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Across the country, rollover accidents claim more than 10,000 lives every year. Over the last several years, drivers in Florida alone have been involved in over 100,000 rollover accidents that result in injury or fatality, and these accidents often occur at the fault of other drivers or the car’s manufacturer. Although driver errors—such as driving while texting, speeding,  or drinking—can have a hand in causing rollover accidents, personal injury lawyers in Fort Myers say that these accidents are more commonly a result of the vehicle’s stability and center of gravity, or what is happening on the road around the car. 

Given the right combination of circumstances, any car can rollover. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers report close to 300,000 rollover accidents every year, and these are responsible for more than 30 percent of all car accidents. Although these statistics draw from collisions in a wide range of cars, rollovers are most common in taller, more narrow vehicles with higher centers of gravity, such as pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs. 

These vehicles are more top-heavy than smaller, lower cars, and are more susceptible to shifts in gravity and balance. When a car goes around a curve or bend in the road, the car’s center of gravity shifts to one side, which may compromise the car’s balance. With rapid changes in direction or excessive speeds, top-heavy cars can easily be forced off-balance and tip and roll. The tendency to roll over is increased when the car is overloaded, either with too many passengers, or a heavy roof rack.

NHTSA reports that almost 85 percent of all rollover fatalities are a result of single-vehicle accidents, involving only one car and driver. When these single-vehicle collisions occur, usually, the car trips on something in its path—a curb or pothole. This trip pushes the vehicle off-balance, and can change the center of gravity enough to cause the car to roll. 

Personal injury lawyers in Fort Myers urge drivers to pay close attention to any impediments when on the roads, and to practice safe driving habits to avoid rollover accidents. For example, refraining from overcorrecting the vehicle to avoid a collision or pothole, can keep drivers from losing their grip on the road. Using caution in tricky driving situations, such as heavy rain or fog, may help drivers of taller vehicles stay safe on the road as well. There are many cases where a rollover accident occurred based on a faulty manufacturer design either with the SUV or possibly its tires. In cases where a vehicle rollover accident occurs due to a collision with another car, or a flaw in the vehicle’s design or manufacture, an attorney may be needed to determine who is at fault, and how best to handle restitution. 

In Fort Myers, the personal injury lawyers at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., can help car accident victims determine what caused their vehicles to roll over, and what steps they need to take. The experienced team at the  Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. are dedicated to representing those who have suffered an injury from a roll-over accident.