What is an SUV Rollover Accident?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 10,000 people are killed every year in rollover crashes. For those that do survive rollover crashes, their injuries are usually catastrophic or potentially deadly. While all motor vehicles have a risk of rolling over, certain passenger vehicles, specifically sports utility vehicles (SUVs), have the highest risk of rolling over. Rollover accidents can lead to vehicle occupants being ejected from the vehicle or the vehicle’s roof crushing them.
Vehicles can roll over for various reasons but typically happen due to tripping, which occurs when the vehicle’s tire hits a bump on the road, soft soil, or the curb, disrupting the vehicle’s forward motion and causing it to roll sideways or forward. Other common reasons for SUV rollover accidents include the design of the vehicle, defective tires, or dangerous roads.
For instance, the center of gravity of SUVs and vans are higher than standard vehicles and therefore have an increased risk of rolling over, especially if the design is defective. Likewise, weather conditions, poor road conditions, and other motorists’ negligent actions can raise the risk of SUV rollover accidents.
Claims Involving SUV Rollover Accidents
Whether you can pursue compensation in a lawsuit due to an SUV rollover accident would depend on what exactly caused the crash. For instance, if you believe that your SUV had a manufacturing or design defect or required specific warnings that the manufacturer failed to disclose, you may bring a claim based on product liability.
A common product defect that may lead to a rollover is a defective or malfunctioning tire, which can cause tripping. But tripping can also occur due to driving on a poorly maintained or repaired roadway. In this case, you may have a claim against the private entity or government agency responsible for the road maintenance because they failed to maintain the road and keep it safe for road users.
Premises liability claims can be complicated, but if the defendant is a government agency, you will need to act fast and navigate the complex rules of sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is basically a legal protection that makes it impossible to sue the state government and its agencies for compensatory damages in tort claims without their permission. This means that you will need to ask permission from the state before you can sue them and make sure that you complete all the requirements and paperwork so that you can move forward with your claim.
Consult with a Skilled Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Now
Claims arising from SUV rollover accidents, whether based on product liability, premises liability, or another driver’s negligence, can be difficult to navigate. To find out more about your legal options following an SUV rollover accident, you can discuss your case with the Tampa car accident lawyer of Matthews Injury Law as soon as possible.
Please call our office at 813-530-1000 or fill out our online contact form to set up a free case evaluation with our Tampa car accident lawyer now.