Rollover Car Accident Lawyer in Dallas, TX

A rollover car accident can be a traumatic experience, during the terrifying seconds as the vehicle overturns and in the days and weeks afterward. You may face painful injuries and financial stress as you worry about how to pay the medical bills. You may be unable to work because of your injuries. This is a difficult position, but you do not need to shoulder the burden by yourself.

If you have been injured in a rollover car accident in the Dallas area that wasn’t your fault, the attorneys at Kraft & Associates are here to help you move forward. Our Dallas car accident lawyers have more than 50 years of experience helping people seek fair compensation for serious injuries. We pride ourselves on providing compassionate, uncompromising service to our clients. Because our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us any legal fees unless we secure compensation for you through an insurance settlement or court award.

You may have questions about the proper steps to take if you have been in a serious accident. A Dallas rollover car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and whether you have a valid injury claim. Contact Kraft & Associates today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Is a Rollover Accident?

A rollover accident is one in which a vehicle overturns and lands on its roof or side. They are particularly dangerous accidents. The occupants of the overturned vehicle often suffer injuries as they are flung about inside the vehicle. Rollover accidents can cause additional injuries if another vehicle slams into the overturned car.

While any vehicle can overturn under certain conditions, SUVs and pickup trucks are more prone to rollovers. They are more likely to overturn because they have a narrow wheelbase relative to their height. This gives them a higher center of gravity and makes them less stable.

Rollover accidents often cause fatal injuries. They account for about 30 percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths and 50 percent of all single-vehicle occupant deaths, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). In a year, about 22 percent of all car occupant deaths, 41 percent of all pickup occupant deaths, and 40 percent of all SUV occupant deaths involved rollover accidents.

What Causes Rollover Accidents?

Most Dallas rollover accidents are caused by driver error. Some examples of behaviors that can cause rollover car accidents are:

• Speeding/aggressive driving – Many rollover accidents in Dallas are the result of drivers taking turns too quickly, causing their cars to lose traction and overturn. Other forms of aggressive driving that could contribute to a rollover accident include overly aggressive lane changes and running red lights.
• Distracted driving – Cars often overturn after rolling down embankments, flipping over curbs, or dropping off the edge of an uneven road surface. In many cases, these incidents result from drivers talking on a cellphone, texting or being inattentive to the road and traffic conditions. Distracted drivers are much more likely to drift out of their lanes or overlook a potential traffic hazard.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs often drive more aggressively than sober drivers. Impaired drivers who speed or weave through traffic are at greater risk of being involved in a rollover crash.
• Fatigued drivers – Driving fatigue impairs a driver’s judgment and dulls reflexes much the same way as alcohol or drugs do. A dangerously fatigued driver might cause a rollover accident by drifting off the road and then overcorrecting the steering to try to recover and losing control.
• Overloaded vehicles – Vehicles that are overloaded with cargo or improperly loaded are less stable on the road, especially when navigating sharp turns. SUVs, pickup trucks, and other heavy vehicles with high centers of gravity are particularly susceptible to overturn if improperly-secured cargo shifts in transit and alters the vehicle’s center of gravity.
• Failure to yield the right-of-way – If a driver proceeds through an intersection without the right-of-way, the driver may be struck in the side by another vehicle, causing a rollover accident.

Some rollover accidents happen when a vehicle’s brakes, steering, or suspension suddenly fail. In these situations, the company that designed or made the defective part could be liable for the accident.

Common Injuries from Rollover Accidents

Most passenger vehicles have little protection from rollover accidents. As a result, rollover accident injuries can be particularly severe. They include:

• Head trauma – In a rollover accident, it is common for a driver or passenger to hit their head on the vehicle’s interior, especially if they are not wearing seat belts. Any hard blow to the head can cause a traumatic brain injury, the effects of which range from concussions to permanent cognitive impairment. A vehicle’s occupants are more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries if the car flips more than once during the accident.
• Spinal cord injuries – Any car accident puts an occupant’s body and spinal column under severe stress. A rollover accident is more violent than other types of car crashes. The impact of a vehicle being struck and overturning is enough to cause compression of the spinal cord, fractures of vertebrae, or other spinal injuries. Severe spinal injuries can result in paralysis and other long-term disabilities.
• Burns – If a driver or passenger is trapped in an overturned vehicle, they may be unable to get out of the vehicle before it catches fire. Fires and explosions are a risk after a rollover because a car’s gas tank and fuel system may leak gasoline onto a hot engine.
• Broken bones – As a driver or passenger is flung around inside an overturning vehicle, they could collide with the vehicle’s interior, a flying object, or another person in the car. These violent impacts can cause broken bones and impact injuries from flying objects.
• Severe bruising – Intense bruises are common in rollover accidents because occupants are sent tumbling as the vehicle overturns. Striking a body part on the vehicle’s interior, a deployed airbag, or someone else in the car can also cause severe bruises.

Who Is at Fault in a Rollover Accident?

The liability for a rollover accident depends on the facts of the crash. Those who may be at fault for the accident include:

• The driver of the overturned vehicle – Many rollover accidents are caused by the driver of the car that overturned. Distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and driving while fatigued are all driver errors that can lead to a rollover accident.
• Government entities – Some rollover accidents are caused by uneven pavement or poorly maintained roads. In these cases, the local government or state agency responsible for maintaining the road may bear some responsibility for the rollover accident.
• Construction companies – If a rollover accident is caused by a highway contractor’s negligent actions such as the failure to lay out a highway work zone properly, the highway contractor may be liable for the crash.
• Vehicle and parts manufacturers – Many rollover accidents are caused by drivers, but some occur due to defective parts and mechanical failures. For example, if a car’s steering or suspension fails as it makes a turn, it could contribute to a rollover accident. In cases like this, whoever made the defective part could be liable for the accident, provided you can show that the crash resulted from a design or manufacturing defect.

What To Do After a Rollover Accident?

Here are the specific steps you should take if you have been involved in a rollover accident:

• Call 911
• Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, and license plate number if you can do so
• Use your phone to take pictures of the crash scene if your injuries allow you to do so
• If you are not taken to a hospital from the crash scene, see a doctor as soon as you can to diagnose any injuries
• Save all your medical records and receipts
• Do not give any statements to insurance companies until you have spoken with a personal injury lawyer
• Talk to a car accident attorney as soon as possible

Contact a Dallas Rollover Accident Lawyer

A rollover accident can impact you physically, emotionally, and financially. You should not have to shoulder the burden of costly medical bills, auto repairs, and lost wages if you were not responsible for the crash. Contact Kraft & Associates today for a free consultation with a Dallas rollover accident lawyer and find out what we can do for you.