Any type of car accident can be a life-changing event, but perhaps no type of car accident is regularly more devastating than a rollover accident. In fact, of the roughly 30,000 Americans who are injured in a rollover crash each year, about 10,000 die as a result of the crash. With such a high rate of significant injury associated with these accidents, it’s imperative that you collect compensation if a third party contributed to your accident. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what can lead to compensation for rollover accidents, and how you can win a claim if you are injured in a rollover accident in Minnesota.
Causes Of Rollover Accidents
Most cars have a very low center of gravity, and this means they are highly unlikely to be involved in a rollover crash. However, cars aren’t the only type of vehicle on the road. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are some of the most popular vehicles, and they have a much higher center of gravity, making them much more likely to be involved in a rollover accident. This alone does not mean that the manufacturer is on the hook if you end up in a rollover crash, but it means you need to be even more cognizant of your driving behavior. Speeding and failing to navigate turns successfully can be much more catastrophic in an SUV.
So while speed is the most common factor that leads to rollover crashes, oftentimes that onus falls on the driver and it’s difficult to find a third party that contributed to the accident. However, a number of other factors could be at play that may suggest another party contributed at least in part to your rollover crash. For example, preventable factors that can contribute to your rollover crash include:
- Incomplete or inadequate road design
- Vehicle malfunction
- Defective vehicle design
- Driver negligence
- Inadequate road signage
As you might imagine, it can be extremely difficult to prove that any of the above factors played a role in your car accident, which is why it’s so important to have an experienced personal injury firm on your side. We can analyze the evidence and police reports and do everything in our power to help prove that a third party’s actions or inactions played a part in your rollover crash. Not only can we help prove your case, but we can ensure that you get a fair amount for your claim, which can be tricky to achieve when working with an insurance company.
Insurance Settlements After Rollover Crashes
Insurance companies know that rollover crashes can be devastating and lead to huge medical bills and payouts on their end. They also know that occupants involved in a serious crash likely want to get paid as soon as possible and put the case behind them. The insurance company often tries to capitalize on a person’s desire to find a quick resolution to their case by offering a settlement for pennies on the dollar. And because of inexperience and impending bills, victims often jump at this first offer, leaving tens of thousands of dollars or more on the table.
Before you start with the process of speaking with an insurance agency, be sure that your first call is to an experienced personal injury law firm like Hey Workers. Even during this initial phone call, the insurance company will be looking for ways to minimize their liability, so it’s important that you touch base with a lawyer before you get into talks with the insurance company. In fact, it’s often best to let your lawyer handle all the communication with the insurance company. There’s a chance you’ll still be asked to provide a statement, but that’s best performed after speaking with your lawyer or while they are in the room with you.
The insurance company may try to present themselves as an ally or a partner in getting you a fair deal, but don’t fall for their act. Never take them at their word until you’ve had your lawyer run the numbers and come up with their own determination of the value of your case. There are so many factors to consider and costs to calculate that you can leave life-changing money on the table if you assume that an insurance company is acting with your best interests in mind. Rollover accidents can involve massive payments, so make sure you trust your case to an expert.
By hiring a trustworthy law firm, you can focus on your health and what’s best for your family while an expert works to get you everything you’re owed as a result of your accident. Don’t be in a rush to settle. Take a little extra time and know that you will get a much bigger claim if you let a lawyer go to work on your behalf. For more information about rollover crash claims or to talk to a lawyer about your case, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today.
