Truck rollovers are one of the most common types of truck accidents in Homestead and Florida. These types of collisions occur most often at high speeds, and because of the speeding involved they can be catastrophic. However, rollovers can also occur on uneven surfaces, even when a truck driver is traveling slowly.
Rollovers happen when a truck loses control or drives over an uneven surface, in many cases. If a passenger car loses control, it will generally slide or crash into a solid object. Unless a passenger car drives into a ditch or reaches very high speeds, the risk of rollovers is smaller. Since trucks have a higher center of gravity, however, they can flip on their side or even their roof.
Why Do Rollovers Happen?
There are many reasons why rollovers happen:
- Trucks may be poorly designed or have an abnormally high center of gravity
- Uneven road surfaces or curbs may cause a rollover
- Speeding may cause the truck’s to fail to grip the road
- Poorly secured cargo or shifting cargo can change the center of gravity of trucks, increasing the risk of rollovers
- Speeding may cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, especially on turns, leading to a rollover
- Mechanical defects or poor maintenance may cause the truck tires to not grip the road, causing the vehicle to lose control
Since trucks have such a high center of gravity, they are more prone to rollovers than most passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, due to their size, 18 wheelers, tankers, big rigs, and other commercial trucks can cause a lot more damage when they are involved in a rollover. In this type of accident, the truck driver will typically lose control, and the truck will slide or skid before tipping on its side or even rolling a few times to land on its roof. Obviously, this is very dangerous for the truck driver. However, the force and speed of the truck can also crash into other vehicles, potentially causing a multiple vehicle collision in Homestead or another Florida community.
Because of the force involved in a rollover accident, if the truck is carrying any sort of hazardous material or flammable material, the cargo can ignite or spill on the road during the rollover accident, potentially causing injury to bystanders. In addition, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other motorists can be injured by the truck careening out of control.
Injuries Caused by Rollovers
In rollover accidents, a number of serious injuries are quite common, including:
- Head injuries
- Amputations
- Concussions
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Quadriplegia
- Fatalities
If you have been injured in a serious Homestead rollover accident and are wondering where to turn, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free, no obligation case review. Our team of attorneys has handled thousands of cases and has more than 60 years of combined experience. We can help you understand your rights and can review the situation with you so that you understand what options exist as you seek benefits and compensation.