidents end up on their side or their roof. This can complicate extraction from the vehicle and delay treatment for any injuries that have occurred. Rollover accident injuries will likely be much more severe for those who are not wearing a seat belt.

Injuries from rollover accidents will require medical care and can lead to significant hospital and doctor bills. If a victim of a rollover accident cannot work while they recover, they could lose the income they need to support themselves and their families. Drivers and passengers involved in rollover accidents will also likely experience significant emotional and psychological trauma due to the incident and any injuries they sustain.