Long Island Rollover Car Accidents
Rollover accidents can be one of the most frightening types of accidents and cause nearly a third of all car accident deaths. The chances of serious injury or death are very high in a Long Island rollover car accident. Those who survive often suffer life changing disabilities that may never go away making it extremely important that an experienced auto accident attorney is contacted.
Causes of Rollover Auto Accidents
Nearly all rollover accidents involving vehicles in Long Island are caused by “tripping.” Tripping occurs when a vehicle’s tires strike an uneven surface – usually a curb, grassy shoulder, or bump – which interferes with the car’s momentum, causing it to pitch into a roll. According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), 95% of all single-vehicle rollover accidents are caused by tripping.
Several different factors can potentially initiate tripping, including weather, tire failure, vehicle design, and road conditions. Some of the most common root causes of rollover accidents include:
- A vehicle (especially one with a high center of gravity like a sports utility vehicle, truck, some SUV models, pickup trucks, and minivans) traveling at a high rate of speed taking a sharp turn.
- A mechanical or design malfunction, such as those made famous by older models of the Ford Bronco that were prone to roll over at a high speed, especially if a tire blew out.
- Defective tires
- High center of gravity – Many SUV models, pickup trucks, and minivans have a high center of gravity, making them more likely to roll in certain circumstances.
- Hazardous roadways – If a stretch of highway is not properly maintained (e.g. potholes, bumps, lack of guardrails) or does not have appropriate warning signs for upcoming hazards (e.g. construction), the sudden evasive maneuvers drivers take to avoid these problems can easily cause a rollover accident.
- T-bone accidents (when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another at an intersection) can also initiate a rollover.
Filing a Rollover Accident Claim
Damages caused by a rollover crash should be paid by the person or entity responsible for the accident or his or her insurance company, whether it’s another driver, a vehicle manufacturer, or a negligent government entity. If a commercial truck rolls over due to an improperly secured load, the company employing the truck driver or the company responsible for loading the truck could be liable.
If a rollover accident in Long Island was a single-vehicle wreck, determining who is responsible for the accident can be complicated. You may think that you don’t have a case. This may not be true at all. If it can be proven that the vehicle malfunctioned or there was a mechanical or design problem such as defective tires, you may be entitled to compensation from auto repair shops, dealerships, among others. Hazardous roadways caused by a town or state’s failure to maintain them, or a construction company’s failure to put up proper warning signs may allow you to sue those parties.
Call a Long Island Attorney to Discuss a Rollover Car Accident
Rollover accidents are some of the most dangerous possible circumstances that can happen on the road. If you believe a negligent motorist or vehicle defect is responsible for causing your injuries in a Long Island rollover car accident, you could have the right to pursue compensation. Call Goldstein & Bashner today to discuss your case.
