You do not expect to see vehicles rolling over while driving around San Antonio, but those accidents do happen. When they do, they can pose a serious threat to the driver in the rolling vehicle and any other motorists nearby. Following your encounter with a vehicle in that condition, you will likely need the services of a rollover accident lawyer.
Let’s talk more about rollover accidents in this article. Continue below to learn more about the common causes of rollover accidents and other relevant topics.
What Is a Rollover Accident?
A rollover accident involves a vehicle tipping over to its side or roof. Vehicles may roll over once or multiple times depending on the force generated during the crash. Rollover accidents are dangerous because drivers lose complete control of their vehicles. They cannot stop the momentum of the rolling vehicle, so it keeps going until it inevitably hits another vehicle or a nearby structure.
It does not take a lot of imagination to understand how dangerous rollover accidents can be. Therefore, enlist the services of a rollover accident attorney if you are ever involved in one.
How Often Do Accidents Involving a Rollover Occur?
Do not dismiss the possibility of being involved in a rollover accident out of hand. As the statistics show, these accidents are fairly common. Unfortunately, the statistics also show that these accidents can be quite deadly. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were 2,694 fatal rollover accidents in 2020. Those rollover accidents accounted for 7.5% of all fatal crashes that year.
Looking at the other crash types recorded by the Insurance Information Institute, you will find that head-on crashes, angle crashes, collisions with culverts, curbs, ditches, and accidents involving pedestrians led to more fatalities. You may suffer significant losses if you are the victim of a rollover accident. Hire a San Antonio car accident lawyer if you wish to recoup adequate compensation following your involvement in that type of incident.
Causes of Rollover Accidents
Numerous factors can contribute to rollover accidents. Recognizing them can keep you safe while you are traveling on Bexar County roads. Let’s talk more about the common causes of rollover accidents below.
Tripping over an Obstacle
Tripping occurs when a vehicle hits an obstacle and loses balance. The obstacle in question could be the base of a guardrail, a segment of a curb, a jagged piece of roadway, or similar objects. Hitting one of those obstacles at high speed could quickly lead to your vehicle tipping over.
Speeding while Turning
Turning your vehicle while moving at high speed is a big no-no. Your vehicle may end up off-balance easily because of that. In addition, trucks are especially susceptible to rolling over when they turn at high speeds.
Overloading a Truck
Large trucks are also more likely to roll over when overloaded. In a situation such as that, you and your car crash attorney should go after the trucking company’s partner business for overloading the truck. They should offer compensation for causing the mistake that eventually led to your accident.
Involvement in Other Accidents
Cars involved in other accidents are also prime candidates to roll over. For example, if another vehicle hits your car at the wrong spot, you may have difficulty maintaining your balance.
Poor Road Conditions
Lastly, we need to recognize that poor road conditions are also major contributing factors to rollover accidents. Uneven or wet roads are more challenging to navigate due to a lack of traction. Therefore, exercise caution whenever traveling on those roads to keep your vehicle from rolling over.
Why It Is Important to Take Photographs of the Accident Scene
As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, that sentiment holds true, especially in the context of car accidents. Using pictures, you can tell the story of how a particular accident unfolded. You can point to how the accident began and note the trail of destruction it left in its wake by taking numerous pictures of the scene.
Take several photos of your vehicle to document the extent of the damage. Pictures of your injured body will also illustrate that your compensation claims are valid. Capture as many pictures as you can. Take them from different distances and angles to capture every shred of evidence available. If you feel like you did not take enough photos, you can ask your personal injury lawyers to visit the scene so they can capture a few more.
Dealing with Insurance Companies after a Texas Car Crash
You will come to appreciate the services provided by a car accident attorney once the time comes for you to deal with the other driver’s insurer. However, insurance companies focus first and foremost on turning a profit so do not count on them immediately paying out after you file a claim. In this section of the article, we have detailed some of the things you can do to make your dealings with insurers more manageable.
Contact Your Insurer ASAP – We highly recommend contacting your insurer soon after your rollover accident. Reporting your accident immediately makes it easier for you to successfully file a claim if you eventually decide to do that. Notifying your insurer also puts your accident on the record. You can then point to that as additional evidence in your personal injury claim.
Limit What You Share during Your Report – While reporting your accident to your insurer, keeping what you share to a minimum would be best. Mention only the basic details about the parties involved but avoid discussing anything about fault.
If you want to be extra cautious, you can consult an auto accident lawyer before speaking to your insurer. Ask your lawyer about what you should and should not say so you can avoid making critical mistakes.
Let Your Auto Accident Attorney Handle Future Conversations with Your Insurer – Once you have notified your insurer about the accident, you should limit your dealings with them unless you need to file a claim. Then, while sorting out your case, you should allow your attorney to handle the conversations with your insurer. They can handle any questions your insurer has and provide adequate responses. Do not stress yourself unnecessarily by allowing your attorney to take over those important conversations.
Common Reasons Car Accident Claims Are Denied
Your rollover accident lawyer may have advised you to file a claim with your insurer. After submitting the claim, you probably expected nothing other than approval. Discovering that they denied your claim could come as a surprise. Why was your claim denied? The likely explanations are detailed below.
You Did Not See a Doctor Immediately
Many car accident victims make the mistake of minimizing their injuries. Because they feel relatively fine after the crash, they assume nothing is wrong. They may only realize that they are dealing with serious injuries days or even weeks after the crash. You should always consult with a doctor immediately following a car accident, regardless of how you feel. Seeing a doctor right away effectively shows that you took your accident seriously right from the start. By waiting, you give the insurer reason to doubt your claims.
You Admitted Responsibility for the Accident
Talking with insurers at length is almost always a bad idea. They could hold the things you mention in that conversation against you. The insurer may even claim that you already admitted fault for the accident, so you must foot the bill for what happened.
The Statute of Limitations Has Expired
Insurers may also deny claims if the relevant statute of limitations has expired. The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in Texas is two years. Work closely with your rollover accident lawyer to avoid exceeding that deadline.
Can You Appeal a Denied Insurance Claim?
Appealing a denied insurance claim is possible, and you can do that by first requesting the reason for denial in writing. Once you understand your insurer’s reasoning, you and your lawyer can compose a letter outlining why their explanation was not valid. Present more evidence and appeal the decision to receive the payout you deserve.
San Antonio Auto Accident Lawyers
Reach out to us at Barrus Injury Lawyers, and let’s work together to secure the compensation that is rightfully yours. We will work closely with you every step of the way so you can navigate this process with greater ease.
