Two people were sent to the hospital after their car flipped in a single-vehicle car accident in St. Joseph.
Car Flips, Two Injured
The accident happened on July 26, 2021, at the intersection of Sacramento Street and South 22nd Street in St. Joseph. According to the initial reports, only one vehicle was involved, though it flipped in the intersection and landed on its roof. Two people were sent to the hospital with unknown injuries.
Rollovers or Flipped Vehicles Cause Serious Injuries
Whenever a vehicle involved in a car crash rolls over, the injuries that can result are often far more severe than if the car stayed on its tires. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only 3 percent of all passenger vehicle crashes were rollovers in 2000. However, rollover accidents accounted for 20 percent of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes.
Rollover accidents are more severe because the vehicle occupants are thrown around far more than when the vehicle stays firmly on the ground. Additionally, if the car rolls over and lands on its roof, it can crush the supports and cause severe head or neck injuries.
Common Causes of Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents do not happen randomly, though. There are definite triggers that can drastically increase odds of a car crash leading to a flipped vehicle.
High Speeds
One of the most common factors that can influence whether a car will flip over in a crash is the rate of speed. The faster the car is going, the more likely a crash will involve a rollover.
This is especially true if it is a multi-vehicle accident. Slow crashes rarely have the force necessary to flip a vehicle over.
Vehicle Design
The design of the vehicle can also cause a car to flip over.
Tall cars, like SUVs, are notorious for increasing the odds of rolling over in a crash. Their center of gravity is higher off the ground, making them more prone to tip.
Tire Issues
Faulty tires can also cause a vehicle to rollover, even without a collision.
One way this can happen is if a tire blows out. The sudden change in balance can start to tip the vehicle over. The sudden lack of speed on one side of the car can pull the car into a skid, which can end with the vehicle flipping.
Another way for a tire to cause a rollover is if it grips the road too tightly when it is going sideways. If the car is in a skid, it is best if the tires let the vehicle slide. If they do not, the bottom of the car can slow down more quickly than the top part, pulling it down to its side. This is especially common when the vehicle is tall, with a high center of gravity.
Sudden Turns
Suddenly turning a vehicle is another common way to cause a rollover accident, especially if high speeds are also involved. This is a very common way for there to be single-vehicle rollovers.
St. Joseph Car Accident Lawyers at the Smith Law Office
The personal injury and car accident attorneys at the Smith Law Office strive to legally represent accident victims and help them recover compensation from the person or people who caused the crash. Contact them online or call their law office at (816) 875-9373 for help.