A rollover accident is the deadliest risk facing occupants of an SUV or pickup truck. Because these vehicles have a high center of gravity and higher ground clearance than other vehicles—they are more likely to roll over when involved in a serious accident. Furthermore, they are designed to carry additional passengers and cargo, further increasing this danger. If you or someone you care about has been involved in a rollover accident, suffering serious injury or death, a dedicated Waukegan car accident lawyer from Shea Law Group can help you attain the compensation you and your family are entitled to.
According to statistics from 2014, twenty-two percent of the total deaths that occurred in cars were caused by rollover accidents. However, forty-four percent of deaths in pickup trucks, and fifty percent of deaths in SUVs were attributed to rollovers. Because owners of SUVs and pickup trucks are more likely to drive on rural roads where rollovers are more common, drive error must also be considered. Furthermore, occupants of pickups are less likely to wear seatbelts, leading to more serious injury or death in a rollover.
Lower your Risk of Serious Injury
Only three percent of all major crashes involve rollovers, while thirty percent of occupant deaths occur during rollover accidents. Some of these deaths may be preventable, especially when you consider that eighty percent of rollovers are single-car accidents. You can reduce the likelihood of being involved in a rollover accident by making sure your tires are in good condition and properly inflated, obeying the speed limit, and exercising extra caution when driving on rural roads.
The most effective way of reducing the likelihood that you will be seriously injured or killed if you are involved in a rollover crash is to wear your seatbelt. Multiple crash tests have proven that if you remain in the vehicle during a rollover, you are less likely to suffer serious injury or death. In 2014, sixty-six percent of people who were killed in rollover crashes were not wearing their safety belts.
Rollover Accidents in Waukegan
Despite taking proper precautions, you may find yourself involved in a rollover accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that up to ninety percent of single-vehicle rollover accidents involving a fatality occurred while the driver was performing a standard driving maneuver. This seems to indicate that most of these accidents are not caused by distracted driving, speeding, or driving while intoxicated.
Many rollover accidents are caused by poor vehicle design, roadway hazards, or other factors beyond the driver’s control. It is important to determine the cause in order to hold the proper party liable.
Shea Law Group
Large insurance companies and car manufacturers enlist highly-skilled teams of legal experts to protect their interests and reduce payouts to accident victims. They will do everything they can to defer responsibility. Nevertheless, our dedicated legal team at Shea Law Group has extensive experience achieving positive results for our clients in these situations. Call (877)-365-0040 for your free, no obligation consultation today.
