SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) are extremely popular vehicles for individuals and families. Their size and adaptable inside space provide versatility for passengers and storage. Because SUVs are higher from the ground than other cars, they also provide drivers with a longer view of the road ahead. Heavy vehicles that stand up to rough weather and rugged terrain, SUVs are often the preferred vehicle for road trips and vacations. Despite all of these attractive qualities, SUVs have a major downside — their height makes them more susceptible to rollover accidents than other cars.
If you have been seriously injured in an SUV rollover, you are doubtless suffering financial as well as physical and emotional pain. Substantial compensation is available to help you and your family survive this trauma and Brian Cummings, the sharp lead attorney at Cummings Law in Nashville, knows precisely how to help you receive it.
Why Brian Cummings Is the Personal Injury Attorney for You
Beyond his comprehensive knowledge of personal injury law in Tennessee and throughout the country, Brian has a track record of success in winning substantial damages for his clients. Call him for a free consultation to determine whether you have a strong case for an SUV rollover lawsuit. He will not take your case unless he believes it will have a successful outcome and he will not charge you any attorneys’ fees until he wins you the compensation you deserve.
What Makes SUVs More Prone to Rollovers Than Other Cars
Vehicles that are taller and narrower than average, including trucks, van, and as well as SUVs, are more prone to tumbling/rolling over than are traditional cars. The fact that they are top-heavy and have a higher center of gravity makes them more liable to roll over when:
- Rounding a curve
- Speeding
- Suddenly changing direction
- Colliding with another vehicle or an obstacle in the road
This heightened susceptibility extends to reactions to slippery road surfaces, potholes, and soft shoulders as well.
The Dangers of an SUV Rollover
If you have been injured in an SUV rollover, you know all too well how catastrophic such an accident can be. According to Consumer Reports, although rollovers make up only about 3 percent of all serious crashes, they account for 30 percent of passenger fatalities. This means that when you consult with Cummings Law about an SUV rollover accident, you may not only be coming to us with a claim for personal injury but, in some especially tragic cases, with a claim for wrongful death. In either case, you will find us to be compassionate and responsive people as well as highly capable negotiators and litigators. We will fight aggressively to win you all the damages you are entitled to for:
- Medical and rehabilitative costs
- Lost income (present and future)
- Property damage
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Long-term disability
- Disfigurement
- Nursing care
Also, you can count on us to fight vigorously to obtain compensation for any other costs related to the injuries you sustained in the SUV accident, such as fees for psychological counseling or household chores you can no longer perform.
Types of SUV Rollover Accidents
There are four basic types of SUV rollover accidents:
- Ramp rollovers – when one or more tires travel up onto a ramp, curb, or other elevated surfaces, creating an imbalance
- Lateral force rollovers – when a speeding SUV is unable to navigate a sharp turn or curve because of its high center of gravity
- Side-slope rollovers – when an off-road SUV traveling on a sloping surface, becomes sufficiently unbalanced to topple over
- Sideways skid rollovers – when the rear tires of an SUV lose traction and fishtail, forcing the SUV to hit a curb or barrier and flip over, typically when roads are slippery
As your personal injury attorney, Brian Cummings will look into which type of accident has caused you harm to determine who the defendant of your lawsuit will be.
Who Is Responsible for the Accident?
To file a viable lawsuit on your behalf, we will have to determine who is responsible for your injuries. Though an SUV rollover might be “just an accident”, in many a person or entity (such as a car manufacturer) has been negligent. Our investigative team will look into the details of the police report, photographs of the accident site, interview witnesses, and bring in technical and/or medical experts to help us understand exactly what happened.
We may end up filing a lawsuit against the driver of the SUV in which you were a passenger, the driver of another vehicle that collided with you, the manufacturer of the SUV found to contain a defective part or even the town or county that failed to maintain the road surface properly.
When the Driver Is at Fault in an SUV Rollover Accident
Many SUV rollovers could be avoided by more careful driving. Government statistics show that excessive speed is a factor in approximately 40 percent of fatal rollovers. As we all know, other driving offenses also contribute to accidents and rollovers. We may be able to prove that the driver of the SUV or another driver involved in the crash was:
- Impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Driving while texting or otherwise distracted
- Driving recklessly (tailgating, lane changing, failing to obey traffic signals)
Recklessness on the part of a driver that contributed to the SUV rollover may make it possible for us to sue him or her for damages.
When the Manufacturer is at Fault
There have been multiple recalls of SUVs for mechanical defects which made them prone to rollovers. We will analyze all statistical data concerning the particular SUV involved in your accident and have mechanical experts examine the vehicle to determine whether it had flaws that made your accident and your injuries more likely, such as poorly manufactured tires, faulty seats, or airbags that failed to deploy. If so, we will leverage our extensive knowledge of product liability against the car manufacturer to make our lawsuit on your behalf a fair fight.
When Improper Road Maintenance Is Responsible
Tripped rollovers result from the collision of the SUV with an object, but that object need not have been another vehicle. In some cases, debris on the roadway, an inadequately cleaned or sanded slippery road surface, or a large pothole left unmarked and unrepaired is the underlying cause of the SUV rollover. In such a situation, we may be able to sue the government agency responsible for damages.
Contact Our Nashville SUV Rollover Attorney
Brian Cummings is here to help you after an SUV rollover. Don’t wait and worry about how you and your family will pay your bills while you recover. Instead, contact Cummings Law promptly and we will take care of all legal and insurance matters while you concentrate on healing.
