If you have been the victim of a rollover crash in Huntsville, contact an experienced car accident lawyer from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., right away. Since 1966, our attorneys have worked tirelessly to protect the interests of injured accident victims involved in various accidents. We fight to recover full compensation for our clients. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully securing financial recovery for clients both at the negotiating table and in court.
When recovering from a devastating rollover accident in Huntsville, you need to know that you have a skilled legal team looking out for your best interests. Reach out to Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free initial case evaluation to discuss your options with one of our rollover accident attorneys.
What Is a Rollover Car Accident and Why Are They Dangerous?
A rollover car accident occurs when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof or tumbles or flips over several times. A rollover can happen in a collision with another car or a fixed object, after hitting a pothole or broken pavement, due to tire or brake failure, or when a driver swerves sharply.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), over a quarter of rollover crashes in one recent year occurred without the vehicle impacting another object beforehand.
Rollover accidents are often extremely severe. Passenger vehicles have less crash protection on their sides and the roof, meaning that occupants may absorb more of the impact force. When a car hits or lands on its top in a rollover accident, occupants can suffer serious spinal, neck, and head injuries. In some instances, car occupants can be ejected from the vehicle.
Causes of Rollover Crashes in Huntsville
Though many factors can trigger a rollover accident, some of the most common causes of these devastating crashes generally include at least one of the following:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving, including excessive speeding or swerving through traffic
- Unsafe lane changes, including failing to signal or check mirrors, or cutting off traffic
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failure to keep the lane
- Road departure
- Overcorrecting or turning the wheel too sharply
- Striking a fixed object, such as a curb or guardrail
- Poor road conditions, including potholes or debris in the roadway
- Unsafe road designs, such as excessive grades or steeply banked curved
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance, including failing to replace worn tires and brakes
- Car or auto part defects, including trucks and SUVs with high centers of gravity
- Loading excessive or oversized cargo on the top of the car
Common Injuries from Rollover Accidents in Huntsville
Because of the inherently violent nature of rollover accidents, they can tragically lead to life-altering physical injuries, such as:
- Lacerations and scarring
- Burns from post-crash vehicle fires
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Muscle and tendon strains and tears
- Herniated disc injuries
- Whiplash
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Traumatic amputation
Sadly, many individuals do not come away from rollover accidents with their lives. The IIHS reported that in a recent year, 28 percent of all traffic deaths involved a rollover crash.
Potential Compensation from Injuries Due to a Rollover Crash
If you have been hurt in a rollover crash that occurred because of someone else’s negligence, you may have the option to recover compensation for losses you incur due to your injuries. At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our Huntsville, AL rollover accident lawyers are ready to work tirelessly to seek financial recovery for your losses, including:
- Expenses for medical care and rehabilitation of injuries
- Costs of long-term care to help you with permanent disabilities that may result from your injuries
- Loss of wages or income if you can’t work after a rollover accident
- Loss of future earnings and employment benefits if you can’t return to gainful employment because of a permanent impairment
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional trauma and distress due to your ordeal
- Lost enjoyment and quality of life caused by disabilities or permanent, visible scarring and disfigurement
- Repairs to your car or reimbursement for its value if it was totaled in the accident
How You Prove Liability for a Rollover Accident in Huntsville
To prove another party is liable for the rollover accident that injured you, you will need to rely on evidence from the accident and any subsequent investigation, such as:
- Accident scene photos and video
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Police accident reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Logs from vehicle event data recorders
- Post-crash vehicle inspection reports
- Accident reconstruction expert reports
- Road maintenance records
- Vehicle maintenance records
Sometimes it’s not visibly apparent how another motorist is at fault in a rollover crash. In some cases, the other driver may not have damage to their car, and in other cases, they may not even stop.
While a negligent driver may cause a rollover accident, many rollovers are instead caused by some problem with the vehicle that rolls over, such as poor design or manufacturing defects that cause a driver to lose control. Our skilled rollover accident attorney can investigate all parties who may have been liable for your crash.
Statute of Limitations in Alabama Rollover Accident Cases
Under Alabama’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, you typically have two years from the date of a rollover accident to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for causing the accident. However, depending on your circumstances and the facts of your case, you may have more or less time to file suit. A rollover accident lawyer from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can advise you on the particular timeframe of your claim.
If you file suit after the statute of limitations has expired, the court will most likely dismiss your case for being untimely, and you would lose your opportunity to recover compensation.
Contact Us Now for Experienced Help from Our Car Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in a rollover crash through no fault of your own, you deserve to seek compensation for your accident-related injuries and expenses. Our legal team at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is proud of our long-standing reputation for excellence and our dedication to injury victims.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about how our experienced car accident lawyers can help you following a rollover accident.
