The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
Toll Free - 800.229.8384
Phone - 202.659.8600
Fax - 202.659.8680
Rollover Accident Lawsuits
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARYLAND & VIRGINIA
Rollover accidents only account for about three percent of all auto accidents, but they are responsible for over 30% of auto accident deaths. The likelihood of being in a rollover is very low, but if you are, it is almost certain that you will be seriously injured or killed.
Why Rollovers Happen
A phenomenon called "tripping" is involved in nearly all rollover accidents. Tripping happens when one of the vehicles tires hits something, such as a curb, bump, or soft shoulder, and the momentum of the vehicle causes it to pitch over forward or sideways into a roll. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) nearly 85% of rollovers are single vehicle accidents, and 95% of those are caused by tripping.
Vehicle design, tire failure, road conditions, weather, and the behavior of other drivers are often contributing factors in rollover accidents.
- High center of gravity
SUV’s are the most likely vehicles to roll followed by pick-up trucks and minivans, due to their high center of gravity. - Defective tires
Tire failure is a common cause of rollovers, causing drivers to lose control of the vehicle, or acting as the tripping mechanism itself. - Defective roadways
Poor road maintenance and lack of warning signs cause rollovers which are entirely preventable. When roads are not taken care of they develop bumps and potholes which can act as tripping mechanisms. Soft shoulders can also act as a tripping mechanism, when drivers are not warned and hit them too fast. Construction zones and other hazards which lack proper warning signs can cause drivers to take sudden evasive maneuvers causing a rollover.
Responsible parties
Design flaws, defective tires, and other vehicle defects causing rollovers are typically the fault of vehicle manufacturers, tire manufacturers, dealerships, and/or automobile repair shops. Although rare, some rollover accidents are caused by another driver. Defective roadways, including those which are poorly maintained and those which lack proper warning signs, are almost always the responsibility of a government entity. Lawsuits involving government entities are very different from those involving individuals and businesses.
If you have been in a rollover accident caused by a defective vehicle or roadway, you may not be aware of the cause. Rollovers can happen fast and without warning, but they do not just happen. Police reports and witness statements may not reveal the cause of the accident. A thorough inspection of the vehicle and the scene should be conducted as soon as possible after the accident to determine the true cause.
Injuries
Rollover accidents often include roof crush injuries and/or ejection from the vehicle. The severity of injuries caused by rollover accidents is almost always far greater than those caused by other types of accidents, and a large portion of rollovers are fatal. Common injuries caused by rollover accidents include:
- Head trauma
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck fractures
- Paralysis
- Amputations
- Broken or fractured bones
- Internal injuries
- Suffocation
- Coma
- Death
Recent Automobile Accident Settlements
- $15 million award for a passenger in a vehicle who was permanently paralyzed, from the neck down when a bullet intended for the driver of her vehicle hit her instead. The driver’s disgruntled ex-boyfriend chased down the car in which our client was a passenger, ran it off the road, and then shot and killed the driver.
- $2.4 million obtained on behalf of a United States Government worker who was struck in crosswalk by a van, causing a brain injury.
- $750,000.00 on behalf of an endodontist who was operating a motor vehicle that was broadsided by a van that went through a red light. The client suffered an injury to her neck and weakness of her dominant hand, resulting in the loss of earning capacity.
- $675,000.00 obtained for a woman who was a passenger in car whose driver lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. The woman fractured her pelvis and arm.
- $600,000.00 obtained against the United States Postal Service as a result of the negligence of one of its drivers, who pulled out from a stop sign in front of our client’s motorcycle. Our client suffered multiple fractures and third degree burns to his left lower extremity.
- $500,000.00 obtained on behalf of a passenger in a bus who suffered a herniated disk when the bus driver fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the center line and struck another car. The client required cervical laminectomy and fusion surgery.
- $500,000.00 obtained for a woman who fractured her leg after being hit head-on by a negligent driver. This was the maximum insurance coverage available.
- $450,000.00 verdict issued by United States District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson to a man who suffered back and knee injuries after his van was struck in the rear by a United States Postal Service truck.
- $230,000.00 awarded to a woman who suffered a neck injury with tingling in her arm after her car was rear-ended by a negligent driver.
- $225,000.00 award for a woman who suffered a broken arm and a broken foot as a result of a head-on collision.
- $220,000.00 on behalf of a woman who suffered a knee injury in an automobile collision. The car accident client required arthroscopic surgery to repair the knee.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rollover accident in Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC, please email or call our experienced rollover lawyers today. We are focused on obtaining justice for you - the victim.
