The High Risk of Injuries in SUV Rollover Accidents
San Antonio police say two men escaped serious injury when the SUV they were in hit a utility pole and flipped over onto its roof. The rollover crash occurred around 2 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, at the intersection of Ingram and Callaghan roads. Police say that distracted driving may have played a role in the crash and are investigating.
SUV Rollovers
While any vehicle has the potential to roll over under certain circumstances, SUVs (sport utility vehicles) carry a much higher risk of flipping over. This is because these vehicles are narrower and taller than sedans and other types of passenger vehicles, and they have a higher center of gravity.
SUV rollovers are particularly dangerous for any passengers in the vehicle. While rollover accidents account for only three percent of serious accidents, they are responsible for approximately 30 percent of all vehicle passenger fatalities. Many occupants are violently thrown inside the vehicle when it flips over, often causing serious injuries to the head and neck. If the victim is not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, there is also an elevated risk of being flung from the SUV, an event that is often always catastrophic.
A large percentage of SUV owners are unaware of the higher risk of rollover crashes and injuries they face. They do not realize that there are almost 60,000 victims injured in SUV rollover accidents every year, with another 4,500 killed. More than 90 percent of SUV rollover incidents are single-vehicle accidents and are responsible for more than 50 percent of fatal single-vehicle crashes.
In many SUV rollover accidents, the driver is not even aware the vehicle is tipping or has already started rolling before noticing what is occurring. Some of the more common causes of SUV rollovers is a driver attempting an emergency maneuver to avoid a crash, the tires of the SUV bumping into a curb, the vehicle hitting a guardrail, or operating the vehicle on loose gravel.
Avoiding SUV Rollovers
One of the factors that attract SUV owners to purchase this style of vehicle is that they tend to be larger in size so they provide more protection in the event of an accident. However, the risk of a rollover means that there are some steps owners should take to ensure their safety and anyone else in the vehicle with them:
Avoid engaging in any distracted driving behaviors and keep your focus on the road.
Avoid speeding.
Avoid transporting too much weight in the vehicle.
Avoid any sharp or sudden changes in steering.
Make sure all occupants are wearing their seatbelts at all times.
Contact a New Braunfels Car Accident Attorney for Legal Assistance
If you were a passenger in an SUV and suffered injuries in a rollover crash, a dedicated New Braunfels rollover accident attorney can help you get the financial compensation you may be entitled to. Call the Bettersworth Law Firm at 830-443-9193 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/07/21/2-men-treated-after-suv-hits-utility-pole-rolls-over-at-northwest-side-intersection/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/crashworthiness/rollover-research
