Maryland Vehicle Rollover Attorneys

All car accidents can frighten their victims, but a crash in which your vehicle rolls over can particularly traumatize you. As a car rolls over, your life can flash before for eyes—and for good reason, as rollovers are some of the most dangerous accidents that occur. In 2017, 557 traffic-related fatalities took place in Maryland, 28 in Charles County. More than 51,000 people suffered injuries statewide. Many of these crashes involved a vehicle that rolled over.

Rollover accidents may involve multiple vehicles or a single vehicle. Just because your car was the only one involved in an accident does not necessarily mean you don’t have important rights, however. No matter how your rollover crash happened, consult an experienced Maryland rollover car accident attorney to learn about your legal options.

Common Causes of Rollovers

Rollovers occur for many different reasons and several parties may contribute to them. First, while any vehicle can roll over, specific types of vehicles are especially prone to rolling over.

Any of the following may put you at a particularly high risk of a rollover crash:

• Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) – Many SUVs and Jeeps have high centers of gravity and narrow bases, which can increase the chances of a rollover. Auto manufacturers try to address this safety concern by installing roll bars or roll cages in many vehicles, which aim to prevent the roof from collapsing. Even with these features, vehicle occupants can still suffer injuries in rollovers.
• 15-passenger vans – Many high-profile crashes involve 15-passenger vans that rolled over, resulting in fatalities. These vans are long and extremely top-heavy, and some vans do not have the appropriate wheelbase for the added weight in the back of the vehicle. When a packed 15-passenger van rolls, many passengers do not have adequate access to seat belts or choose not to wear them. Without restraints, occupants can get thrown all around the van and into one another in a rollover.
• Commercial trucks and buses – Semi-trucks and buses are also tall, narrow vehicles that can easily tip over. When a truck rolls over, the cargo in the truck can often spill, which can cause other vehicles to crash. A bus that rolls creates similar concerns to a 15-passenger van that rolls, as bus passengers rarely wear seatbelts.

No matter what type of vehicle is involved, rollovers can occur when you least expect them. Causes of rollovers include:

• A distracted driver has to quickly swerve and loses control of the car
• A driver runs another car off the road and it rolls down an embankment
• A truck takes a turn too quickly and tips over
• A car hits a curb or a road hazard that trips one of the tires
• A tire blows out and throws the car or truck off balance

To know who you might hold liable for your losses, you will need to determine exactly what caused your vehicle to roll.