More than any other type of vehicle, trucks, and tractor-trailers are particularly susceptible to rolling over. Approximately 9% of all large truck accidents involve rollovers. A truck rollover occurs when a truck travels along a curved path and the centrifugal force causes the truck to lean away from the direction of the curve. A truck’s high center of gravity is the major contributing factor to whether the vehicle is likely to overturn.
Truck rollover accidents are caused by an event that increases the momentum about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. These include turning the vehicle too quickly or the driver allowing one side of the vehicle to drop or rise suddenly. A study from the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine analyzed numerous truck rollover accidents to identify common causes that lead to rollover accidents.
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The study found that speed is the largest contributor to rollover crashes, with speed being involved in 45% of crashes. Speeding does not just mean traveling at very high speeds. Rather, speeding means exceeding what is safe for the particular combination of vehicle and road characteristics, such as misjudging curves and on- and off-ramps. Lack of driver attention also significantly contributes to truck rollover accidents, such as inattention, lack of sleep, and driver distraction.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, the Philadelphia truck accident attorneys at The Pearce Law Firm want to help you protect your legal rights.
Keys to Preventing Truck Rollover Accidents
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a majority of truck rollovers, or 78%, occur because of driver error. In fact, drivers are 10 times more likely to cause a rollover accident than any other factor. Recognizing that most rollover accidents can and should be prevented, the FMCSA wants to ensure that truck drivers are informed about proper driving techniques. The FMCSA hopes that educating drivers will help allow them to prevent truck rollover accidents. In this regard, the FMCSA recommends that drivers:
- Avoid sudden jerks and movements on the road that may cause rollovers;
- Identify high-risk areas on the roads;
- Remain alert and attentive behind the wheel, which includes getting enough rest; and
- Control speed and maintain proper speed cushions.
Rollover Crashes Frequently Happen Near Intersections
A busy intersection can prove to be a dangerous spot for drivers. With so many cars coming from different directions, drivers can become confused and easily end up in the wrong lane. A careless driver can also run a red light and put everyone else in the intersection at risk.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that intersections were the site of around 40% of all crashes in the U.S. Vehicles turning left, across oncoming traffic, were the biggest contributor to the increased risk, accounting for 22% of all intersection collisions.
These accidents occur every day and the impacts can be devastating. Drivers can be left with debilitating injuries and can even lose their lives in these tragic situations.
Head-On Collisions and Rollover Accidents
Head-on Collisions are deadly, in fact, according to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration report, they pose the highest risk for fatalities than any other type of crash. While they account for only 2% of total accidents per year, they make up 10% of all accident fatalities.
The reason head-on collisions are so deadly is that the impact comes from the speed and mass of both cars which causes each car to stop in an instant slamming the occupants forward.
Crash Examples near Philadelphia
There are, unfortunately, a plethora of examples of rollover accidents we could share as examples – here are just two examples of crashes that resulted in rollovers in the Philadelphia area.
Collegeville Deadly Two-Car Collision
A two-vehicle collision in a Collegeville intersection killed one person on Wednesday morning. CBS3-TV reported on the deadly crash and had their traffic helicopter over the scene.
The accident happened just after 9 am at West Germantown Pike and Evansburg Road on August 12, 2020. The collision caused one of the cars to roll over, leaving one person dead. There’s no word on what caused the crash or if anyone else was injured in the collision.
Fiery Crash Takes Two Lives in Egg Harbor
In a heartbreaking tragedy, a mother and her 10-month-old daughter died after their vehicle caught fire after colliding with a Cadillac CTS. According to witnesses at the scene, the Soul was traveling southbound on English Creek Dr near Zion Road when the Cadillac traveling northbound crossed the centerline. The driver swerved to avoid the crash, but the two cars collided sending the SUV into a rollover and coming to a rest on its top on the side of the road.
In a heroic effort, two Good Samaritans arrived and tried to free the trapped mother and child in the car but were soon overtaken by smoke and flames. One of the Good Samaritans collapsed after his lungs filled with smoke, and he was taken to a local hospital.
The crash happened around 12:15 p.m., February 26, 2019, and according to police, the driver of the Cadillac is facing criminal charges associated with the wreck. It’s unknown if alcohol, drugs, or distracted driving played a factor in the crash.
Contact an Experienced Philadelphia Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a truck rollover accident or another type of truck accident, it is important to reach out to an experienced truck accident attorney. The Pearce Law Firm employs a team of experienced Philadelphia truck rollover accident attorneys who fill fight to help you recover compensation for your injuries. Our truck accident attorneys will help you investigate your case to determine whether you have a legal claim to recover damages.
Consult with a qualified injury attorney at The Pearce Law Firm for a free initial consultation. You can call us at (215) 557-8686.
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