What Happens in a Rollover Accident?

If you are riding or driving a vehicle and it tips over onto its side or completely rolls over onto its roof, you have been involved in a rollover accident. During a minor rollover accident, the vehicle may stay on its side, giving you and your passengers the opportunity to escape. However, in a serious rollover accident, the vehicle may roll multiple times, crash into oncoming traffic, or even catch fire.

What causes rollover accidents in Hanover, PA?

There are several different causes of rollover car accidents, such as:

• Speeding: When a driver goes around a curve or takes a turn too quickly, a rollover accident can occur. This happens because the vehicle’s tires may lose their grip, resulting in it tipping or flipping over.
• Striking an object or something else: One of the most common causes of rollover accidents is striking an object or something else on the roadway. For example, a vehicle’s tire may strike a large log or curb, which causes the vehicle’s weight to move to one side. As a result, the vehicle may tip or roll over.
• A crash or collision involving another vehicle: When you are involved in a crash or collision with another vehicle, the great amount of force and impact can also cause your car to tip or roll over.
• Inclement weather: Hanover and other parts of Pennsylvania are known to experience all types of weather, including snow, ice, rain, and high winds. These types of weather conditions can cause vehicles to slide, hydroplane, and skid, which may lead to a rollover accident.

Are certain vehicles more likely to roll over than others?

Almost every type of motor vehicle is at risk of rolling over. However, pickup trucks, semi-trucks, vans, and SUVs are more likely to roll over than other vehicles. The reason for this is because these larger vehicles have a higher center of gravity. Therefore, if you drive one of these types of vehicles, it is highly recommended that you drive carefully and cautiously at all times, especially when taking turns or going around curves.

What happens to your body in a rollover accident?

In a rollover accident, there are three positions in which a car may settle, including the driver’s side, the passenger’s side, and the roof of the vehicle. Regardless of which position your car ends up in, your body will go whichever way the vehicle goes. This means that your body may be twisting, turning, and going upside down at fast speeds while your car tilts, flips, and rolls over. Your body parts may also strike objects within the vehicle, such as the dashboard, steering wheel, or sharp pieces of glass and debris flying around. As a result, you may suffer the following injuries:

• Broken and fractured bones
• Head and skull injuries
• Facial and dental injuries
• Cuts, punctures, and lacerations
• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck trauma and whiplash
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Blunt force trauma

Does it matter where you are sitting in the vehicle during a rollover accident?

Although the entire vehicle flips and rolls over in an accident, many people wonder if individuals who are sitting in a certain seat are safer than others. The answer to this question is that the back middle seat is the safest location for passengers during a rollover accident. This is because the rear middle seat does not experience as much impact as other seats within the car due to its location. When the vehicle begins rolling or flipping over, individuals in the rear middle seat will experience slightly less force than those who are sitting in the outer seats.

Can a seat belt or car seat prevent injuries in a rollover accident?

Seat belts and car seats are critical in preventing injuries in a rollover accident. These safety devices ensure that your and your passengers’ bodies are unable to move or leave their seat during an accident. Seat belts and car seats keep an individual’s body in an upright position. Therefore, as long as a person or child is wearing their seat belt or placed in their car seat properly, their risk of being thrown around or ejected during a rollover accident significantly decreases.

How fast does a vehicle need to travel to cause a rollover accident?

Slow speeds rarely lead to rollover accidents. Most rollover accidents occur at speeds of 50 mph and above. A fender-bender accident in a busy parking lot is unlikely to cause a rollover accident, but a high-speed, multi-vehicle accident on the highway has a high chance of resulting in several cars flipping and rolling over.

For over four decades, the Hanover car accident attorneys at KBG Injury Law have assisted clients with various types of car accidents, including rollover accidents. When you hire our team to help you, we will immediately begin working on your case, reviewing your legal rights and options, helping you find the proper evidence, and preparing a strong and convincing argument against the defendant. We know that the recovery process for rollover accidents is physically and mentally draining, which is why we are here to guide you through every step of the legal process. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation at one of our firm’s locations in Hanover, Gettysburg, Lancaster, Harrisburg, or York today. We look forward to meeting you soon!