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When cars flip over in Virginia Beach, both drivers and passengers can suffer serious injuries. Two people were hurt when a car flipped over in the city last week.
The sedan rolled over in the area of Laskin Road and Coquina Lane. The occupants of the car were treated at a local hospital, according to media reports. Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
We are always concerned to hear about incidents when cars flip over in Virginia Beach. Injuries from rollover accidents are statistically the most serious for any type of wreck. These kinds of crashes can result in traumatic brain injuries. The injuries may be life-threatening, particularly when the occupants of the cars are not wearing seatbelts and are ejected.
Few details are available about Wednesday’s crash. Pictures from the scene suggest this was a single vehicle accident. It’s not clear if the car flipped over when the driver tried to avoid another vehicle.
There are many causes of rollover accidents. Most commonly, they are single vehicle accidents. Vehicle type plays a part in rollover wrecks but environmental conditions and other factors may be pertinent.
TYPE OF VEHICLE
As demonstrated by the car that flipped over in Virginia Beach, all types of vehicles can roll over. However, narrower, high-sided vehicles such as SUVs, pickups, and vans have higher centers of gravity, and are more likely to roll over if involved in a single-vehicle crash.
In a 2018 study of the 10 vehicles most likely to roll over, nine were SUVs and pickup trucks. However, the vehicle with the worst rollover record is a van, the Nissan NV3500 passenger van.
SPEED
Fatal rollover crashes are typically speed-related. A staggering 40 percent of fatal rollover crashes involve excessive speed. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of all fatal rollovers occurred where the posted speed limit was at least 55 miles per hour.
RURAL ROADS
Although urban Norfolk and Virginia Beach have seen some serious rollover crashes in recent months, cars, SUVs, and pickups are more likely to overturn in rural locations. Roads in the countryside are more likely to be undivided and vehicles typically reach higher speeds. Flip-over crashes are usually more serious on roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or above.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol consumption is a factor in as many as half of all rollover accidents Even a small amount of alcohol will negatively impact the driver’s judgment, coordination, and vision, making the driver more likely to lose control and flip a vehicle.
ROUTINE DRIVING MANEUVERS
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests more than 90 percent of vehicles involved in rollover accidents were not at intersections or merging but were traveling straight or going around a curve. This statistic suggests factors like intoxication, inattention, distracted driving or excess speed plays a major role in this most serious kind of accident.
SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASHES
NHTSA data reveals almost 85 percent of all rollover-related deaths are caused in single-vehicle crashes. In other words, the driver of the car, truck, van or pickup that crashes is usually responsible for flipping it.
Given that single vehicle crashes are the most common types of rollover accident in Virginia Beach, Norfolk or Suffolk, passengers are often victims of these crashes.
Passengers are rarely responsible for the crashes that injure or kill them. Typically, they have grounds to file a claim against the driver who caused the crash. You may be hesitant to file a lawsuit against a family member or a friend. However, if you fail to bring an action, you could be left footing the medical bill for injuries caused by another and lose income from the time you missed work.
It’s important to consult a personal injury lawyer to know your rights as an injured passenger. Call our Virginia Beach car crash injury team today at (757) 455-0077 or contact us online as soon as possible before you talk to the insurance company.