Vehicle Rollovers in New Jersey
A vehicle rollover accident can result in serious injuries and deaths. Rollovers have a higher fatality rate than most other types of collisions due to roof-crush injuries. The roof of a vehicle is not designed to withstand impact like the front or rear of a car. If you get injured in this type of crash in New Jersey, an experienced New Jersey car accident attorney can help you seek justice and fair financial compensation for your losses.
What Is a Vehicle Rollover Accident?
A vehicle rollover accident takes place when a car tips onto its side, flips onto its roof, or rolls completely over one or more times. These accidents are extremely dangerous and often result in catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
There are two types of rollover accidents:
- Tripped: when a motor vehicle strikes a hazard, such as a pothole or piece of debris, and “trips,” or loses control and tips over. This is the most common type of rollover accident.
- Untripped: when a vehicle tips or rolls over without striking anything else, such as an unbalanced truck shifting to one side and falling over.
Tripped motor vehicle accidents are generally not the fault of the driver of the car. However, untripped rollovers can occur due to dangerous maneuvers, such as speeding around a sharp turn.
What Causes Vehicle Rollovers?
Vehicle rollover accidents can occur due to many factors, including human error, vehicle defects and dangerous road conditions. Common examples include:
- Dangerous driver behaviors
- Speeding downhill or around curves
- Distracted driving/texting and driving
- Driving while impaired
- Vehicle overloading
- Imbalanced cargo load
- Road defects, such as uneven surfaces
- Poor road maintenance
- Debris in the road
- Faulty vehicle design
While any vehicle could be involved in a rollover, those with high centers of gravity are more likely to become unsteady. This includes SUVs, trucks, buses and vans.
Who Is Liable for Your Vehicle Rollover Accident in New Jersey?
Determining who is responsible for paying for your rollover accident in New Jersey requires an understanding of the state’s no-fault insurance law. Under this law, you must seek financial compensation from your own auto insurance provider after a rollover accident even if you were not at fault for the crash. There is an exception to this rule, however, if you paid for unlimited right to sue insurance and your injuries meet the state’s tort threshold.
Unlimited right to sue insurance gives you the right to pursue a claim against another driver or a third party for causing your rollover accident. This type of insurance costs more, however, and is not a legal requirement in New Jersey. In addition, this coverage is only available if you suffer a serious injury – generally meaning one that inflicts permanent disability or disfigurement or exceeds $3,600 in medical expenses.
How a Car Accident Lawyer in New Jersey Can Help
Unfortunately, even if you have never missed a premium payment, an insurance company – including your own provider – may try to use many tactics to save as much money as possible on your claim payout. The best way to protect your legal rights during settlement negotiations after a rollover accident is by hiring an attorney to represent you.
An attorney can investigate your rollover accident to determine the cause, collect evidence of third-party negligence or fault, inform you of your rights under New Jersey law, and fight for fair compensation from all available sources. Meanwhile, you can rest, relax and focus on healing from your serious injuries.