Vehicle rollovers are typically the result of inexperienced or distracted drivers, or bad weather conditions. They are the third leading cause of car accident deaths. Rollovers can be quite dangerous, causing bodily injury and property damage. In a majority of cases, rollovers occur when the vehicle is traveling at an accelerated speed. Some people may not even realize that they have rolled over until it has already occurred.
Speed: Rollover accidents are more common to occur with fast moving vehicles such as suvs and minivans. About forty-five percent of all fatal rollover accidents involve low speed vehicles. About thirty-five percent of all car accidents result from low speed vehicles traveling at greater speeds. The remaining percentage is caused by high speed vehicles that simply tend to roll over. Studies show that most rollover accidents occur near merging roads or in parking lots.
Accidents involving SUVs and vans are also very common. Rollover accidents involving SUVs are most common in rural areas with large lots and poor visibility. This is because SUVs are typically much wider and have large tires that don’t let the tires contact the ground before they are lifted up off the ground. When these vehicles are involved in a rollover accident, the occupants may be seriously injured.
Drivers’ Poor Decisions: It is difficult to prevent all vehicle crashes, but the main cause of rollover accidents is driver behavior. Poor driving decisions can lead to all sorts of accidents, including rollover accidents. Most SUVs and vans are designed to roll over rather easily when their tires hit the ground. passenger cars can also roll over if their tires hit the ground, or if the vehicles are driven at too high of speeds. This is commonly referred to as “shunt racing.”
As mentioned earlier, driver behavior is responsible for about 75 percent of all vehicle crashes. One way to keep from being involved in rollover accidents is to carefully monitor the speed of your vehicle and your tires. Always check your tire pressure before you drive, and avoid speeding or driving aggressively. Be aware of vehicle rollovers, and be prepared to handle them should they occur.
If you are involved in an accident where one vehicle is substantially damaged or rolled over, this may not necessarily mean that you will be the victim of a rollover accident. In fact, many times, those involved in SUV and van accidents may be seriously injured. The main difference is that if one vehicle is severely damaged in an accident, the insurance company has more liability exposure than if both vehicles are destroyed. This is why it is imperative that everyone, especially those who have a tendency to drive fast, follow all vehicle maintenance rules and regulations, and drive carefully to avoid such accidents.