Category: Car Accident

A rollover accident occurs when a vehicle turns over on its roof or side as a result of a severe collision on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only head-on crashes can cause more severe injuries. Rollover car accidents make up about 29 percent of all light vehicle fatalities from 1992 to 1996, and they constitute almost 35 percent of fatal passenger car collisions in 2010. Some passenger cars, such as sports utility vehicles, are known for being prone to rollovers. If a rollover accident does not result in death, it can typically lead to a permanent and life-altering injury.

What Injuries Result from a Rollover Car Accident?

According to rollover data from the National Automotive Sampling System, a rollover accident can cause severe injuries to the head, neck, upper limbs, lower limbs and abdomen. The most common rollover injuries include:
– Traumatic brain injury
– Broken bones
– Spinal cord injury

Rollover accident injuries may cause permanent complications. For instance, a rollover accident can lead to a traumatic brain injury, which may cause problems with speech, balance and impulse control. This is only one example. Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or total paralysis.

These types of accidents can happen under various factors, such as distracted or drunk driving. Distracted or drunk driving is usually associated with speeding and overcorrection, which are two things that can easily flip a car over. The negligence of another driver, however, should not be your fault, especially if you are injured.

If you have been involved in a rollover car accident in California, you should contact a personal injury attorney who can guide you along your potential case. Contact Wells, Call, Clark, Bennett & Clawson today for a free consultation.

Summer is the deadliest time of year to drive on the highway. The highest fatality rates of the year occur during July and August because of several factors. These factors include an increased amount of vacation travelers, inexperienced teenagers and drunk drivers on the roads. If you and your family are planning to hit the road for a trip this summer, there are a few things you should carefully plan for in order to ensure you safely return home.

What Safety Tips Should I Know Before My Family Road Trip?

• Check your tires. Before leaving for your summer vacation, a crucial preparation tip is to ensure your tires are ready for the journey. In a recent report, AAA compared braking performance on cars traveling on wet roads going 60 miles an hour with new tires and worn tires. The car with worn tires took 87 feet longer to brake than the car with new tires. That could be the difference between stopping in time or hitting the car or a pedestrian ahead. Ensure that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure before you leave and give them the coin test to determine the tread depth of your tires.
• Drive defensively during rain. Driving in the rain decreases your control and makes it much more difficult to safely stop. Avoid using cruise control while driving through heavy rain because you’ll be able to respond quicker when you are in control of your own speed. If your car hydroplanes, don’t immediately hit the brakes. Instead, slowly steer in the direction you want the car to go.
• Stay alert through construction sites. Summer is also the best time for construction workers to work on road repairs. This can create detours and sudden lane changes, which can result in many more accidents. Be alert through these construction zones by reading the road signs carefully and merging early if you need to switch lanes. Be aware of the cars around you and watch out for any aggressive drivers who are frustrated with the detours and who might make sudden moves.
• Prepare for breakdowns. Before you leave your house, make sure your car battery is completely full. Pack anything else you might need in case of a breakdown, such as jumper cables, a flashlight, first aid kit, etc.

If you were involved in a serious car accident during a family road trip, you could possibly seek compensation for any injuries that were sustained due to someone else’s negligence. Contact Wells, Call, Clark, Bennett & Clawson today for your free consultation.

Car accidents are one of the main causes of serious personal injuries, and they can result in a wide range of harmful consequences for anyone involved in the incident. When law enforcement is contacted after an accident, the police officer will document and categorize the accident. To know which type of car crash the incident should be categorized into, the police will determine what was struck (a car or another person) and the type of impact. If you have recently been involved in a car accident, you should know which type of accident you were involved in, as it will be useful information for your personal injury case.

What Are the Different Car Accident Categories?

• Rear impact/rear end collision: This type of car crash involves a car hitting the car or truck in front of it. This commonly occurs when the car in front makes a sudden stop and the car behind is unable to brake in time. According to insurance policies, the fault of the accident will be on the car behind since they didn’t maintain a “safe braking distance.”
• Side collision: This involves one or more vehicle’s sides being impacted by another vehicle. This is also called a broadside, or T-bone, collision, and it occurs when the front of a vehicle crashes into the side of another car.
• Rollover: This is when a car or truck turns over on its side or roof. This type of accident often occurs when a vehicle is trying to turn too fast while driving at a high speed and loses control. There are certain vehicles that are more prone to rollovers, such as certain Ford, Jeep, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu troopers and SUVs.
• Head-on collision: This is a very destructive type of car accident that results in many fatalities every year. Car impact damage is at its greatest when the front of that car hits another car because of the car’s forward momentum.
• Other types: There are other types of car accidents that don’t fit in these categories, such as collisions with animals, fixed-objects, or with pedestrians and bicyclists. If the automobile is going at a high speed, these other types of crashes can result in serious injuries and fatalities as well.

If you have been involved in a car accident, you should contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact Wells, Call, Clark, Bennett & Clawson today for a free consultation.