Atlanta Rollover Accident Lawyers
With the possible exception of head-on collisions, rollover accidents are the deadliest and most dangerous type of car accident that can occur. Rollovers might happen in only three percent of car accidents, but they account for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities. A rollover accident is not only potentially deadly to the car’s occupants, but a rolling vehicle also poses a tremendous danger to other vehicles on the road.
Cars are built for safety and stability, and rollover accidents don’t just happen for no reason. Rollovers most often occur because someone was negligent, whether it be the driver of the rolling vehicle, another driver, the vehicle manufacturer, or the government agency responsible for designing, building and maintaining the road.
Rollover accidents are complex, complicated events, and figuring out who is responsible and gathering the evidence needed to hold them accountable requires knowledge, skill, dedication, and experience in building and presenting car accident negligence cases. At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, our Atlanta rollover accident lawyers have a reputation and a record for success recovering large verdicts for victims of the most devastating accidents. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a metro Atlanta rollover accident, or if you are a lawyer needing help with a difficult case, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell for a free consultation to find out how we can help you.
Causes of Rollover Accidents in Metro Atlanta
Pickup trucks, vans and SUVs are notorious for rolling over, and they are in fact often more prone to roll over than the average passenger sedan. Taller vehicles have a naturally higher center of gravity; when placed on a chassis with a narrow wheelbase, the likelihood of a rollover increases. That said, rollover accidents can happen to any vehicle, and many modern SUVs are more stable than their predecessors. Still, vehicles might be defectively designed so that they roll over more easily than they should and are not considered “crashworthy.” Also, manufacturers might install, or retailers might sell, the wrong tires for a vehicle that grip the road too tightly, building up lateral forces that lead to a rollover. Manufacturers who fail to use strong materials or reinforce the roofs of vehicles might also build cars with roofs that crush too easily in the event of a rollover.
Speed is a factor in most rollover accidents as well. A speeding car involved in a crash is more likely to roll over than a car going under 55 mph. Also, taking a sharp turn or curve too fast can shift the vehicle’s center of gravity to one side, initiating an otherwise preventable rollover.
The road surface also often plays a role in rollover accidents. Rollovers are more likely on wet or icy roads, and drivers who fail to adjust their driving to current road conditions can be held liable for their negligence. Cars that encounter potholes or other trips in the road, such as sand or loose gravel from a construction zone or veering onto the shoulder, can find themselves in a rollover as well.
Another cause of rollover accidents involves the driver jerking the wheel to avoid a slowed or stopped car or object in the road, or overcorrecting after drifting out of the lane. This maneuver can cause the vehicle to start swinging like a pendulum more and more until the car finally rolls over. Drunk, drowsy, distracted or inexperienced drivers are the ones most likely to make this tragic driving error.
Semi-Truck Rollover Accidents
Tractor-trailer accidents don’t usually cause a great deal of harm to the truck driver, but rollovers are an exception. Over half of fatal truck driver accidents are rollovers. A rolling 18-wheeler can also cause major damage to multiple vehicles on the road as well. The leading causes of semi-truck rollover accidents in Atlanta include:
- Driver error – Failing to adapt to the prevailing road conditions and traffic patterns because of negligent, fatigued or distracted driving can cause a rollover. Oversteering or understeering and overcorrecting onto a soft shoulder can also cause the driver to lose control of the truck or cause the tractor and trailer to decouple, leaving the trailer to roll over. Taking a turn or curve too fast can cause rearward amplification (aka “crack the whip”) where the tractor turns but the trailer continues straight, leading to a roll.
- Cargo loading mistakes – If a trailer is loaded too high, its center of gravity is increased, raising the probability of the truck rolling over. Improperly secured loads can also become unbalanced during transit, shifting the center of gravity and causing a loss of driver control, leading to a rollover.
Tractor-trailer rollover accidents can be the fault of the truck driver, the trucking company, or a third-party freight loader, among others. Semi-truck rollover crashes are complex events, often with multiple casualties, and identifying the cause of the wreck and the responsible parties can be challenging. Skilled and experienced truck accident attorneys will understand the proper steps to take to bring the negligent parties to justice and recover significant compensation for the injury victims.
Dedicated Representation from a Atlanta Rollover Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a rollover accident in metro Atlanta, or if you lost a loved one in a devastating crash, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell at 404-593-0020 for a free consultation. We take on cases involving the most serious catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and we fight to secure significant compensation for our clients who were hurt because of another’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
