I’m Ed Smith, a Novato car accident lawyer. A motor vehicle accident in Novato on July 12 resulted in a rollover. The accident apparently involved only one vehicle. No information is available on the number of occupants in the vehicle or injuries.
What Happened
The accident occurred around 11:00 in the morning when a Dodge van went off the road for unknown reasons on Redwood Boulevard and ended up rolling over onto its side. The Novato Police Department and fire department responded to the accident scene. Redwood Boulevard was closed for about an hour between Vallejo and Grant Avenues.
Rollovers
Rollover accidents can be particularly violent because individuals inside the vehicle may strike against the vehicle’s inside multiple times before the vehicle comes to a rest. Rollovers frequently result in serious head and brain injuries or other catastrophic injuries and are a major reason an accident victim is thrown from the vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, certain types of vehicles are more prone to rollovers than others. These include SUVs, vans, pickups and others that have a higher center of gravity. In addition, some vehicles are more likely to have a crushed roof in a rollover.
Common Reasons for Rollover Accidents
In rollovers that resulted in fatalities, 40 percent of the drivers were speeding, and 75 percent of the fatalities occurred when the vehicle was in a zone restricted to 55 mph. In almost half of the fatalities caused by rollovers, drunk driving was a factor. Rural roads show a much higher percentage of rollovers than other types of roads.
Incidence of Single Vehicle Crashes and Rollovers
Data from the NHTSA shows that single vehicle accidents are the reason for almost 85 percent of rollover fatalities. This suggests that driver error is the reason for most of the accidents of this type. In addition, simply routine driving in 90 percent of the accidents resulted in fatalities.
However, there are reasons for motor vehicle rollovers that are caused by negligence. One is when a vehicle defect causes a crash. This may be a manufacturer defect, negligence by a mechanic when doing repairs or faulty parts such as tires or brakes. Government liability may apply when the road is in poor repair. In addition, sometimes a rollover may be caused by another vehicle that passes too closely, causing the driver to have to move over to avoid a collision. When someone is injured and believes that their rollover accident was caused by negligence, they may wish to contact a personal injury lawyer for advice.
Decreasing the Chance of a Rollover
There are things drivers can do to decrease their chances of a rollover.
- Drive a vehicle with the most modern safety equipment such as side air bags.
- Obey traffic laws, particularly speed limits.
- Exercise caution when going around a sharp curve.
- Wear seat belts at all times.
- Ensure that tires are in good condition and properly inflated.
- Be cautious when packing loads inside a vehicle. Try to place heavy loads near the middle of the vehicle and on the bottom. Avoid placing heavy loads on the roof of the vehicle.
- Avoid overloading as this decreases the stability of the vehicle.
How Liability Is Established in a Roof Crush
Manufacturers have the responsibility to design and build vehicles with good body integrity. However, proving that a crushed roof caused an injury is both time-consuming and requires an injury lawyer who is experienced in the types of traumatic injuries caused by a rollover and crushed roof.
Attorney Ed Smith
Novato Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith and I’m a Novato car accident lawyer. When you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by negligence, please phone me at (415) 521-2515 or at our toll-free number (800) 404-5400. I offer free and friendly advice.
As a member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum, I belong to a group of trial attorneys who have garnered seven figures or higher in verdicts or settlements for earlier clients.
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