A rollover accident is the deadliest accident of all types, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While they make up only 2.5% of all accidents, they make up almost 35% of all fatalities.
So why are they so dangerous? Two reasons, first the occupants take an extended amount of abuse when the vehicle rolls over throwing the occupants around. Second, most ejections come from rollover accidents, and 83% of all persons ejected from vehicles become fatalities. Further, completely ejected occupants make up half of all fatalities resulting from rollover crashes.
Two Killed in Rollover-Ejection Crash in Merced County
In a recent example just northwest of Merced on Thursday, December 5, 2019, a car rolled and then caught fire. Two people died, another suffered minor injuries, and a fourth was ejected and is in critical condition.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 3 a.m. when the driver lost control while traveling on Sante Fe Driver. The car then rolled several times near Franklin Rd. and then caught fire. The CHP is investigating whether speed was a factor in the crash.
Merced Rollover Causes
In a bit of statistical irony, the person ejected in the above crash was not one of the fatalities. But this crash shows just how dangerous and tragic a rollover accident can be. The NHTSA also reports that over half of all rollovers are single-car crashes which puts the focus of blame on the driver of the car.
While this is true in many cases, the NHTSA states that 95% of all rollovers are caused by “tripping” which means that a high amount of force is placed on the tire causing the vehicle to tip and began rolling. There are many ways this can happen, and not all of them require a mistake by the driver.
Factors in Rollovers
The report also outlines certain factors that are involved in many of the fatal rollover crashes:
- Speed (40%)
- Alcohol (50%)
- Distraction
- Drowsy Driving
Rollover Crash Liabiity
When a passenger of a single-car rollover crash is injured and the driver is found to be negligent, then those injured can seek compensation from the driver’s insurance the same as if the accident was the fault of the driver of a second car.
If the driver doesn’t have insurance, then the injured passenger can use their own insurance if they have uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverage. Unfortunately, many Merced residents have had to rely on their own insurance to cover their injuries due to a lack of insurance by the at-fault driver.
Contact a Merced Accident Injury Lawyer.
After any accident involving a serious injury in the, contact Merced accident attorney Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice and the personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
