Rollover Crashes Create a Higher Risk of Death

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on May 3, 2012

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently found that the risk of death in rollover crashes is significantly higher than in any other type of crash, especially if vehicle occupants are not wearing their seat belts.

The study examined crash data for several consecutive years. It found that 33 percent of deaths in car accidents nationwide occur in rollover crashes. Sports utility vehicles, or SUVs, were most likely to roll over, followed by pickup trucks, minivans, and cars. Passengers in a rollover crash were over 10 times more likely to die than passengers in a crash that did not involve a rollover.

Risk factors that increased the chances of death in a rollover accident included younger drivers, a full load of passengers, failing to wear a seatbelt, and speeding. Alcohol use also played a large role in many rollover accidents. Rollovers were frequently caused by one driver attempting to pass another, only to realize a crash was imminent, overcorrecting, and rolling the vehicle or crashing into an embankment that flipped the vehicle. Finally, rollovers were more likely to occur on stretches of road where speeds were high and intersections were few or nonexistent, such as on interstate highways.

Rollovers can be caused by many factors, and serious injuries can result from a rollover accident. If you or a family member has been injured in a rollover crash, don’t hesitate to call an experienced Washington rollover accident attorney at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. Our number is (888) 228-3860. Call today for a free, confidential consultation.