Personal Injury Lawyer
Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) were once associated with ‘soccer moms’ and criticized for being gas guzzlers. Today, the industry has redesigned these vehicles to be more appealing to a larger number of people. Many now offer greater fuel efficiency, smaller overall design, and features such as automatic sliding doors, removable seats, and four-wheel drive capabilities. This makes them a popular choice among families as well as carpoolers and people who use them for hauling objects or taking on camping trips.
Unfortunately, the convenience SUVs offer comes at a cost in terms of safety. Despite new advances, rollovers continue to be a problem. These types of car accidents can end up causing serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. The news is filled with reports of rollover accidents and the serious injuries and deaths that occur.
How Rollover Accidents Happen
Rollover accidents are one of the least common but most potentially deadly types of crashes. While they represent only two percent of all car accidents each year, they are responsible for more than a third of all highway traffic fatalities.
Blame for rollover accidents is often placed on the vehicle. While the size and shape of SUVs do increase the likelihood that a rollover may happen, it is generally driver behaviors that are ultimately responsible for the crash. Factors that make rollover accidents more likely to occur include:
- Speeding and going too fast for conditions
- Failing to properly navigate turns and curves in the road
- Swerving in and out of traffic
- Disregarding traffic signs and signals
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Damages in a Rollover Accident
If you were injured in a rollover accident caused by another driver, State law allows you to pursue damages against that driver for the losses your injuries have suffered. Some of the damages you may be compensated for include:
- Medical expenses for past, present, and future treatments
- Loss of income from being unable to work while you recover from your injuries
- Loss of future income if you are left with permanent disabilities that prevent you from working
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment
Depending on the circumstances of the crash, you may also be awarded punitive damages. These types of damages are usually awarded if the at-fault driver was breaking the law or engaged in especially egregious behavior when the crash occurred. For example, many victims of drunk driving crashes are awarded punitive damages.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney for Assistance Today
Personal injury attorneys help the victims of rollover accidents get the compensation they need to recover when serious injuries occur. To request a free consultation regarding your rights in a car accident claim, call our office to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Ewing, NJ.
Thanks to Davis & Brusca, LLC for their insight into personal injury law.