A rollover accident is a type of car accident where a vehicle flips onto its side or back. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), location and speed play significant roles in the seriousness of this type of crash. This type of accident can be especially dangerous, as engineers did not design cars to bear their weight on their sides or top. Their design is also why rollover accidents tend to result in serious injuries for everyone involved.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a rollover accident, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover compensation. You can consult with a Tallahassee rollover accident lawyer to receive guidance regarding whether filing a lawsuit is the right step for you. Contact the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case with our team.
Factors in Rollover Accidents
Engineers design vehicles not to roll over, which is why it is such a significant problem when it happens. Factors that contribute to rollover accidents include:
- Vehicle type: The type of vehicle plays an important role in whether it will roll over easily. Taller vehicles, like trucks, often are top-heavy, which makes them prone to rollovers. Shorter, lightweight cars have a lower center of gravity, making them less likely to roll over.
- Vehicle size: Longer, taller vehicles have the highest chance of rolling over because of how they distribute weight throughout.
- Vehicle weight: Heavier vehicles have more weight to throw around, meaning they can become unbalanced more easily than lighter vehicles.
- Speed: Traveling at higher speeds can make it easy to unbalance a vehicle. For example, a truck speeding through a turn has a higher chance of rolling over because the weight on top becomes harder to control and keep balanced.
- Road conditions: Driving on poorly maintained, wet, or uneven roads can significantly increase the chances of rolling over. Without a high-quality roadway to drive on, vehicles could experience problems that cause them to flip over.
- Turns: While turning is an everyday driving activity, it also causes many rollovers. If not done correctly, a vehicle can shift its weight during a sharp turn that forces the car or truck onto its side.
Driving a vehicle recklessly or in poor conditions can lead to rollover accidents. While the NHTSA found that nearly 85 percent of rollover-related fatalities occurred in single-vehicle crashes, collisions can also cause rollovers, which usually end in injuries and property damage.
If you suffered injuries in a rollover accident caused by a negligent driver, a Tallahassee rollover accident lawyer could help you file a lawsuit to recover compensation. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to learn more from a team member.
For a free legal consultation with a rollover accidents lawyer serving Tallahassee, call (844) 730-0233
Possibly Recoverable Compensation
Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help you deal with the expenses you incurred because of a rollover accident. The types of compensation that you could recover include:
- Property damage: Property damage covers the costs for replacing anything damaged in the accident. This category can include the cost of repairs to your car, replacing your car if necessary, and replacing anything inside the car that suffered damage.
- Medical expenses: Medical expenses may be unavoidable after an accident. You can claim any medical bills that you incur because of the accident. However, you must prove that the bill relates to the care that you needed because of the accident.
- Lost wages: If you cannot go back to work after the accident, you may be able to claim lost wages. An award for lost income covers any earnings that you missed because of the accident, including retirement contributions and other benefits.
- Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering awards cover the emotional and mental stress caused by the accident. It can prove challenging to determine precisely what to ask for as pain and suffering compensation because of its subjectivity. Cases that involve pain and suffering awards tend to involve severe injuries.
Every case is a bit different, so determining which damages to seek depends on the specifics of each case. A car accident lawyer can help you make a full compensation claim that accounts for all damages caused by the rollover accident, so it does not cause you further financial problems.
Tallahassee Rollover Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Statute of Limitations
If you decide to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover compensation, you have a limited amount of time to do so, called the statute of limitations. Florida Statute §95.11 sets the time limit for car accident cases at four years, meaning that you have four years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit with the court.
Although four years may seem like a long time, you want to give yourself as much time as possible to build a case. During those four years, it is easy for evidence to become harder to collect, and witnesses can become more difficult to find. Contacting a Tallahassee rollover accident lawyer as soon as possible provides them more time to build the best case possible and file before the statute of limitations expires.
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If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a rollover accident, you might be able to file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation from the at-fault driver. You can talk to a Tallahassee rollover accident lawyer for advice on what to do next. Contact the office of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation with our team of representatives. The sooner you call, the sooner we can get started.
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