What is Considered a Low Impact Car Accident?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
What happens to your body in a rollover accident can have serious consequences. The abrupt and forceful nature of these accidents can result in life-changing, catastrophic injuries. From traumatic brain injuries to upper and lower body damage, the repercussions can be severe.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 7,640 fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants in rollover crashes in the U.S. in 2021. While rollover accidents only account for 2.2% of all motor vehicle crashes, they represent approximately 33% of the annual injury costs in the United States, amounting to around $40 billion.
With the help of an experienced rollover car accident attorney from Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., you can focus on your recovery while we work on building your case against the at-fault party.
What is a Rollover Accident?
A rollover accident is a type of crash where a vehicle tips onto its side during a collision. Loss of driver control, aggressive driving, or collisions with other vehicles often causes these accidents. Rollovers also occur when a vehicle veers off the roadway, increasing the risk of occupants being ejected from the vehicle and the chances of a fatality.
There are two types of rollover accidents:
- Tripped rollovers: These accidents occur as cars drive over roadway obstacles like curbs, causing them to tip and roll over.
- Untripped rollovers: The forces from the tires and the car’s center of gravity can cause it to roll over. If an SUV makes a sharp turn, it can tip due to the sudden shift.
What Happens to Your Body During a Rollover Crash?
A rollover accident can result in severe injuries such as broken bones, head and neck injuries, internal organ damage, and even the risk of being thrown out of the vehicle.
Understanding the specific bodily injuries that can occur in a rollover crash is essential for comprehending its overall impact and potential complications.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
When a vehicle rolls over, your head may strike against the interior surfaces or be hit by other cargo. This impact can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBI), ranging from concussions to severe TBIs such as contusions or hematomas when the brain tissue is bruised or bleeding internally.
TBIs can have long-term effects on cognitive function, memory, and coordination. They also lead to behavioral changes, emotional instability, and an increased risk of developing neurological disorders later in life.
Head and Neck Injuries
Rollover accidents pose a high risk of head and neck injuries. Whiplash is a common injury, occurring when the head is forcefully jerked back and forth, straining the neck’s soft tissues. This can lead to neck pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion.
Other injuries may include skull fractures, facial fractures, or injuries to the cervical spine, such as herniated discs or spinal cord damage. These injuries contribute to almost 50% of the harm caused by rollover accidents, resulting in physical and functional impairments.
Impact on the Chest, Shoulders, and Arms
The sudden impact of the accident may cause injuries to the chest, shoulders, and arms. Broken ribs are frequent and can result from the impact of the crash or compression of the chest. Collapsed lungs may occur when a broken rib punctures the lung, leading to difficulty breathing and potential complications.
Fractures of the clavicle, scapula, or humerus can occur in the shoulders, often causing pain and limited mobility. Injuries to the arms, such as fractures in the radius or ulna, can lead to functional impairment and the need for medical intervention.
Spinal Damage
A rollover accident can cause an abrupt impact to the spinal ligaments and vertebrae. This impact can cause the discs to herniate or rupture. If the accident’s impact damages the spinal cord, it can result in a spinal cord injury, which can cause partial or complete paralysis below the injury site. Spinal injuries account for approximately 10% of the total harm caused by rollover accidents.
Lower Body Injuries
In a rollover crash, the force exerted by the seat belt can cause seat belt syndrome, characterized by bruising and abdominal injuries. It can also cause pelvic fractures, excruciating pain, impaired mobility, and internal bleeding.
Hip injuries are another concern, ranging from bruising and sprains to dislocations or fractures of the hip joint. Similarly, leg fractures involving the femur, tibia, or fibula can happen, leading to restricted mobility and possible lifelong complications.
Burn Injuries
Contact with a hot engine part like the radiator during a rollover can cause severe burns. First and second-degree burns damage the skin’s surface. However, third-degree burns damage all layers of the skin and may affect the underlying subcutaneous tissue. These burns cause the skin to appear charred and leathery. Suffering serious fourth-degree burns to all layers of the skin, including muscle and bone, can result in nerve damage, tissue death, and permanent scarring.
Psychological Trauma
Surviving a traumatic incident like a car accident can trigger negative emotions. These feelings can negatively affect mental and physical health, resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Research has shown that PTSD can significantly impact your quality of life, leading to psychological, physical, and cognitive changes and increasing the risk of suicide.
Factors That Can Increase the Severity of Injuries in a Rollover Accident
The severity of your injuries can vary depending on factors such as the speed of the vehicle, the point of impact, the presence of safety restraints, and the vehicle’s structural integrity.
