Why Are Rollover Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
In a rollover truck accident, a truck flips onto its side or the top of the vehicle. In worst-case scenarios, a truck may complete one or more full rotations and leave a wake of destruction in its path.
Rollover truck accidents often result in catastrophic damage and life-threatening injuries, which makes holding drivers accountable for their negligence all the more important. For help pursuing the compensation you need, contact a Virginia rollover truck accident attorney with Whitestone Yong.
How Do Truck Rollover Accidents Occur?
Most rollover truck accidents happen because forces cause the truck to tip or “roll” over lengthwise. These forces may be the result of:
- Excessive speed – Truck drivers who speed are more likely to lose control and flip when slowing down, stopping, or navigating sharp curves.
- Impaired driving – Negligent truckers who are intoxicated, distracted, or drowsy increase their risk of making serious judgment errors that lead to rollovers.
- Driving errors – Unqualified or inexperienced drivers may commit serious driving errors, such as oversteering or following too closely, which contribute to rollovers.
- Improper cargo loading – If a cargo loading team leaves a trailer overweight or imbalanced, resulting cargo shifts could cause the truck to roll over in transit.
- Other drivers – If another driver behaves unpredictably, they could force a truck driver to take evasive action and roll the truck as a result.
- Defective truck parts – If a defective tire, steering system, or braking system fails on the road, it could lead to a loss of control and subsequent rollover accident.
What Makes Rollover Truck Accidents Uniquely Dangerous?
Any vehicle rollover can be catastrophic, but rollover truck accidents tend to be especially dangerous and deadly because of:
- Truck size – The relative size and height of a large truck make it more susceptible to rollover accidents and also more dangerous when rollovers occur. A tractor-trailer landing perpendicular to the road may collide with several other vehicles and obstruct multiple lanes of traffic.
- Truck weight – The massive weight of a big rig means more momentum when the truck rolls onto the road. This can significantly increase the severity of vehicle damage and injuries caused by the impact.
- Solid cargo – If a truck is filled with solid cargo such as hard goods or equipment, a rollover could cause the cargo to spill out of the trailer and onto the road. This can cause secondary accidents and road obstructions.
- Fluid cargo – If a truck is carrying fluid cargo, a spill caused by a rollover accident might leave roadways dangerously slick. If the spilled cargo is poisonous or flammable, it could even lead to toxic exposure or explosions.
Compensation Available in Rollover Truck Accident Claims
If you were injured in a rollover truck accident through no fault of your own, Virginia law gives you the right to demand money for your losses in a personal injury claim. In a successful claim, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills – Settlements cover the costs of any reasonable and necessary medical care to treat your accident-related injuries.
- Out-of-pocket expenses – Any incidental expenses you incur due to your injuries, such as costs of travel to and from medical appointments, can also be included.
- Vehicle repair costs – At-fault parties can be held responsible for the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it was damaged in the crash.
- Lost wages – Any impact to your take-home pay resulting from missed time at work while you recovered from your injuries can be calculated and included.
- Lost earning potential – If the crash lowered your long-term earning capacity, a settlement could make up the difference.
- Pain and suffering – Personal injury claims also compensate for the subjective costs of your physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional suffering related to your injuries.
To learn more about your legal rights and your right to seek compensation after a Virginia rollover truck accident, contact Whitestone Young for a free case review.
