How and where do rollovers commonly happen?

There are few vehicle accidents more frightening than a rollover.

Although they do not occur as often as other types of roadway accidents, they can result in catastrophic injury or death. Where and how do rollovers happen?

Complexity

Any kind of vehicle can roll over, but those that are taller and narrower are most at risk. These include SUVs, vans and pickup trucks since they have a high center of gravity. Analyzing the cause of a rollover crash is normally a complex undertaking. There are various factors to consider: driver performance or behavior, environmental issues and roadway conditions.

Causes

While driver behavior, such as speeding or excessive alcohol consumption could contribute to a rollover, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration cites tripping as a major cause. Tripping occurs when one side of the vehicle rides up on something such as a curb or guardrail or when a paved road surface abruptly ends. NHTSA data shows that routine driving maneuvers contribute to more than 90% of all fatal rollovers and roughly three-quarters of these crashes occur on rural roads where the speed limit is 55 or greater. Un-tripped rollovers, though less common, often happen when the driver makes an abrupt maneuver in trying to avoid a high-speed collision.

Consequences

Rollover survivors may face extensive, even lifelong health issues. They have a right to expect full and fair compensation to cover their current and future medical expenses and more. Multiple parties may be liable. Examples include the manufacturer of a vehicle with a component that failed or a county that did not rectify a road hazard. Advocates for the injured victim may call on outside specialists to help identify the cause of the rollover and pave the way to just compensation.