According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle rollovers account for the majority of fatal passenger car accidents, particularly in single-vehicle crashes. This type of car accident is among the scariest but how do you know if your vehicle is more likely to rollover in a crash?
A variety of factors can impact whether or not your vehicle may roll over in an accident. The type of vehicle you drive and your driving behaviors can play a major role.
Armada Law in Greenville is committed to turning the tides for victims involved in vehicle rollovers. In this blog post, we discuss what factors could cause a rollover crash, how to reduce rollover risks, and how a personal injury lawyer can help you if someone else caused your rollover accident.
Understanding What Could Cause a Rollover Accident
Rollover crashes occur when a vehicle tips onto its side. They can be the result of single-vehicle crashes or a negligent driver crashing into your vehicle. Here is a look at what causes rollover crashes.
High Center of Gravity
Vehicles that sit higher off the ground like SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans are more likely to roll over.
- Light trucks have a much higher rollover rate than sedans.
- Adding passengers or heavy cargo raises the center of gravity even more.
For example, a Ford Explorer rides higher than a low-profile car like the Mazda Miata MX-5, which has a top safety rating for rollovers. SUVs and trucks, because of their taller design, are naturally more prone to tipping than smaller cars.
Sudden Maneuvers
Sharp turns or quick swerves can cause a vehicle to lose balance, especially if it already has a high center of gravity. Drivers may make sudden moves to avoid an obstacle or another vehicle, but these quick reactions can easily trigger a rollover.
High Speed
Speed plays a major role in rollover accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many SUVs have tip-over rates above 20%. Even with new safety features, large vehicles still face a higher risk when speeding.
The faster you drive, the harder it is to control your vehicle during turns or sudden changes. Speeding also contributes to most fatal crashes, especially among SUVs and larger vehicles.
Driver Distraction
Many rollovers start with simple inattention. Distracted drivers may drift off the road, overcorrect, or swerve too suddenly, setting off a rollover chain reaction. Staying alert and following speed limits greatly reduces your risk.
Highest Rollover Risk Vehicles
Some vehicles are more likely to roll over than others, mainly because of their height and design. SUVs, trucks, and vans sit higher off the ground, which raises their center of gravity and increases rollover risk.
While any vehicle can flip under the wrong conditions, research shows these types are most at risk:
1. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)
SUVs have a higher center of gravity due to their tall build and truck-style platforms. This makes them more likely to tip in sharp turns or sudden maneuvers.
- Older SUV models, like early Ford Explorers, had documented rollover issues.
- Even with modern safety upgrades such as electronic stability control (ESC), SUVs still rank among the highest-risk vehicles.
2. Pickup Trucks
Pickups share similar design challenges as SUVs due to tall bodies and heavy frames. Cargo in the truck bed can shift during travel, throwing off balance and increasing rollover risk. Studies show light trucks roll over at higher rates than passenger cars.
3. Large Passenger and Cargo Vans
Vans often carry heavy loads or multiple passengers, which raises their center of gravity even more. Their tall bodies and long wheelbases make them less stable during sudden turns or swerves.
4. Commercial Trucks and Heavy Vehicles
Large trucks, trailers, and semis face a high rollover risk when loads shift or when drivers react suddenly to road hazards. Their massive size means rollovers often involve multiple vehicles and serious damage.
5. Compact Cars and Smaller Vehicles
Though less common, smaller cars can also roll over in extreme situations like high-speed crashes or side impacts. Their lighter weight and design can still lead to instability in certain conditions.
Legal Implications of a Rollover Crash
It important to know the legal measures involved with most rollover accidents including:
- Statistics highlight that in 2003, SUV rollovers made up about 36% of fatal crashes, compared to 16% for regular cars.
- By 2022, safety got better, but pickups still made up 19% of crash deaths and SUVs 16%.
If You’re in a Rollover Crash:
- Investigators will look at your vehicle type and if other cars were involved.
- Insurance companies may try to blame you, especially if it was a single-vehicle crash.
- If they blame you, they might lower your payout or deny your claim.
Why an Investigation Matters:
- Investigators check if bad weather, icy roads, or poor road upkeep caused the crash.
- If other cars were part of the wreck, their insurers may claim you were speeding or driving carelessly.
What You Should Do:
- Call a car accident lawyer right away.
- They can find out what really happened, deal with insurance companies, and explain your legal rights.
No matter how it happened, contacting a car accident lawyer can help you determine your legal options and what steps to take.
Preventing Vehicle Rollover Accidents
Understanding the dynamics of vehicle rollovers can help you prevent an accident. Commonly known but often underestimated tips to prevent rollover accidents include always wearing your seat belt before driving. It is also very helpful to understand how rollovers happen so you can avoid them. Other safety tips include:
Safer Vehicle Features:
- Newer cars have safety tools that help prevent rollovers, like:
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS)
- Advanced stability systems
- Older cars may not have these features, so they’re more at risk.
- When buying a car, check for safety features and look at how the vehicle is built.
Safe Driving Habits:
- Follow traffic laws and don’t speed.
- Slow down when turning, especially on highway ramps.
- Don’t overload your vehicle, too much weight or uneven loading can cause a rollover.
- Keep your eyes on the road at all times.
- Even small distractions like talking to passengers can cause a serious crash.
