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The most frequent factors in rollover incidents

by | Jul 8, 2020 | Firm News

When many drivers in Alabama think about rollovers, they might think of large commercial trucks. It’s true that vehicles with a high center of gravity, including big rigs, pickups, vans and SUVs, are especially likely to be in a rollover, but any driver of any vehicle type is at risk. Most rollovers are single-vehicle crashes, too, and so they reflect, more than other crashes, the interactions that drivers have with their car, the road and the environment.

In nearly 40% of fatal rollovers, excessive speed is involved. Speeding is a more widespread factor in fatal rollovers than in fatal non-rollover accidents. The faster one goes, the more likely a rollover is. Nearly three-fourths of fatal rollovers occur in areas where the posted speed limit is at least 55 mph.

Alcohol in any amount is frequently linked with rollovers. Drivers should be aware of how alcohol can affect them. It makes one less attentive, impairs vision and muscular coordination and thus slows down their reactions. Inattention and distractions are behind many rollovers.

Location can affect one’s chances of a rollover, too. Rural roads usually have speed limits at or exceeding 55 mph, so they are all too often the site of rollovers. Their lack of lane divisions and barriers also contribute to the risk.

Victims of motor vehicle accidents may be eligible for compensation under personal injury law if they were the victims of another’s negligence. A multi-vehicle rollover incident could provide the basis for a claim, then. It may be advisable for victims to hire a lawyer, though, since auto insurance companies can be aggressive in denying payment. A lawyer may negotiate for a reasonable settlement, and if one cannot be achieved, victims may ask their lawyer about taking the case to court.

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