Few accidents are more serious and dangerous than SUV rollover accidents. SUVs have a higher center of gravity, making them more likely to roll over when involved in collisions. When an SUV, van, or truck is in a collision, it may roll over, resulting in the roof being crushed, which can cause devastating injuries or death.
If you or your loved one has been involved in a Little Rock, Arkansas SUV rollover accident, it’s crucial that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Victims and their family members can suffer substantial financial damages and pain and suffering. Attorney Tim Reed of the Reed Firm is here to help you pursue the total and fair compensation you need and deserve for your injuries. Contact the Reed Firm today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Types of SUV Rollover Accidents We Handle
SUV rollover accidents are usually classified into “tripped” or “untripped” rollovers. Tripped rollovers happen when an external force causes the vehicle to flip over. For example, this often happens when the vehicle hits an object like a guardrail. The object will trip the car, and the vehicle will roll over.
Untripped rollovers often occur when a driver attempts to avoid a high-speed collision with another vehicle or object. In these types of accidents, a driver may swerve quickly to avoid another crash, or an obstacle in the road, then swerve too quickly back in the other direction, causing the vehicle to rollover. Other causes of SUV rollover accidents include:
- Aggressive driving
- A vehicle that is loaded too heavily
- Defective vehicle designs
- Poorly manufactured vehicles
Top-heavy vehicles like SUVs may be more likely to roll over because of the sudden change in direction. As with other types of motor vehicle collisions, rollover accidents are often caused by one or more drivers’ negligence and failure to pay attention to the road. Whatever the cause of your rollover accident, the Reed Firm can provide you with skilled and effective legal representation.
Injuries Caused By Rollover Accidents
SUV rollover accidents can cause severe injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal organ injuries, and fatalities. Head and back injuries are common in vehicle rollover accidents because the roof can crush the occupants. When drivers and passengers aren’t properly restrained with seat belts, or the belts malfunction, they can be ejected from the vehicle. The force of the landing can cause additional injuries. In other cases, the vehicle may roll over onto passengers after ejection, causing severe injuries and death. Injuries can also occur if there is an explosion or fire after the rollover accident.
SUV Rollover Accidents and Product Liability Law
During the 1990s, thousands of people died from SUV rollover accidents. Many of these accidents were caused by SUVs’ high centers of gravity. SUV manufacturers started producing vehicles with lower centers of gravity and have been held to more stringent crashworthiness standards to counteract the dangers of rollover accidents. Nonetheless, older SUV models are still on the road and could be more likely to roll over.
If you suspect a poorly designed SUV caused your rollover accident, you may have a right to pursue compensation from the SUV manufacturer. Product manufacturers can be held liable for injuries caused by their defectively designed products. If you can show defects in the design of the SUV, you may be able to hold the manufacturer accountable for your financial damages through a legal theory called strict liability.
Obtaining Compensation Through a Personal Injury Lawsuit
In Arkansas, personal injury victims who are injured because of another driver’s negligence have the right to pursue compensation through a civil lawsuit. You will need to prove that the at-fault party failed to use reasonable care, causing the rollover accident that resulted in your injuries. You will also need to prove the nature and extent of the injuries caused in the accident.
Depending on the facts, there may be more than one liable party. For example, if a trucking company negligently hires an unqualified truck driver, and that driver causes an accident and your injuries, then you may be able to bring a claim against both the employer and the truck driver. Attorney Tim Reed has the experience and resources to thoroughly investigate your case to determine every party that might be held accountable for your injuries.
Damages Available in an SUV Rollover Accident
Victims of SUV rollover accidents have a right to pursue economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the easily quantifiable damages resulting from a car accident, such as past and future medical expenses, property damage, and loss of income. Non-economic damages include the pain and suffering you’ve endured from the accident. If your loved one has died in an auto accident in Arkansas, you may have a right to pursue compensation for funeral expenses, your loved one’s loss of income, and pain and suffering through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact Our SUV Rollover Attorneys
If you live in Arkansas and you’ve been injured in an SUV rollover accident, you’ll benefit from hiring a personal injury attorney. Attorney Tim Reed has extensive experience representing victims who’ve been injured in a wide range of personal injury accidents, including SUV rollovers. He will give your case the attention it deserves and aggressively advocate for you throughout the entire process. Contact the Reed Firm today to schedule a free case evaluation.