Learn more about why rollover truck accidents and what you can do about them
Truck accidents involving pickup trucks and tractor trailers in Ohio have long been among the most serious motor vehicle accidents. And among pickup truck and tractor trailer accidents, rollover truck accidents often result in very severe truck accidents.
Why do rollover truck accidents happen? What are the common causes of rollover truck accidents? And what are common rollover accident injuries? These are just some of the questions you can find answers to in this article written by an experienced, Ohio truck accident lawyer – Scott Elliot Smith.
How common are rollover truck accidents in Ohio?
Rollover accidents are among the most common and most serious motor vehicle accidents nationwide. Specifically, rollover accidents account for approximately 30 percent of motor vehicle accidents, according to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Many fatal rollover accidents involve passenger vehicles, especially pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). However, rollover accidents involving tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are also fairly common. And when these accidents, they often result in multiple vehicle accidents.
As far as Ohio, fatal truck accidents involving large, commercial trucks resulted in 158 fatal accidents in 2017 or 3.4 percent out of all fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2017, according to the latest NHTSA truck accident fatality statistics.
Why do rollover truck accidents happen?
- Speeding truck driver loses control of truck, which tips over and rolls over at high speed.
- Truck drivers driving too fast for weather conditions.
- Truck driver fails to slow down for many reasons before rollover accident, including:
- Distracted driving
- Inexperience
- Asleep at the wheel
- Tire blowout and other mechanical problems with truck
Is this how your rollover truck accident happened? Or did your rollover truck accident happen for another reason? Whatever the cause of your crash, it’s important to take your accident seriously right from the start and talk with an experienced, Ohio rollover accident attorney.
What are common injuries caused by rollover truck accidents?
Because of the serious nature of many rollover truck accidents, many of them result in very serious injuries. Such injuries often include:
- Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Neck injuries, including neck sprains and broken neck bones.
- Back injuries, including spinal cord injuries.
- Broken bones, including broken arms and broken legs.
Depending on the severity of your injury, the physical toll can be staggering. So can the financial toll as well. If you need surgery, follow-up medical care and cannot work for several days or weeks or even longer during your recover, the financial impact of your rollover truck accident injury can easily add up to thousands or perhaps even millions of dollars, especially if you sustain a permanent disability in your rollover truck accident.
What should I do if I’m involved in a rollover truck accident in Ohio?
It’s important to take several steps right away after your rollover truck accident to protect your rights. Such steps include:
- Contact the police – Ask them to respond to your rollover truck accident.
- Seek medical attention – Ask the police to send an ambulance to evaluate you if you believe you or anyone else was injured in the accident.
- Talk to witnesses – If someone saw your rollover accident, make sure you get their full name, phone number and address. Witness testimony can be a critical piece of evidence.
- Take photographs – A picture of your truck accident be a valuable piece of evidence. If possible, get photographs of:
- Damage to your vehicle.
- Damage to truck.
- Skid marks (or lack of them) on the road.
- Entire accident scene itself if possible.
- Gather personal data – If you are not seriously injured, obtain the following information from the driver who caused your rollover accident:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Insurance information
- Trucking company information – If the truck driver works for a trucking company, make sure to get the following information:
- Trucking company’s name
- Trucking company’s address
- Trucking company’s phone number
- Keep comments brief – When talking with the truck driver, you might be tempted to talk about the accident. Don’t do so. Anything you say could later be used to deny your truck accident claim.
- Contact a lawyer – The sooner you talk to an attorney, the better. That way, you can learn more about your legal options and which strategy makes the most sense for your specific circumstances.
Learn more about your legal rights from a Columbus, OH truck accident attorney you can trust. Contact our law firm and scheduled your free case evaluation right away. Smith Law Office wants to help you.
