Helping Victims of Vehicle Rollovers and Roof Crushes Get Full and Fair Compensation for Injuries

Some vehicles roll over by design

It is a fact of physics that SUVs, pickup trucks and 15-passenger vans are the most likely to be involved in a rollover accident. Their very design dictates that a combination of speed, steering, and a narrow track width relative to the high center of gravity can cause them to become unstable as they slip sideways. Unable to recover, they simply tip over.

Unfortunately, the injuries associated with rollover cases are anything but simple. The violent nature of a rollover accident often leaves victims with severe head wounds, traumatic brain injuries and thoracic damage. To add insult to injury, the insurance companies try to minimize compensation through comparative negligence — asserting that you were at least partially to blame for your accident. As Boston personal injury attorneys at Swartz & Lynch LLP, we fight for the rights of people throughout Massachusetts who were injured as a result of products liability. Our goal is the maximum recovery of damages for you —and all of our clients.

Tripped and untripped rollovers

An untripped rollover generally occurs when a top-heavy vehicle swerves to avoid an accident. The sudden maneuver causes a top-heavy vehicle to flip, given its high center of gravity. Far more common, however, is the tripped rollover accident in which the truck, sports utility vehicle, pickup truck, van or, under certain circumstances, even a standard automobile, hits a guardrail, snowbank or soft soil. The tripping force on the tires causes the vehicle to roll over.

Tripped rollover accidents account for 95 percent of all rollover accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Why rollover accidents are so dangerous

A study by the NHTSA shows that while in a 10-year period the number of people killed in crashes remained relatively stable, there was a noticeable increase in the number of rollover accidents and fatalities, particularly within the category of light trucks, which includes SUVs and vans. Moreover, the study concludes that:

• A rollover crash is more likely to result in fatality than other traffic crashes.
• Approximately 20 percent of fatal crashes are the result of rollover crashes.
• Most of fatal rollover accidents involve a single vehicle.

One of the most devastating effects of a rollover accident is when a roof becomes crushed. When a vehicle rolls over, the roof can buckle, causing serious head and neck damage to those inside the vehicle. A weak roof is the most likely to crush — leading to the most catastrophic injuries. Manufacturing defects — such as flaws leading to seat belt, air bag or seatback failure — mean that automotive companies or the manufacturers of defective vehicle components may be liable for your injuries.

Whether your rollover accident was the result of poor design or manufacturing defects — or both — our lawyers thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to pursue every avenue of compensation for you. We fight to make sure that the compensation you deserve is the compensation you receive.

Contact an AV®-rated Boston attorney to learn more about how we can help you recover damages

Let Swartz & Lynch LLP assist you with getting the compensation you need and deserve for a rollover accident. To schedule a free consultation, please contact a Boston injury attorney online or call us at 857-250-0664. Our office is located in the historic Old City Hall, convenient to the Blue, Green and Red Lines. For your convenience, we can also arrange home or hospital visits if you are unable to travel.