Each year in the U.S.

• there are approximately 69,000 rollover accidents that result in occupant injuries;
• there are between 3,000 and 4,000 rollover accidents that result in the deaths of one or more individuals;
• there are more than 10,000 people who die as a result of a rollover accident
• rollover accidents account for approximately 10 percent of all fatal vehicle accidents;
• rollover accidents account for almost 25 percent of all motor vehicle accident deaths; and
• rollovers involving single-vehicle accidents account for approximately 50 percent of all deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents.

Many factors can contribute to the occurrence of a rollover, including:

• The type of vehicle.
  • Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are the most prone to rollover because their elevated height and narrow width tend to make them top-heavy and more likely to tip. For example, in 1998, 62 percent of all fatalities involving SUVs resulted from rollovers, compared with 22 percent of fatal accidents involving cars.
  • Light trucks and vans also pose a greater danger than cars. Light trucks and vans also have a higher center of gravity, resulting in instability under certain circumstances.
• Poor roadway design accounts for most rollovers, as a vehicle runs off a road and then rolls over.
• Drunk driving, and other unsafe and reckless driving behaviors also contribute to the occurrence of rollovers. When a driver speeds or engages in abrupt driving maneuvers, the risk of rollover increases, especially when there is a top-heavy vehicle, like an SUV, involved.

Rollover accidents are among the most dangerous types of crashes. Occupants of rollover vehicles are subjected to particularly severe injuries for three main reasons.

• First, rollover crashes place a vehicle in an unpredictable motion.
• Second, occupants of a rolling vehicle are often thrown out of the vehicle.
• Third, rollovers often occur at high speeds.

Resulting injuries can include:

• severe head injuries, including traumatic brain injury;
• internal injuries;
• paralysis;, and
• death

Head trauma is the most frequent type of injury that results from a rollover crash.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a rollover accident, you should immediately contact a competent attorney. Rollover cases require particularly thorough investigation to determine the responsible party and the full extent of the injuries resulting from the accident.