Traffic accidents around Turlock can be devastating for everyone involved. The consequences can be severe and that much worse if a vehicle ends up without all four tires on the ground. A rollover accident can lead to a damaging ending for the occupants inside, even when everyone is wearing seatbelts.
Protecting Victims After Rollover Accidents
Someone who goes through one of these crashes will be understandably shaken. The victims may face expensive hospital bills and at the same time be unable to attend work to earn a paycheck. They may finally wonder if anyone can be held responsible for the expenses suffered after an accident that wasn’t their fault.
The local attorneys with Maison Law can assist victims in gathering evidence to hold an at-fault driver responsible for the physical and financial damages they’ve suffered. A Turlock attorney also has the experience to make sure victims get the maximum compensation for injuries and hardships.
Rollover Accident Dangers In Turlock
The California Office of Traffic Safety monitors rollover accidents each year. In the most recent report, there were almost 5,500 fatal accidents over a year across the state. 295 of those deadly accidents involved cars rolling over.
Rollover accidents are generally associated with high speeds forcing a vehicle to leave the road. Nearly three-quarters of fatal rollovers take place where the posted speed limit was 55 miles per hour or higher. Drivers can lose control and leave the road because they are traveling too fast or sent off the road after a collision with another vehicle.
National Highway Transporation Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that 95% of single-vehicle rollovers involving something called “Tripping.” It occurs when cars slide off the road and dig into soft dirt or strike a curb or guardrail. This impact actually “trips” the vehicle’s tires, like a person tripping over a water hose. The high tripping force applied to the tires can force the car to roll over.
Common Injuries in Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents provide impact force to occupants from several directions as the vehicle turns. The steering wheel can end up being a big threat to the driver. A driver may absorb several strikes from their own steering wheel before the vehicle comes to a rest. The seatbelts can save lives, but they can also cause bodily damage when they restrain people against such extreme force.
Collision with the roof can also be a dangerous factor. A person can have their head and neck slammed into the ceiling if they are tall enough, even when wearing a seatbelt.
Children are especially at risk in rollover accidents. An improperly restrained child seat can quickly come loose in the force of the accident.
These are some of the most common injuries seen in rollover accidents:
- Traumatic brain injuries: From severe concussions to permanent brain damage. These can be the result of head impacts on the door or the ceiling.
- Neck injuries: A neck can be snapped in almost every direction as a car rolls.
- Broken Bones: From hairline to compound fractures. These can result from violent impacts with objects in the car like a steering wheel or windshield.
- Soft tissue injuries: muscles, tendons, and ligaments can all be strained with by the forces involved. A victim may be trying to protect themselves with their hands and arms only to injury the appendages.
Seeking Compensation After a Rollover Accident
California provides a victim in a violent crash up to two years to file a lawsuit against at-fault drivers and their insurance companies. The driver sent you into a devastating rollover crash and you shouldn’t face the resulting bills and loss of income alone. A claim for damages can help pay for many of the hardships forced on a victim after an accident.
If a claim is successful, a recovering victim can receive financial help with some of the following:
- Medical Bills (Past And Future)
- Rehabilitation (Past and Future cost of therapy and specialized equipment)
- Travel Costs
- Missed Time from Work
- Future Loss of Income
- Permanent Disability
- Permanent Disfigurement
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional anguish and the cost of counseling
Contact a Turlock Car Accident Attorney Today
After an accident involving a serious injury in the Central Valley, contact 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 personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
