What Causes SUV Rollover Accident Injuries

Broken bones and fractures are the least of your worries if you ever do get involved in an SUV rollover accident, especially if you’re not wearing a seatbelt.

Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that in 2008, as much as 9,023 died from a rollover accident. While rollover crashes account for less than 3 percent of all crashes, its fatality rate is higher than other types of car accidents.

While SUVs are certainly bigger than ordinary cars or sedans – its size can be an advantage when it comes to collisions between the two, the latter is more prone to dangerous rollover accidents than the former.

Most SUV rollover victims can suffer broken bones and fractures from roof crush, facial lacerations, head injuries, or can even get killed if they get ejected from the vehicle because they were not properly restrained.

The following are some of the main factors which trigger a rollover accident:

• High Center of Gravity – Generally, vehicles with a high center of gravity are more prone to roll over than a lower riding vehicle. Further, as SUVs also have greater ground clearance their mass is distributed higher off the road relative to the width of the vehicle which makes them susceptible to tipping over its balance. Thus, all physical aspects of an SUV in consideration, if the driver makes a sharp left turn or if it trips on a curb, guardrail, tree stump, or soft or uneven ground, a rollover will likely occur.


• Driver Error – As SUVs are usually as perceived safe, many drivers and occupants tend to forego road safety precautions. Certain studies show that drivers of SUVs were less likely to wear seatbelts and even drive more recklessly and under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Driving under these conditions, once a driver loses control over the vehicle, it can easily roll over.


• Visibility problems – SUV drivers have visibility problems especially to the side and the rear. The drivers have an impaired view of traffic signs and signals and other vehicles on the road and poor rearward vision have given rise to back over deaths.

In the event that you or a loved one was injured in a rollover accident, and you were not at fault in any manner, you may seek to recover damages against the liable party.

Consult a rollover accident attorney to help you file your case within the Statute of Limitations in your state.