Several factors can affect the severity of injuries in a rollover accident, including the following:
Vehicle Roof Strength
The strength of a vehicle’s roof is a critical factor in rollover accidents. A sturdy roof can help distribute the forces generated during a rollover and reduce the chances of it crushing. If a vehicle’s roof is weak, it is more prone to collapse or deform upon impact, increasing the risk of severe injuries such as head and neck injuries for vehicle occupants.
Seatbelt Use
Wearing seatbelts keeps occupants securely restrained within the vehicle, preventing ejection and reducing the likelihood of impact with hard surfaces or being struck by other objects. When a vehicle rolls over, the centrifugal forces can be immense, leading to occupants being violently thrown from the vehicle.
People not wearing seatbelts are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. Over three out of four people ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.
Vehicle Type and Design
The type and design of a vehicle can impact the severity of injuries in a rollover accident. Certain vehicle types, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, have a higher center of gravity, making them more prone to rollovers. Research indicates that the proportion of untripped rollovers is twice as high as that of tripped rollovers, emphasizing the importance of active anti-rollover control measures to reduce rollover accidents and safeguard lives.
Speed of the Vehicle
The speed at which a vehicle travels directly impacts the severity of injuries in a crash. Higher speeds intensify the forces involved in a rollover, making the collision more violent and potentially life-threatening.
Approximately 40% of fatal rollovers are associated with excessive speed. According to NHTSA, almost three-quarters of fatal rollovers occur on rural roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher, often lacking barriers and proper safety measures.
Multiple Vehicle Involvement
Rollover accidents involving multiple vehicles result in more severe and complex consequences. The increased number of collisions and potential impacts intensify the forces experienced during the rollover, heightening the risk of injuries for all parties involved.
Determining liability and handling insurance claims can also become challenging, adding legal considerations and complexities to the aftermath of these accidents.
Can You Seek Compensation From the Driver Who Caused Your Rollover?
If you have experienced a severe rollover accident caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Understanding the different legal options available can ensure you receive the financial support you deserve.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Benefits
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits provide compensation for your medical expenses and lost income resulting from a rollover accident.
Under your PIP policy, you may be eligible for coverage for reasonable medical expenses, including ambulance services, emergency room care, surgeries, hospital stays, and visits to doctors and specialists.
PIP benefits can also compensate you for lost income for up to three years after the accident date if you have to take time off work to recover from your injury. You can receive a maximum of $20 daily for household replacement services. If you need assistance with daily living activities, a relative, acquaintance, or professional colleague can provide at-home care services, with a limit of 56 hours a week.
Third-Party Claims and Lawsuits
If you sustain severe injuries or permanent disfigurement, your PIP benefits may not fully cover all your medical bills and loss of wages. You can pursue additional compensation for damages beyond your PIP coverage by filing a third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
By filing a third-party claim or lawsuit, you can seek compensation for a range of losses, including:
- Medical expenses: This encompasses not only the immediate medical costs but also future medical expenses related to your injuries, such as ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, therapy, and equipment.
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity: If your injuries have resulted in missed work or have limited your ability to earn income in the future, you can seek compensation for these financial losses.
- Pain and suffering: Severe rollover injuries often lead to physical pain, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life. Compensation for pain and suffering aims to address the non-economic impact of the accident on your overall well-being.
- Emotional distress: Reliving the memory of an accident can cause you to experience PTSD. You may be eligible for compensation if you suffered emotional distress due to an accident caused by another’s negligence.
- Loss of consortium: Loss of consortium addresses the emotional and physical impact you are experiencing due to the physical injuries of your spouse. It includes the loss of society and companionship and the sexual relationship you share.
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement: Injuries that cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, such as burn injuries, can result in experiencing humiliation and indignity in public. You can receive compensation to address the pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life caused by these injuries.
How Can Expert Witnesses Help You Build a Strong Case?
Expert witnesses play a vital role in supporting your case when pursuing a third-party claim or lawsuit. They can provide objective opinions and testimonies to strengthen your argument regarding liability and the severity of your injuries. Their expertise lends credibility to your claim, increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C.’s senior partner, Eileen Kroll, is a registered nurse who can offer insight into your injuries. Eileen can work with expert medical witnesses to establish the impact of severe rollover injuries on your quality of life. With her unique expertise, she can demonstrate the long-term consequences of your injuries, including chronic pain and emotional trauma, to strengthen your case and support your pursuit of compensation.
Protect Your Rights After a Rollover Accident: Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you’ve experienced a rollover accident, the impact on your body can be severe and long-lasting. Seeking compensation and legal support is crucial in addressing the physical and financial consequences.
With Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. by your side, you can navigate the complexities of the legal process and pursue the compensation you deserve. Protect your rights and get the support you need to recover from what happens to your body in a rollover accident.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
