Driver Hospitalized After Being Pinned in Rollover Crash
At midnight on I-10, near UTSA Blvd in San Antonio, a rollover accident occurred that left one driver pinned in his vehicle, requiring firefighters to free him by cutting the car open. He was then taken to University Hospital for his injuries, though the current extent of them is not known as of this writing. Rollover accidents of this type are by far the deadliest type of car crash, and even if you survive the impact, you may come away with severe injuries. If your accident is due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to try and seek compensation for your medical expenses from them while you try to get back on your feet.
Statistics Show Rollovers Are Dangerous
The statistics on rollover accidents do not lie; a much higher proportion of fatalities occur from rollovers than befits the small percentage of accidents they make up. In other words, there are a disproportionate number of fatalities caused by rollover accidents, given that so few crashes on U.S. highways are of the rollover type. Statistics from 2016 (the most recent available data) show that rollovers made up only 1.5 percent of all the accidents on U.S. roads – but almost 9 percent of the death total.
There are multiple possible reasons why this is the case. Rollover accidents involve the entire vehicle, whereas a T-bone or head-on collision may avoid causing too much impact to those in the opposite side of the car or truck. Seatbelts also offer less protection in a rollover crash than they do in other types of accidents, given that rollovers are technically non-collision accidents and thus no real impact occurs. Rollover accidents most often occur when someone loses control of their vehicle, rather than being struck or actively striking a fixed object.
Proving Negligence Can Be Difficult
Unlike many other types of accident, proving that someone’s negligence had a hand in your rollover accident can be more difficult, mostly because so many rollovers are single-vehicle crashes. Single-vehicle crashes are just that – only one car or truck is involved, at least to the point of sustaining damage. In a normal accident, one can try to show that the defendant driver breached the duty of reasonable care (which is owed by all motorists on the road to all other motorists); in a single-vehicle accident, there is no second driver.
It is, however, possible to prevail in such a case, especially if you have gathered as much information as possible surrounding your accident. There are two ways in which you may be able to prove liability on the part of a defendant – the first is arguing that they were involved, even if their vehicle did not sustain damage. Evidence like CCTV cameras may help your case, though such things may not exist in rural areas, where most rollovers occur. The second is arguing that a product defect in your automobile was the cause of the crash – if this turns out to be the case, the seller or manufacturer of your automobile would be liable for your injuries.
Ask an Experienced Attorney for Help
No further information appears to exist about the driver on UTSA Boulevard, but regardless of their eventual outcome, it is important to keep in mind that rollover accidents can very often be a roll of the dice. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a rollover crash, contacting a dedicated attorney is a good idea. The skilled New Braunfels rollover accident lawyers at the Bettersworth Law Firm are ready, willing and able to meet with you and try to help you decide how best to move forward with your case while trying to get your life back to normal. Call us today at 888-392-0039 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.ksat.com/traffic/driver-hospitalized-after-getting-pinned-inside-vehicle-during-rollover-crash
https://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Rollover/Causes
https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/tsftables/tsfar.htm#
