Though injuries of varying severity are always possible in traffic accidents of any type, truck rollover accidents present a particularly high risk of devastating, life-altering, and even fatal injuries. For anyone who becomes a victim of a truck rollover accident, finding the right help and guidance through the legal process of pursuing compensation is invaluable.
If you have suffered an injury in a truck rollover accident caused by another party, you have the right to take legal action to seek fair financial compensation to offset the burden you have been left to carry due to medical costs, lost earnings, property damage, and other expenses. Continue reading below to learn more about truck rollover accidents, and contact an experienced Nebraska truck accident lawyer to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
What Is a Truck Rollover Accident?
A truck rollover accident happens when a commercial truck loses its stability and falls over onto its side or roof, in some cases multiple times over. Truck rollover accidents are particularly hazardous due to the size and weight of large commercial trucks and often result in devastating injuries and damage. Truck rollover accidents can happen suddenly due to a wide range of circumstances. Though these accidents may not be as common as other types of traffic collisions, the aftermath is often far more severe. Understanding the characteristics of truck rollover accidents and the different types of rollover accidents that occur is important when considering taking legal action.
Common Characteristics of Truck Rollover Accidents
Though truck rollover accidents can come in different types and result from varying circumstances, they often share distinct characteristics. Some of the common earmarks of truck rollover accidents include:
- High Center of Gravity
- Massive Force of Impact
- Extended Stopping Distance
- Wide Range of Triggers
Regardless of the specifics of the accident that caused your injuries, your claim will benefit from gathering as many details as possible regarding the circumstances of your accident, how it was caused, who was at fault, and the injuries that resulted from it. Working with a skilled truck accident lawyer will give you an opportunity to build a strong case as you lay the foundation to seek compensation.
Types of Rollover Accidents
While every accident is unique, truck rollover accidents often fall into one of two categories, with each type having its own range of causes and aftermaths. Generally speaking, truck rollover accidents can be classified as:
- Tripped Rollovers: Accidents that happen when external objects — such as curbs, rails, obstacles, or debris — in the path of a vehicle affect its stability.
- Untripped Rollovers: Accidents that occur without external influences, often due to the truck itself, such as excessive speed, sharp turns, or imbalanced cargo loads.
Your truck accident attorney will look into the details of your accident to determine how it happened so that you can move closer to identifying which party (or parties) may have been at fault.
Common Causes of Truck Rollover Accidents
Traffic accidents can result from various factors, and truck rollover accidents are no exception. Any situation that causes a large truck to lose its stability or balance can potentially lead to a rollover accident. Such accidents can often happen without warning, leaving other motorists with little to no time to react. Despite the unique aspects of every accident, certain patterns can be discerned that can provide insight into some of the more common causes of truck rollover accidents, including driver-related factors, vehicle-related factors, and environmental factors. Understanding these different classifications of causes can help you and your lawyer narrow down the list of potential at-fault parties.
Driver-Related Factors
Many truck rollover accidents occur due to behaviors exhibited by the drivers of the vehicles. Certain actions and behaviors can compromise roadway safety and put people in harm’s way. Some of the common driver-related causes of truck rollover accidents include:
- Fatigue: Spending long hours behind the wheel can cause drowsiness and slowed reaction times.
- Speeding: Moving at a rate of speed beyond the legal limit or taking sharp turns too quickly can increase the risk of a rollover accident.
- Distracted Driving: Texting, eating, and doing other things while operating a truck can leave a driver unfocused and prone to causing an accident.
- Impaired Driving: Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other substances can affect a driver’s coordination and ability to make safe decisions.
- Inexperience: Improper training and lack of knowledge can cause a truck driver to be prone to making serious mistakes.
A truck driver’s negligence can significantly increase the overall risk of an accident, which can cause catastrophic damage to anyone involved. Your truck accident attorney will investigate your accident in detail to determine if the truck’s driver acted improperly and caused the accident and your injuries.
Vehicle-Related Factors
Issues with the truck itself — due to mechanical defects or improper maintenance — can also lead to truck rollover accidents. Some of the common vehicle-related factors that can cause such accidents include:
- Cargo Issues: Uneven, overloaded, or improperly secured cargo can affect the truck’s balance and weight, potentially making it unstable.
- Brake Failure: Poorly maintained or defective brake systems can make a truck difficult to control or stop safely.
- Tire Blowouts: Worn-out tires can blow out, causing a sudden loss of control and increasing the risk of rollovers.
- Suspension Problems: If a truck’s suspension system is not functioning correctly, the vehicle can become imbalanced or difficult to handle.
- Manufacturing Defects: Flaws in a truck’s design or assembly can create inherent instability in the vehicle.
Your attorney will investigate the truck itself—including reviewing maintenance records and possibly consulting with experts—to determine whether the manufacturer, maintenance personnel or cargo loaders may be at fault.
Environmental Factors
There are some instances in which a truck rollover accident may not be the fault of the driver or the vehicle. The environment and road conditions can also create hazards that result in accidents. Common environmental factors include:
- Road Conditions: Potholes, pavement issues, gravel roads, and other physical factors on the roadway can affect a truck’s stability and maneuverability.
