According to statistics, rollover collisions result in 30 percent of all traffic fatalities even though they only account for 3 percent of all serious accidents. Despite this fact, people in North Carolina might be surprised to learn that the federal government has no performance standards in place regarding rollover accidents for vehicle manufacturers.
Any car can be involved in a rollover accident, although certain vehicles with a higher center of gravity, such as trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles, are more susceptible. The accidents can result from many incidents, including tires blowing out, top-heavy loading, overloading, side impacts, tires that grip too well and glancing off objects such as light poles. No matter the cause, there are general measures people can undertake in an effort to reduce the likelihood of such an accident occurring or, if it does, that serious injuries will result.
When shopping for a new vehicle, newer models generally provide better safety protection than do older ones. Newer cars have features such as more available airbags and traction control systems, for example. Drivers should also regularly check the status of their tires, replacing them as needed with tires that are similar to the ones that came with the car. Using safety belts and observing speed limits at all times are also important measures that can reduce the likelihood of rollovers and serious injuries resulting from them.
While it is impossible to prevent all rollover accidents from occurring, drivers can take simple precautionary steps to lessen their likelihood. When people are injured in a rollover car accident caused by the negligence of another driver, they may be able to pursue court remedies by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Such a lawsuit may help victims recover damages for economic and noneconomic losses that were incurred.
Source: ConsumerReports.org, “Rollover 101“, November 17, 2014
