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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that more than 7,500 motorists a year are killed in rollover accidents, accounting for about 30 percent of all traffic fatalities. This alarming statistic highlights the severe dangers associated with these types of crashes, especially in truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) accidents, where almost half of all fatalities occur. The risk is even higher for drivers and passengers in vehicles prone to rollovers due to their design or handling characteristics.
Truck rollover accidents are particularly devastating due to the size and weight of these vehicles, often causing catastrophic damage. When a large commercial truck is involved in a rollover, the impact can be deadly for both the truck driver and other motorists on the road. The combination of the truck's momentum and its cargo can lead to extensive damage, and the recovery process for victims and their families can be long and difficult. Victims of these accidents often face extensive medical bills and the emotional burden of severe injuries or loss of life.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable when involved in accidents with vehicles that roll over, often resulting in life-threatening injuries. Unlike passengers in cars or trucks, motorcyclists have little protection in a collision, and when a vehicle rolls over near them, the consequences can be catastrophic. In such cases, victims may need long-term medical care and rehabilitation, while families may struggle to cope with the devastating consequences of such injuries.
If a loved one was killed in a rollover accident due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. Holding negligent parties accountable can help families seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and emotional suffering. While no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one, pursuing legal action can provide some measure of justice and financial stability during a challenging time.
Common causes of rollover crashes include:
Passenger vans are at particularly high risk of rollover. Commonly used by churches, daycares and youth groups, 15-passenger vans have triple the risk of rollover as many other types of vehicles on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many of these crashes are attributed to faulty tires, unbalanced loads, and driver inexperience.
The NHTSA reports the most common causes of fatal injuries were not wearing a seatbelt (75 percent) and ejection (65 percent).
At-fault insurance companies often use failure to wear a seatbelt to blame the victim for resulting injuries, thereby reducing liability for resulting damages. However, it’s important to note that Kansas follows the law of modified comparative negligence. This means as long as you are not at majority fault, you can still pursue a damage claim against an at-fault driver provided that driver shares a greater degree of fault. In such cases, your damage award may be reduced by your proportion of blame, but you are not barred from seeking a recovery.
The presence of multiple victims and the fact that serious and fatal injuries commonly result from rollover accidents, make early consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in Wichita vital when it comes to protecting your rights and the financial well-being of you and your family.
Thorough review of all of the factors of causation is necessary to identify all responsible parties. In addition to a vehicle’s owner or driver, other potential liable parties may include other drivers or motorists on the road, a tire manufacturer or vehicle maintenance provider, a vehicle manufacturer, and even your own insurance carrier. Failure to identify and pursue all of the parties that caused or contributed to an accident can leave injury victims at a significant disadvantage when it comes to winning all of the compensation to which they are entitled under the law.
At Riedmiller, Andersen and Scott LLC, our veteran Wichita car accident attorneys believe victims and families deserve immediate access to experienced legal help without concerns over upfront costs. That’s why we offer confidential consultations and accept clients on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid only when we are successful in winning compensation for you and your family.
The veteran Wichita car accident lawyers at Riedmiller, Andersen and Scott LLC represent injury victims and their families in Wichita, Kansas and the surrounding areas, including Valley Center, Park City, Kechi, Bel Aire, Eastbourough, Andover, Derby, Newton, El Dorado, Arkansas City, Winfield, Haysville, Goddard and Maize. For a confidential consultation to discuss your rights call 316-648-1369.
