Rollover auto accidents tend to be the deadliest collisions, mainly because many of the vehicle’s safety features are not able to protect the driver and occupants from rollover-related injuries.
According to the NHTSA, rollover crashes account for more than a third of all deaths in passenger vehicle accidents. It is worth mentioning that of more than 7,600 people who died in rollover accidents in 2010, the vast majority of them were not wearing seat belts.
If you were involved in a rollover accident, reach out to our Council Bluffs auto accident attorney from Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, to discuss your legal options for seeking financial compensation.
Rollover Accidents in Council Bluffs
One such accident occurred in Council Bluffs just recently, when one person was reported to be seriously injured in a rollover crash at the I-80 and I-29 interchange.
Less than 24 hours before the accident, parts of Interstate 29 in Council Bluffs were closed due to major flooding, as reported by the Omaha World-Herald. It is unclear whether the closure of parts of I-29 had anything to do with the Sunday crash.
Interestingly, this was not the first rollover crash on Interstate 29 this year. Back in March, the KQ2 reported that a pick-up truck overturned in the southbound lanes of I-29. The driver of the pick-up suffered minor injuries.
But what could have caused these rollover auto accidents in Council Bluffs?
Causes of Rollover Crashes
Motor vehicle accidents in which one or more vehicles overturn occur when an automobile:
- Trips over an object such as a curb, uneven pavement, pothole, or guardrail that causes it to tip over.
- Turns too sharply at a high rate of speed. The higher the vehicle’s center of gravity, the more likely it is to roll over when turning too quickly.
- Runs off the road and falls down an embankment.
- Suffers a blow in a side-impact collision with another motor vehicle.
Dangers of Rollover Auto Accidents
While car bumpers and crush zones are intended to protect car drivers and occupants from the front- and rear-collisions, they are not as effective when vehicles overturn.
In rollover crashes, the impact is applied to the sides and roof of the car. The problem is: These elements of a vehicle are comparatively weak and cannot withstand substantial impact forces.
Federal regulations require motor vehicle roofs to withstand at least 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight. However, in most rollover crashes, the roof is subject to higher impact forces, which cause disastrous, irreversible, and permanent injuries.
Another danger of rollover auto accidents is that airbags tend to offer little to no protection in crashes where a vehicle tips over. Seat belts also provide limited protection in rollover crashes.
Injuries in Overturned Vehicle Crashes
The most common types of rollover injuries are:
- Roof crush injuries, including head and brain injuries, damage to the neck, as well as back and spinal cord injuries. These injuries occur when the roof collapses onto the driver and passengers.
- Ejection injuries, which tend to be the deadliest because a vehicle occupant is being thrown completely or partially out of shattered windows. These can result in limb loss, amputation, decapitation, brain injuries, and death.
- Injuries associated with seat belt failure. In these crashes, it is not uncommon for seat belts to unbuckle, forcing the driver and passengers to strike the roof, side window, and other structures. This can result in spinal cord injuries, head, neck, and back injuries, as well as election injuries.
Speak with our Council Bluffs auto accident attorneys from Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, to establish fault in your rollover crash and seek compensation for the damages and losses associated with your rollover-related injuries.
Let our lawyers use their more than 100 years of combined experience to secure the maximum recovery on your behalf.
Call 712-309-3738 to receive a free consultation.