Five people were injured in a crash Friday night, August 9, 2019, around 6:30 p.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident happened on Highway 99 near Taft Highway when a car veered off the road and hit a tree injuring all five occupants of the car.
An 18-year-old woman was airlifted to a local hospital and one other person was seriously injured and transported by ambulance. Three others suffered mild to moderate injuries, and it’s unknown if any of the three were taken to the hospital.
CHP says that they don’t suspect alcohol or drugs, and the crash is still under investigation.
Rollover Single Car Accident Injuries
Over 75 percent of rollover fatalities come from single vehicle accidents according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA also says that the rollover is the deadliest accident type. Each year, 35 percent of all vehicle fatalities come from a rollover accident yet they make up only 2 percent of all accidents. By association, this also makes the single-car accident one of the deadliest type of accidents as well.
Why do Single Car Rollovers Occur?
A NHTSA study concludes that 95 percent of all rollover accidents happen when the tire strikes an object causing the car to pitch forward and then roll. Although it would seem that this would be more likely to happen in a curve, but almost 60 percent of rollovers happen when the vehicle was going straight.
Single-Car Rollover Injuries
A rollover accident can be deadly or cause serious injuries even when the person is wearing a seatbelt. In a rollover, the victim is thrown around inside the car and can suffer numerous serious blows to different parts of the body.
Ejections
Nearly half of all rollover fatalities come from the victim being ejected form the vehicle. Also, once the person is ejected from the vehicle, their risk of death climbs to 90 percent. This is because of the impact on the body during an ejection. In just about all ejections, the victim was not wearing a seatbelt which means they are vulnerable to being violently thrown around inside the car before being thrown outside and onto the ground. These multiple impacts cause traumatic injuries to the victim.
Single Car Rollover Injuries
Rollovers are violent and cause significant injuries with come being fatal to the victim. One of the dynamics of a rollover is that the traumatic impact is drawn out compared to a single impact collision. These multiple blunt force impacts cause most of the injuries in a rollover. The most common of these are:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Severe Concussions
- Neck injuries
- Mid and lower back injuries
- Nerve Damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Punctured Lungs
- Major Organ Damage
Single-Car Accident Liability
In any accident, the at-fault driver is responsible for all injuries and economic losses to the victims. This means that in a single-car accident, the vast majority of the time the at-fault person is the driver of the car carrying the injured passengers, and compensation will come from the driver’s auto insurance policy.
In some cases, it may seem awkward to sue if a friend or relative was driving the car, however, it is the insurance company that will pay for the damages which is why the driver got insurance in the first place.
If the driver isn’t insured or there isn’t enough insurance to cover all the damages, then the victim might be able to use their own insurance policy if they have uninsured or underinsured coverage.
What do I do if I’m Injured in a Single Car Rollover Accident?
Single car accidents can produce serious injuries, and the liability issues can be complex. So, if you are injured in this type of accident, you should talk to an attorney who can help you work through the issues to find out how you can be compensated.
At Maison Law, we offer a free consultation so you can be advised of the law and your rights. We feel strongly that once you understand how we can help you, that you will feel at ease letting us handle your claim while you focus on getting back on your feet.
Contact Maison Law at 559-203-3333 to talk to an attorney who can give you the peace of mind that your case is being competently and professionally handled so you can focus on your recovery.
