Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on May 17, 2016
Rollover Accident Injures 5 People in Springfield Friday Night
A rollover car accident resulted in five people—including multiple children—suffering injuries in Springfield, Tennessee, Friday night.
According to a report by WKRN.com and Smokey Barn News, the accident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. on Lakeview Road in Robertson County.
Law enforcement officials told reporters that a vehicle was traveling east when it crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Lakeview Road and U.S. 431 North. The impact of the collision caused one of the vehicles to roll. Both vehicles eventually came to a stop in a grassy area near the road.
Injured in the accident were a mother and her two young children. They were all transported to a local hospital to receive treatment. Two people in the other vehicle were also injured and transported to a hospital. Police say that none of the reported injuries are serious.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol arrived at the scene shortly after the collision to investigate the accident. Smokey Barn News indicates that accidents are common at the intersection, with two serious accidents occurring at the same location in recent years.
What Causes Rollover Accidents?
Rollover accidents are extremely dangerous. In addition to increasing the risk that drivers and passengers will be ejected, these types of accidents are also notorious for causing occupants to suffer disabling and life-threatening injuries. Like head-on collisions, rollover accidents have a higher fatality rate than many other types of car accidents.
Certain types of vehicles, including box trucks and SUVs, may be more at risk of rollover accidents than other types of vehicles due to their high centers of gravity. Regardless of the type of vehicle you drive, you can reduce your risks of being involved in a rollover accident by being aware of their most common causes, which can include:
A report by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that 40 percent of fatal rollover crashes involved excessive speeding, and more than 75 percent of fatal rollovers occurred on stretches of roadways where the speed limit was 55 miles per hour or higher. Reducing your speed can help reduce your risks of losing control of your vehicle—which is a common cause of rollover accidents.
Impaired driving significantly contributes to the number of rollover accidents in the U.S. Almost half of all rollover crashes involve alcohol. The DOT reminds drivers that any blood alcohol concentration level above .00 can impair driving ability and increase the risk of accidents—including rollover accidents.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 90 percent of fatal rollover accidents occur during routine driving tasks, such as driving straight ahead. That indicates that these crashes often take place when drivers are distracted or being inattentive to the roadway.
Around 75 percent of fatal rollover accidents occur on rural roads. Because rural roads typically have higher speed limits, don’t have barriers, and opposite lanes of traffic are undivided, drivers may be more likely to lose control at high speeds and careen across the roadway, causing their vehicles to roll over and flip into oncoming traffic or off the roadway itself.
The DOT and NHTSA report that only 2.1 percent of all accidents in the U.S. are rollover accidents, but those same types of crashes account for around 35 percent of all deaths in motor vehicle crashes. Around 7,500 people die in rollover accidents every year, and nearly 70 percent of the victims weren’t wearing their seat belts at the time of those crashes.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident attorneys know that rollover accidents often result in serious and even fatal injuries for drivers and passengers. Buckling up can significantly reduce your chances of suffering serious injuries in all types of accidents, but being aware of the causes of rollover accidents and doing your best to avoid them is a highly effective way of reducing your risks of being involved in these accidents in the first place.
If you or someone you love was injured in a rollover accident that was caused by a negligent driver, our legal team may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. To find out how we can assist you and your family, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form.
