Woman Dies after Rollover Crash On I-37
On February 17, an accident briefly closed part of I-37, as an SUV hit the wall, rolling over several times before coming to a stop. Two women were inside, and one escaped major injury, but the other was killed at the scene. The crash took some time to clean up, as the car had shed metal and debris all over the road. Unfortunately, such a pattern is all too common in rollover accidents, and it is one of the reasons they consistently are the most deadly type of car crash.
Rollovers Cause the Most Fatalities
If one examines statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), one can see that rollover accidents alone accounted for 31 percent of all car crash deaths. This is markedly higher than other types of accidents by themselves, though it is perhaps understandable. An accident is classified as a rollover if the roof of the vehicle hits the ground at least once, and when that happens, those inside the vehicle will often sustain severe injury, especially if they are not wearing a seatbelt.
Examining statistics also illustrates a disturbing trend – that accidents without any point of impact are responsible for the second-most fatalities, after front-impact rollovers. An accident without any point of impact can include single-vehicle accidents – just like the crash on I-37, where no second car had any visible impact on the path the women’s SUV took. This indicates that in many instances, injuries and fatalities may claim lives even before the car stops (either of its own accord or by striking a barrier).
Look for Other Actors
While it can be easy to assume that single-vehicle accidents such as this one are always the fault of the driver, this is simply not always true. There are multiple reasons why such accidents happen that can be laid at the door of another person – for example, a second car may swerve or do something that requires evasive action from your car, without ever actually hitting you. Another reason for single-vehicle accidents happening is a sudden pothole or other road hazard that had been previously invisible or unmarked.
Whatever the reason, it is important to note that if you do decide to bring suit against someone for causing your single-vehicle accident, you must be confident that you were not responsible for more than 50 percent of your injuries. Texas has a law dealing with what is called comparative fault, which states that if you are held responsible for more than 50 percent of your injuries by a jury, you may not recover. In other words, a case with little substantial evidence of negligence is not generally a good bet to take before a judge or jury.
Contact Our Accident Attorneys Today
While the family of the unfortunate SUV driver may not have relief, there may be relief for you if you have been involved in a single-vehicle accident that was caused by the negligence of another. If you have questions, it can be of great help to contact an attorney, and the passionate New Braunfels auto accident lawyers at the Bettersworth Law Firm are happy to try and assist you with your case. Call us today to set up an initial appointment.
Sources:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/passenger-vehicles#Rollover
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2018/02/17/woman-dies-after-crash-on-i-37