Steps to Take After Rollover Accidents
When a rollover accident occurs, knowing what to do afterward can help protect your legal rights. This is why you should always call the police immediately as the very first step. Other important steps to take after your accident include:
Call the Police Right Away:
- The police can help move your vehicle and create a report.
- Police reports matter, even if it’s only your car, officers will note road hazards or conditions that caused the crash.
- If another car was involved, the other driver may have been careless or drunk. Tickets or citations can help prove they were at fault.
Get Medical Help Immediately:
- Rollover crashes often cause serious injuries.
- Adrenaline may hide how badly you’re hurt.
- Internal injuries and brain injuries can be life-threatening if ignored.
Document the Accident:
- Take photos and videos if you can.
- Talk to witnesses and note what they saw.
- Sometimes, victims are taken straight to the hospital and can’t document the scene.
Contact a Lawyer:
- A personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights and guide you through the legal process.
Overall, it’s in your best interest to document what you can. In the aftermath, make sure you contact a personal injury lawyer to assist you with your car accident case.
With over two decades of personal injury law experience, Armada Law handles every type of car accident case, including rollovers, rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, hit-and-runs, and drunk driving accidents.
There’s no upfront fee to get started, you only pay when we win. So, reach Armada Law 24/7 for your free case review today!
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You After a Rollover Accident
When rollover accidents occur, legal representation is encouraged. You may have awoken in the hospital with little recollection of what happened. Your injuries may be severe and require extensive surgeries to help you recover.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you should not be blamed for it or stuck with the medical expenses. It’s also likely you’ll be unable to work in the short or long term. When you have an attorney advocating for you after an accident like this, you will be able to focus on following your doctor’s orders without worrying about legal deadlines.
It’s also wise to have a lawyer representing you as they have greater resources to prove how the crash occurred. If you were unable to gather evidence on the scene, car accident lawyers can investigate and recover surveillance or traffic camera footage. They can also hire experts like accident reconstructionists who can recreate the crash and determine the cause.
It can be very traumatic to be involved in a car crash, and when a rollover occurs, the stakes are even higher. Armada Law helps accident victims protect their legal rights by offering compassionate legal support and aggressive negotiations. If you or a loved one were in a rollover accident, schedule a free initial consultation to learn more about what to do next.
Common Question Accident Victims Ask Us
Why does a car roll over when I turn?
Cars roll over because of their shape and where their weight sits. Think about a tall tower and a short box. The short box is harder to knock over. Cars that are tall and narrow have most of their weight high up near the roof. This is called having a high center of gravity.
How does a high center of gravity make a car roll?
When you turn quickly, the car’s heavy top wants to keep moving straight. This pushes the car to lean on the outside wheels. If the lean is too strong, the inside wheels can lift off the ground, and the car may flip. Taller cars tend to tip easier than shorter, wider ones.
Are some cars more likely to roll over?
Yes. Vehicles that are built taller are more likely to roll over, especially older models. These include older SUVs, large pickup trucks, and passenger vans.
Why are older SUVs riskier?
Many older SUVs were built like trucks and sat high off the ground. This made them good for rough roads but easier to roll over if the driver turned too fast. Newer SUVs are built lower and wider, which makes them safer.
How can a pickup truck roll over?
Big pickup trucks sit high off the ground. If the bed is empty, the back is light and can swerve easily. If the truck is loaded with heavy stuff stacked high, the weight shifts upward, making it easier to tip during a sharp turn.
Why are passenger vans risky?
Passenger vans are tall and carry many people. When full, the weight sits high up, which makes them harder to steer. If a driver has to turn suddenly, the van can roll over quickly.
Do cars flip over by themselves on straight roads?
No. Most rollovers happen in two main ways called the trip and the flip.
What is “the trip”?
This happens when a driver loses control and slides off the road. The tires hit something solid, like a curb or ditch, and the top of the car keeps moving while the tires stop suddenly. That quick stop causes the car to trip and roll over.
What is “the flip”?
This happens when a driver turns too hard and too fast at high speed. The car leans too far, and the outside wheels cannot hold the weight, causing it to tip without hitting anything. Newer safety systems make this much less common today.
What technology helps prevent rollovers?
Most newer cars have a system called Electronic Stability Control, or ESC. It uses sensors to watch how the car is moving. If the car starts to slide, the system quickly taps the brakes on certain wheels to keep it straight. Some taller vehicles also have roll sensors that can tell if the car is leaning too much.
How do airbags help during a rollover?
If a car rolls, special curtain airbags drop down from the roof and stay open longer than normal airbags. They help keep people inside the car and protect their heads.
What can drivers do to prevent rollovers?
Some helpful tips to protect yourself on the road include:
- Slow down: Drive at safe speeds, especially on curves and turns.
- Load smart: Keep heavy items low to the floor and centered. Do not stack heavy things too high.
- Stay focused: Watch the road and avoid distractions like texting or eating. Most rollovers happen when drivers react too late or turn too sharply.
Reach Armada Law 24/7 For Legal Advice
When you’re ready for skilled legal knowledge after an accident, choose Armada Law. We’re always available with a free case review and a trusted personal injury attorney with experienced legal advice regarding your South Carolina accident claim.
Plus, there are no up front cost, you pay us when we win. So, let’s begin today!
