Rollover Accidents in Virginia Are The Most Deadly Wrecks

Many people think head-on accidents are the most dangerous types of wrecks in the state. Although these crashes are very dangerous, rollover accidents in Virginia are even more lethal.

The grim nature of rollover accidents becomes apparent on the Safercar.gov site maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Compared to wrecks like T-bone accidents and rear-enders, very few car, truck and van accidents involve a vehicle rolling over.

Of more than 9 million passenger vehicle, SUV, van, and pickup wrecks in a given year in the United States, only 2.1 percent involved a rollover. However, these wrecks cause more than 30 percent of all deaths from passenger vehicle crashes. Every year, about 7,500 people lose their lives in rollover crashes.

There is a strong correlation between deaths and not wearing seatbelts. Almost 70 percent of people who lose their lives in rollover crashes are not wearing a seatbelt. When an accident involves an ejection, the dangers of death or serious injuries is considerably higher.

The Majority of Rollover Accidents in Virginia Are Single Vehicle Incidents
About 85 percent of rollover crashes are single vehicle wrecks. Often a car, a pickup, or SUV flips over after leaving the highway or a driver takes a curve too fast. Collisions may also cause rollover wrecks.

In many cases, a driver is at fault for a rollover accident. He or she may be driving too fast for conditions or may be tired or distracted. Rollover accidents usually occur at higher speeds. More than three-quarters occur on roads where the posted speed limit is 55 mph or above.

Passengers are often the victims in rollover crashes. Depending on the circumstances, they may have grounds to file personal injury lawsuits against the driver. Here are some common causes of these wrecks.

Common Causes of Vehicle Rollover Accidents in Virginia
1 A driver fails to slow down on a curve or a ramp;

2 A driver veers across a road and overcorrects;

3 The driver is tired and drives off the road;

4 The driver is distracted;

5 Another vehicle hits your car at an intersection;

6 A driver is drunk or driving under the influence of drugs;

7 High winds buffer a vehicle.

The Deadly Link Between SUVs and Rollover Accidents

Some cars and trucks are more prone to rolling over than others. Typically, SUVs are more likely to flip over the NHTSA notes in its report The Characteristics of Fatal Rollover Crashes.

The agency found the increasing popularity of SUVs and light trucks was leading to a spike in rollover deaths. High-sided vehicles like SUVs are more prone to flipping over.

According to consumer reports, a list of 19 vehicles with the worst rollover records is dominated by pickups and SUVs. Two of the worst vehicles were the Dodge Nitro and the Chevrolet Silverado.

In some cases, a defect may cause a car to roll over and accident victims may have grounds to sue a carmaker. However, these instances are rare. In the majority of rollover accidents in Virginia, a driver, or the driver of another vehicle will be at fault.

If you have been hurt in a rollover accident, you may have grounds to sue a culpable driver. Family members of a deceased rollover accident victim may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. Please call our Virginia auto accident attorneys at (757) 333-3333.