Survivorship Rates in Rollover Automobile Accidents
The odds of surviving a rollover car accident depend on multiple factors specific to the accident, including whether:
- The people involved wore seat belts
- Any of the drivers were drunk
- There was more than one vehicle involved
- How fast the vehicles were traveling
Seat belts Save Lives in Rollover Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wearing seatbelts saves thousands of lives every year. They are especially important in rollover accidents, where as much as three-quarters of all fatalities failed to wear a seat belt.
A car rollover is an especially violent type of collision when the people inside the vehicle are thrown and knocked around in multiple directions. A seat belt keeps you firmly in place, thus minimizing your movements, keeping you from being thrown out of the car, and potentially saving your life.
Drunk Driving Increases Rollover Fatalities
Alcohol and other drugs have a negative impact on a driver’s ability to safely maneuver a vehicle. They might:
- React badly, slowly, or not at all to incoming danger
- Become angry or aggressive
- Engage in reckless behavior, like driving the wrong way
Drunk drivers make up a significant number of fatal accident drivers across the United States. In Florida, for instance, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reports that there were 389 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2022 out of a total of 3,493. That means nearly 12 percent of the state’s traffic fatalities involved alcohol.
Single-Vehicle Versus Multi-Vehicle Rollover Crashes
It only takes one vehicle to cause a rollover accident. Single-vehicle crashes can occur if the driver loses control due to:
- A slick spot on the road
- Alcohol impairment
- Faulty auto parts, like bad brakes
- Distraction (e.g., they were looking at the car radio or a cell phone)
- Drowsiness
Rollover accidents involving only one vehicle are more likely to lead to fatalities than are multi-vehicle rollover accidents. This implies that most—but not all—serious rollover accidents happen when a driver loses control for the reasons listed above rather than an external factor, like a hit from a separate vehicle.
Speed Matters in Car Rollovers
Your odds of surviving a car rollover accident also depend on how fast the car is moving at the time of the collision. Generally, if you are traveling at 55 miles per hour or faster, it is more likely that the rollover accident will be fatal, according to the NHTSA.
The reason for this relationship is obvious: the higher your rate of speed, the more force there will be behind the collision.
While you should not go below the speed limit on high-speed roads without reason, you can protect yourself by paying close attention to your surroundings as you drive. This will give you more time to react if danger appears.
What to Do After a Rollover Car Accident
Rollovers are among the deadliest type of miami car accidents lawyer you could be involved in. After such a collision, it is very important that you prioritize your health and safety by:
- Not moving until you have checked if you suffered any potentially life-threatening injuries
- Turning the engine off and removing the keys
- Calling (or having someone else call) 911 for medical and police assistance
- Getting away from the vehicle and waiting at the nearest possible safe place for the police and the ambulance to arrive
In the heat of the moment, it can be difficult to figure out what to do and how to react, and different situations may call for different procedures. Just do the best you can with the knowledge you have at the time.
Once help arrives, your reaction will again depend on your circumstances. If you are seriously hurt and in pain, go to the hospital. If you can wait to see your regular healthcare provider, stay on the scene and answer the police officer’s questions regarding:
- Your actions leading up to the rollover
- Your actions after the rollover
- The presence and actions of any other parties, including vehicles, pedestrians, and animals
Be careful what you say to the authorities, as the insurer can use any statements you make against you if you take legal action. For instance, if you say “I feel fine,” they may use this to assert that you emerged from the accident unscathed, even if a doctor later diagnoses you with an injury.
Short, factual answers work best with the police. Save your longer, more detailed responses for your doctor, who needs as much information as possible to treat you, and your Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney, who needs that information to build a strong case for you.
After a Rollover Car Accident, Call Us
You may have beaten the odds of surviving a rollover car accident, but now you face another battle: seeking compensation.
Contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato to learn more about how we can help you fight for compensation after a rollover car accident. You can reach us at (954) 633-8270. We also take wrongful death cases if your loved one did not survive the accident.
