A rollover accident is often a devastating car crash that results in catastrophic injuries and immense damages – not only for the passengers of the vehicle that rolled, but for others on the road, as well. If you get involved in a rollover accident in Wilmington, North Carolina, an experienced truck accident lawyer in Wilmington, NC can help you seek fair compensation for your injuries. Schedule your free consultation today.
What Causes Vehicle Rollovers?
Motor vehicle rollovers can occur when one car strikes another and pushes it with enough force to make it flip or roll. This is especially common in T-bone or side-impact crashes, as well as high-speed head-on collisions.
However, rollovers can also be single-vehicle accidents. These accidents may occur if a tire “trips” on a pothole or road defect and the car flips, or if the car has a defective design with a too-high center of gravity. Tire blowouts, uneven pavement, sharp curves and loose gravel can also contribute to vehicle rollovers.
Truck Rollover Accidents
Large commercial trucks are designed in a way that increases their risk of rollovers. Due to their large size and weight, they are also some of the most dangerous vehicles when it comes to rollover accidents. An 18-wheeler can crush smaller cars beneath it if the trailer tips over or the truck rolls, often causing catastrophic multi-vehicle pileups.
Semi-trailers are more likely to roll over when they are carrying cargo that is not properly balanced or secured. An off-balance truck may be more top-heavy and likely to roll, especially on wet pavement or when taking curves. Cargo that shifts in transit could throw a truck off-balance and cause a disastrous rollover.
Common Injuries From Rollover Accidents
Vehicle rollover accidents can be extremely physically and emotionally traumatic. In addition to causing substantial property damage and a totaled vehicle, rollovers may result in injuries such as:
- Multiple broken bones
- Muscle and soft-tissue injuries
- Lacerations and scarring
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Permanent paralysis or nerve damage
- Losses of limbs (traumatic amputations)
- Wrongful death
Life-threatening injuries can arise from rollover complications such as ejections, pinned limbs, roof crush injuries and rotational forces. It is critical to understand the true value of your rollover injury case before accepting an insurance settlement.
Damages Recoverable From a Rollover Accident in Wilmington
In North Carolina, the individual or party responsible for causing a rollover crash can be held liable, or financially accountable. It is possible to bring a claim against another driver’s car insurance company in pursuit of financial damages. However, before you can receive benefits, you must prove fault or negligence.
Negligence means the defendant failed to act with proper care, and this resulted in the rollover crash. Common defendants in rollover cases in Wilmington include drivers, product manufacturers, vehicle maintenance teams, trucking companies, employers and government agencies.
How a Rollover Accident Attorney in Wilmington, NC Can Help
You need an experienced and resourceful motor vehicle accident attorney in Wilmington, NC on your side to hold one or more parties liable for a severe rollover accident in Wilmington. Vehicle rollovers can inflict life-changing injuries. Liability can be difficult to establish, especially after a single-vehicle accident.
Our attorneys at Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP can help you seek justice and maximum compensation using smart and personalized legal strategies. Your lawyer can investigate the rollover, hire experts and crash reconstructionists to testify, and handle claim negotiations for you to achieve a fair case outcome.
To discuss a specific rollover accident in Wilmington with a knowledgeable attorney, contact Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP, for a free consultation.