Recovering Damages for Injuries from a Rollover Accident in Illinois

 Posted on July 12,2021 in Car Accidents

Rollovers are one of the most dangerous types of car accidents, accounting for 28 percent of vehicle occupant fatalities according to 2019 data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Though the majority of rollover accidents involve only one vehicle, there are plenty of cases in which a rollover is caused by a collision with another vehicle, or in which a vehicle rolls over into the path of another vehicle. If you have been injured in a rollover crash, an attorney can help you determine whether another party was at fault.

Common Factors in Rollover Accidents

Research from the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers important insights regarding the factors that commonly contribute to rollovers. Understanding these factors may help you avoid an accident or better understand the circumstances leading to your injuries. For example:

• Rollovers disproportionately affect occupants of SUVs and pickup trucks when compared to smaller cars.
• Many fatal rollover crashes are the result of an impact to the front of the vehicle, either by another vehicle or a stationary object like a barricade or utility pole. However, a large number of rollovers are not caused by any impact at all. Some of these no-impact accidents happen when a driver attempts to avoid a collision with another vehicle and loses control.
• A substantial portion of drivers in fatal rollover accidents are speeding or under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
• Rollover accidents are also a risk for drivers of commercial semi-trucks, due to factors like speeding, driver error, and improperly loaded or secured cargo. Because of the size of the vehicle, a semi-truck rollover often harms occupants of other nearby vehicles as well.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim

If you have been injured because of a rollover accident, one of the most important things you can do is get medical attention right away. This helps you better understand the nature and severity of your injuries so that you can get the appropriate treatment, and it can also help in your pursuit of compensation for your medical bills. If you believe another driver or some other party may have been at fault for your injuries, you should consult with a personal injury attorney who can help you demonstrate negligence and represent you in a settlement or trial.

Contact a Lake County Car Accident Lawyer

Each car accident comes with its own set of complications when it comes to establishing the cause and securing compensation from the negligent parties. At Salvi & Maher, LLC, we have experience with many different kinds of car accident cases, and we can guide you through the process of filing a claim and recovering damages. Call us at 847-662-3303 for a free consultation with a Waukegan personal injury lawyer.

Sources:

https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/809438