South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Vehicle rollovers can be very scary. Not only can these accidents cause severe injury, but they can also cause severe trauma.
These types of car accidents are less common, but when they do occur, they can have some of the highest fatalities. If you are injured in a vehicle rollover accident, it is recommended to contact a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer immediately.
Regardless of whether your accident was caused by another driver or a hazard on the road, a car accident lawyer can help you review your claim so you can seek compensation to help cover your medical bills.
What Is a Rollover Accident?
A rollover accident is when a vehicle completely flips and rolls over or when a car flips and lands on its back. There are several factors that can contribute to a driver experiencing a rollover accident. Most of these factors include how the driver was operating the vehicle and other environmental factors.
Road design and road construction errors can also play a huge part in a vehicle rolling over such as high speed when meeting certain objects on the road. Other common causes for these types of accidents can include:
- Hitting a curb, guardrail, or another object on the road
- Turning sharply at a high speed
- Accidentally falling off an embankment
- Another car at the side
If driver error is the suspected cause of the rollover accident, then this could potentially mean one or more of the following:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Aggressively driving
There is also speculation that narrower and taller vehicles such as SUVs and eighteen-wheelers can be more susceptible to rolling over, especially at high speeds. If you are in a vehicle and driving on an unfamiliar road, then this can lead to possible causes of accidents as well.
The best way to reduce the risk of being involved in a rollover accident is to never drive over the speed limit and always be vigilant of other drivers sharing the road with you.
Possible Injuries A Person Can Sustain from A Rollover Accident
Car accidents of any kind can lead to severe injuries because of high impact, and rollover accidents are no exception. Since these accidents can be exceptionally dangerous with the vehicle rolling onto its back, passengers in the car may experience injuries that take longer to heal from.
Here are some of the injuries that arise more frequently with rollover accidents:
- Internal bleeding or injuries
- Amputation
- Broken bones
- Fractures and sprains
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and chest injuries
- Death
While the car is rolling, broken bones even have the possibility to puncture a lung as the car is flipping over. If you have sustained severe injuries from your rollover accident, your Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer can help with your claim so you can seek an adequate settlement.
Florida Laws Regarding Car Accidents
Regardless of who is at fault in your accident, Florida has certain car accident laws civilians must follow after every road incident. The first is making sure you have the coverage you are required to have to help in times such as these.
Florida operates with a modified comparative fault system, which means those involved in a car accident share the blame to some degree. This also means that the chances of filing a lawsuit are slim unless your case meets certain eligibility requirements.
Eligibility to step out of the no-fault system means your case exceeds a certain limit of medical bills or that a serious injury has occurred. Injuries that count as “serious” to be eligible to file a lawsuit must include one or more of the following:
- Death
- Amputation
- Scarring
- Life-long impact on quality of life
- On-going medical care
If you are ever involved in a car accident, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a claim under Florida’s Statute of Limitations. it is important to file a claim with your insurance or lawyer as soon as possible, so your case has the best chance at a favorable outcome. Claims that are filed after this two-year time frame will be dismissed (with certain exceptions) and risk not being taken as seriously as they would be if filed on time.
Steps To Take After a Rollover Incident
There are several steps drivers should take after an accident to start receiving the medical help they may need. According to Florida laws, it is a requirement for drivers to report the accident to law enforcement if any of the following occur:
- Injuries of any kind
- Death
- Property damage exceeding $500
There is almost always property damage exceeding $500 in car accidents, so it is safe to say that all drivers should make the call after any accident. The police will file an unbiased report that you can use later for insurance purposes or evidence.
Here are other steps to take after being in a rollover accident:
Receive Medical Help
Rollover accidents are a big deal. If you are lucky to walk out of a rollover accident with no visible injuries, then that’s great news. However, that doesn’t mean you should skip a medical examination altogether. You could have internal injuries that you are unaware of. Furthermore, if the accident was not your fault, a record of your sustained injuries can be used by your attorney to negotiate with your insurance adjuster and help you seek a fair settlement.
Obtain The Other Driver’s Information
Even though Fort Lauderdale, Florida, civilians have an obligation to report to their insurance first, the property damage liability the other driver carries could help you in your claim. Because of this, you need to obtain the information of the other driver so you can be in contact them throughout the recovery process and insurance investigation.
Speak To a Lawyer Before Insurance
The last step to take is a 2-in-1. Before you speak to your insurance representative about your claim, you should contact your Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer to help you review your claim to discover the best approach.
Your attorney will speak to your insurance representative on your behalf while using their negotiation skills to help you seek fair compensation. Unlike your attorney, your insurance adjuster does not have your best interests in mind. Insurance companies are more concerned with looking for possibilities to reduce your settlement.
This is why having an attorney can be very beneficial for your claim.
Speak To a Car Accident Attorney Today
If you are ready to make strides in your rollover car accident claim, contact the law office of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers today. Our firm is highly equipped to handle your claim and can help you seek the extra compensation you deserve—it is what we’ve been doing for the last 40 years.
You can get started with a free consultation with one of our attorneys. To schedule, call our office at (561) 800-8000 or fill out our free case evaluation form online.
We look forward to speaking with you at your earliest convenience.