Dallas Rollover Truck Accident Attorneys
Large commercial trucks’ sheer size and weight mean that any crash they are involved in can have disastrous consequences. Rollover accidents may be one of the more dangerous and deadly types of truck accidents. Although rollover crashes only account for 3.3 percent of all large truck crashes on the road, they are responsible for more than half of the deaths of drivers and their occupants.
Who pays the price for the damage these accidents cause? The answer shouldn’t be you, but unfortunately, that can be the case. Trucking companies are for-profit businesses that want to keep those profits in their pockets.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries due to a rollover accident, you need to get the help of a lawyer. The team at Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers can protect your rights and provide a buffer between you and the aggressive tactics of a trucking company’s insurers and legal team.
You shouldn’t be forced to accept a lowball offer that won’t cover all your medical expenses. Call us at (214) 777-7777 to schedule a free consultation to review your case’s facts. We want to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
What Causes a Large Truck to Rollover?
Rollover accidents harm the truck driver and everyone else on the road. When a truck rolls over, it can create a chain of events leading to multiple accidents. Rollover accidents can block roadways and send cargo and debris flying. Unsuspecting motorists who were not present for the accident can be severely injured when they hit the field of debris covering the road.
It is important to remember that no accident happens the same way twice. All truck accidents are different and unique, but certain factors can make a rollover accident more likely to happen. Here are some of the more common causes that contribute to rollover accidents:
- Steering or brake issues with the truck
- Poor weather conditions or slick roads
- Speeding
- Sudden braking
- Sudden lane changes
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- An inexperienced or improperly trained driver
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 94 percent of all collisions result from human error. In the case of semi-truck rollover accidents, that human error or negligence on the part of the driver could cost you or someone you love their health or even their life.
Dangers Associated with Rollover Truck Accidents
Large truck accidents can have disastrous consequences. When an 80,000-pound, fully-loaded vehicle rolls over anything in its path, it doesn’t leave you unscathed. Serious and even fatal injuries are the norm, not the exception when it comes to these types of accidents.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the truck itself can collide with cars in its path, crushing them or sending them flying. Cargo and debris spilling out from the rolling truck can also hit cars directly in its path. Cargo can also pose hazards to other motorists who didn’t see the accident happen and unexpectedly come upon the wreckage. Depending on the type of cargo, the road can become slick with liquids or even volatile because of leaking chemicals or gasoline.
Some of the more common injuries that can result from a rollover accident include:
- Brain injury
- Paralysis
- Other head, neck, or spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Chest injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to internal organs
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Wrongful Death
Injuries this serious could change how you live the rest of your life. You may require extended therapy, rehabilitation, or even changes to your home to accommodate your new normal. The costs of these types of medical services, in addition to hospital bills, doctor’s bills, medication, and time off of work, could jeopardize your financial future. You shouldn’t have to go into debt to recover from a rollover truck accident.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Rollover Accident?
Most large truck rollover accidents occur due to human error, miscalculation, or negligence. According to a study by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, most accidents result from the driver not adjusting their speed to accommodate for curves in the road.
Another major factor that contributes to rollover crashes involves attention. When the driver’s attention is on something else, they are not paying attention to the road or current driving conditions. The most common causes for inattention to the road are falling asleep behind the wheel and distracted driving, such as using a cell phone, texting, eating, or otherwise keeping occupied while the driver’s eyes and focus should be on the road.
The final major contributing factor to rollover accidents involves the vehicle’s steering, particularly over-steering, overcorrecting, and not steering adequately to stay in the designated lane.
Is the rollover the driver’s fault?
At first glance, these all seem to be mistakes and negligence on the driver’s part. That would make the accident the sole responsibility of the driver at fault, right? Only partially. The driver is the primary person responsible for causing the rollover accident. However, take, for example, the situation where a steering issue caused the accident.
If the driver was oversteering the vehicle, it could be because their employer improperly or inadequately trained that person. That would be the employer also partially responsible for causing the accident. Perhaps it is the case that the driver was not thoroughly screened before employment – again, the fault would partially rest on the employer and the driver.
Take another look again at the steering example. What if the driver oversteered because they were compensating for something? Maybe a faulty part finally gave way, altering the handling and maneuverability of the vehicle. The driver, caught unaware, attempts to correct it, but oversteers and causes a rollover accident. Part of the responsibility for the accident now rests on the doorstep of the manufacturer of the defective part.
Or perhaps the driver oversteered because the improperly loaded cargo shifted or threw off the vehicle’s balance. The company that loaded the cargo may now be responsible for the conditions that led to the accident. Or, again, it could also be the trucking company’s fault if they failed to conduct routine and federally mandated safety inspections.
With just one example, we have shown you how it could be possible for multiple parties to be responsible for a rollover accident. This example demonstrates why truck accident cases can be complicated and complex. This example should highlight why getting an experienced accident attorney on your side and working for you is so important.
Do You Need an Attorney?
The short answer is yes. Truck accident cases are complicated because of the number of parties that may be involved or responsible. They are also complicated because, almost from the instant an accident happens, the trucking company is working against you. Their teams of lawyers and insurers are already working to mitigate the consequences of the accident and ensure they have to pay out as little as possible.
These high-powered attorneys and insurers aggressively work to protect the financial and business interests of the company. Having your own attorney means you are not only protecting your rights but also yourself from the aggressive, almost bullying tactics of an industry that doesn’t want to give you your fair share. You deserve reasonable compensation for your injuries, time away from work, and pain and suffering.
At Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers, we also believe retaining an experienced personal injury attorney is important because a lawyer can thoroughly investigate the circumstances of a rollover truck accident. The team at Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers has the resources to immediately start the process of collecting and preserving crucial evidence following an accident. This evidence could include things like cellphone records, in-cab videos or recordings, safety inspection records, and other vital documents that could be lost or destroyed after an accident.
Why Choose Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers To Handle Your Rollover Accident Case?
You are suffering. You are in pain, struggling to recover while living daily, worrying about how to pay your medical expenses. But you don’t feel bullied or intimidated by the trucking company and their insurers. You don’t need to settle for their lowball offer. You do have the ability to fight back and get the compensation that you deserve after a serious rollover accident. The team at Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers wants to help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligent actions and get you the money you need to survive.
At Benton Accident & Injury Lawyers, our truck accident attorneys have the experience and resources to investigate the accident and fight to protect your rights. Contact us today at (214) 777-7777 to schedule a free initial consultation.