Rollover Crashes: Preventing Them and Minimizing the Risk of Injury

A rollover accident just before midnight on September 2 sent a Long Island man to the hospital with critical injuries. The 51-year-old man was traveling on Interstate 84 in his Toyota 4Runner when the vehicle left the road, struck a piece of construction equipment and flipped over. It took first responders a half-hour to remove the victim from his vehicle.

Rollover crashes are among the most dangerous of auto accidents. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 33 percent of traffic fatalities in 2004 occurred in rollovers. Sometimes these accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers or government entities charged with maintaining the roads.

Although preventing another person’s negligence is difficult, there are some measures you can take to reduce your risk of both accidents and injuries related to rollover crashes:

• Be aware of your vehicle’s inherent level of risk: Some vehicles, such as trucks, vans or SUVs, are more susceptible to rollover because of their heightened center of gravity.
• Demonstrate awareness of road and environmental conditions: Rural roads, due to their higher speed limits, lack of shoulder space, twists and turns and lack of medians, are frequent sites of rollovers. Drive slower and more cautiously on such routes.
• Make sure your vehicle is well equipped: Owners of cars at higher risk in rollover crashes should ensure that their vehicles come equipped with heightened safety features, such as side airbags, a strong roof and electronic stability control.
• Wear your seatbelt: This is a no-brainer — people ejected from vehicles during rollover crashes account for a majority of fatalities in these accidents.

If you have been injured in a rollover crash, particularly if you believe the crash was due to the negligence of another party, contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP. You may need to seek compensation from other motorists, vehicle manufacturers and other parties. We serve clients in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and throughout Long Island, NY.