What If I’m Injured in a Rollover Car Accident in Evansville?

In 2013, an Evansville woman was taken to the hospital after a rollover car accident that occurred on Stockwell Road near the Eastland Mall. The car was so mangled that the woman had to be cut from the car before getting rushed to the nearest hospital.

Rollover car accidents are frightening, but unfortunately, they are not uncommon. While there is no way to guarantee you’ll never be in one of these accidents, there are steps you can take to decrease the possibility.

Two Types of Rollover Accidents

In order to better avoid these accidents, it is important that you know more about them. There are two common types of rollover accidents. Each occur due to different causes, but both can be fatal.

Tripped

This type of rollover accident occurs as a result of a force that causes the vehicle to begin to roll. This could be soft ground or a railing right off of the road, or an uneven section of the road.

A common pattern in these accidents is the driver’s abrupt response to the object. For example, a person is driving, and they begin to go off the road for whatever reason. The ground right off the road is too soft and the tire begins to sink. This causes the driver to jerk the steering wheel to get back on the road. However, because of the unsteadiness of the car and the force behind the jerk, the car tips instead.

Untripped

This type of accident typically occurs in vehicles that are already top-heavy including SUVs and Jeeps. The centers of gravity for these vehicles are typically higher from the ground than a sedan or truck, which makes them more vulnerable to roll.

Untripped rollovers typically occur when a driver is attempting to avoid something. For example, someone is driving, and, suddenly, they see a giant pothole in front of them. They jerk the steering wheel in order to avoid the pot hole, but because of the car’s center of gravity, the aggressive jerk causes the car to tip over instead.

Precautions to Take

It is impossible to guarantee that you will never get into a rollover car accident. However, there are certain precautions to take to limit your chances of experiencing one.

Avoid Distractions

Many of these accidents occur because the driver is not paying attention to the road. Be sure to avoid any distraction that may take your attention away from the road ahead so that you will be able to make quick decisions if necessary.

Understand Your Vehicle

By understanding your vehicle, you will know how it drives and what makes it unsteady. If you are well aware that your vehicle is large and therefore may have a higher center of gravity, you will know to be more cautious when forced to make sudden movements.

Maintain Composure

Always expect that something unexpected might happen so that you will be able to react, and if the time comes that you actually need to react, be sure to remain composed to avoid overreacting. Many of these accidents occur because the driver overcorrects.

Help from an Evansville Car Accident Attorney

If you were injured in a rollover accident through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Call Hensley Legal Group today for a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys or contact us online.