Any car accident can be dangerous, but those involving vehicle rollovers can prove particularly frightening. Though they occur in just three percent of serious auto accidents, rollovers account for nearly 30 percent of passenger vehicle deaths.
To help avoid a potentially devastating accident, vehicle rollover attorneys with Orlando’s Todd E. Copeland & Associates offer these tips:
- When shopping for a vehicle, choose wisely. Those with narrow bodies and high centers of gravity like SUVs, vans and pickup trucks are more prone to rollovers than are those with lower, wider bodies like sedans.
- When loading items like luggage on to a vehicle’s roof rack, distribute weight evenly and be mindful of stated weight limits. Know that any load placed on the roof will be above your vehicle’s center of gravity and thus, will increase the risk of a rollover.
- Keep your tires properly inflated and replace them when worn. Balding tires mean a lack of traction, particularly on wet roads where slides quickly cause rollovers.
- Curved, rural roads and highways are rollover hotspots. Stay alert, maintain a safe speed and take special care to avoid striking a ditch or embankment. Know that the narrower the road, the less room you’ll have to safely correct a driving error. Overcorrecting or excessive steering are top rollover risks.
- Never drive while sleepy, or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Also, eliminate distractions like cell phones or in-car entertainment systems and insist that passengers remain quiet and calm – especially excitable children and talkative teens.
- Always wear your seatbelt and insist that all passengers do the same. In the event of a rollover accident, those wearing seatbelts are 75 percent less likely to be killed in a rollover crash.
If you or a loved one are injured in a vehicle rollover or other auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, get medical attention immediately. Then, all 407-999-8995 to speak with an attorney who can help you secure fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