- Inclement Weather: Rain, ice, snow, and high winds can affect a driver’s ability to control a large truck.
- Construction Zones: Narrowed driving lanes, changes in the road surface, and other obstacles can lead to sudden moves that destabilize a truck.
- Steep Grades & Sharp Turns: Trucks can be more challenging to control on steep inclines or while taking sharp curves.
Environmental conditions can often exacerbate already-existing hazards, making a detailed investigation of the accident scene and the conditions at the time important.
Common Injuries Suffered in Truck Rollover Accidents
Though truck accidents can be highly dangerous, rollover accidents present specific risks due to the physics involved in such a crash. Common injuries suffered by victims of truck rollover accidents include:
- Lacerations & Contusions: Blunt-force impact, broken glass, and other hazards can inflict significant damage.
- Broken Bones: The catastrophic impact of a truck rollover accident can easily cause severe fractures.
- Internal Injuries: Trauma that damages internal organs can be debilitating and potentially life-threatening.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Nerve damage, mobility issues, and paralysis can result from the high impact of a rollover accident.
- Head Injuries: Concussions, skull fractures, and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can leave permanent effects on a victim’s way of life.
- Emotional Trauma: Depression, PTSD, and other psychological damage can result from a devastating accident.
Any of the injuries listed above can require immediate medical intervention, including the need for surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
Liability in Truck Rollover Accidents
As with any injury claim, determining liability in a truck rollover accident is vital in the pursuit of compensation for your injuries. Such accidents can often involve multiple at-fault parties, making the situation far more complex from a legal standpoint. Identifying how the accident occurred and which party (or parties) were at fault is paramount. Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate the accident and its circumstances to ascertain how it happened and who should be held accountable. Understanding the potentially liable parties and the importance of determining fault is beneficial as you consider your legal options.
Potentially Liable Parties
A truck rollover accident can result from a variety of factors, making the identification of liable parties an essential element of your case. With many parties potentially contributing to the crash, working with your attorney to learn who was responsible is a primary focus. Potentially liable parties can include:
- Truck Drivers
- Trucking Companies
- Cargo Loaders
- Maintenance Personnel
- Truck Manufacturers
- Government Municipalities
One or more parties listed above may be at fault for the truck rollover accident that caused your injuries. Working with an experienced truck accident lawyer is always your best option when seeking to determine liability and proceeding accordingly.
The Importance of Determining Fault in Pursuing Compensation
When you are seeking compensation for the harm you suffered in a truck rollover accident, determining who was responsible for the crash is critical. Identifying the at-fault party — whether it was the driver, the trucking company, another entity, or a combination of multiple parties — will allow you and your injury attorney to begin building your case to seek damages from that party, including compensation to cover for your medical costs, lost earnings, property damage, pain and suffering, and other expenses. Establishing clear liability can strengthen your truck accident case and make your claim more compelling in settlement negotiations or a trial.
Potential Compensation Available in Truck Rollover Accidents
Depending on the details of your truck rollover accident, you may be eligible to pursue different types of damages, including both economic and non-economic. Some of the types of damages you can recover include:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Income or Earning Capacity
- Property Damage
- Pain & Suffering
- Punitive Damages
Obtaining the fair amount of compensation you deserve following your accident will allow you to start putting your life back together as you continue to recover your health.
How a Lawyer Can Help After a Truck Rollover Accident
A reliable lawyer to lead you through your truck rollover accident case is perhaps the most important element in your pursuit of compensation. Without the right legal guidance, you risk losing your chance to obtain any relief from the financial burden you are carrying. Among other benefits, you can trust your attorney to provide:
- Full Investigation
- Negotiation Skills
- Filing of Legal Documentation
- Calculating Damages & Assessing Case Value
- Legal Advocacy in Court
With so much reliance on the outcome of your truck accident claim, you can’t afford to not put yourself in a strong position to get the result you need. Hiring a knowledgeable attorney is the most critical step to getting back on your feet.
The Importance of Acting Quickly After an Accident
Avoiding delays and taking swift action following a serious accident is vital to protect your rights and provide time to build a strong case. Evidence can be more difficult to gather as time passes, witnesses may have trouble recalling details of the accident, and legal deadlines for filing lawsuits make it imperative to act quickly. Finding the right lawyer and starting the process as soon as possible will place you in a better position to seek the desired result.
Trust an Experienced Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a truck rollover accident, you are well aware of not only the physical damage such an accident can inflict but also the growing financial trouble resulting from its effects. Getting help from a knowledgeable attorney to seek relief from the weight of these physical and financial burdens is the first and most important step you can take.
By retaining an attorney who is skilled in truck rollover accidents, you can trust that they will work quickly to gather evidence to build a strong case. They will negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Without the proper representation, you run the risk of missing your opportunity to obtain the outcome you need to pick up the pieces of your life and move forward. If you have suffered an injury in a truck rollover accident, don’t hesitate — take decisive action to pursue the compensation you deserve by contacting an experienced Nebraska personal injury attorney today to schedule a consultation.