Boston Rollover Accidents: The Dangers You May Face

Boston Rollover Accidents: The Dangers You May Face Rollover accidents can cause a great deal of trauma, not to mention the substantial injuries that often accompany those types of accidents. In the aftermath of a rollover accident, you may find yourself confused, disoriented, or even trapped in your vehicle, especially if it lands on its top or its side. Always call the police after suffering injuries in a rollover accident and make sure that you seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not believe you sustained severe injuries in the accident.

Why Boston Residents Face a High Risk of Rollover Accidents

Boston residents may suffer a high rate of rollover accidents because of:

1. Dangerous driving behavior.

Boston residents have a long history of dangerous driving behavior. While a 2018 move to lower speed limits may have decreased some dangerous driving behaviors throughout the Boston area, it did not eliminate them. Boston residents, especially during their long commutes, may exceed the speed limit. Excess speeds can substantially increase the risk of a rollover accident, since the vehicle may have more force behind it as it enters into the accident. Weaving in and out of traffic, driving aggressively, or cutting off other drivers can also increase the risk of rollover accidents, since they may involve sharp maneuvers and a higher risk of the vehicle turning over as a result.

2. Driving while distracted.

Driving while distracted can substantially increase the risk of many types of collisions, including rollover accidents. In a rollover accident, the driver may take his eyes off of the road, causing him to lose track of his wheels. If his wheels slip off the road into a sharp dip or decline in the road, he may have a higher risk of suffering a single-vehicle or multi-vehicle rollover accident. Boston drivers may have long commutes to and from work. On average, they spend 80 minutes round-trip getting to and from work each day. Unfortunately, the longer those drivers spend behind the wheel each day, the higher the risk they may face of growing distracted. Drivers who know they have a long commute ahead may try to multitask while driving. They may, for example, choose to put on makeup, check in at a meeting, or even try to check on work information before they reach the office. As a result, they have their attention, hands, and eyes off of the road throughout much of the commute. The more distracted a driver grows, the greater the odds he may have of causing a serious accident, including a rollover collision.

3. Dangerous weather.

Boston gets an average of 48 inches of snow per year. In January, the coldest month of the year, low temperatures can hover around 19 degrees. Most Boston drivers get used to driving on icy roads: slowing down, taking their time around curves, and navigating carefully. While Boston has a robust road clearing system that comes out when snow and ice hit the roads, drivers, particularly those on back roads, may still face icy roads. On icy roads, car tires have a harder time holding traction. They may prove more likely to spin out or to drop off of the road. Drivers may often slide out of control, including sideways, depending on where in a curve the driver loses control of the vehicle. Out-of-control vehicles may flip off of the road and roll, especially around inclines.

4. Sharp turns.

The mountains around the Boston area offer a huge draw for tourists. They may also, however, offer immensely dangerous roads that can prove incredibly difficult to navigate safely. Many mountain roads have switchbacks and sharp turns. Drivers unfamiliar with those roads, especially those that take them at high rates of speed, may have a hard time avoiding the risk of an accident, especially in poor weather conditions or if the tires start to slip off the roads. Those sharp turns may also leave relatively little margin for error, so a driver who makes a mistake may quickly find himself tumbling down a sharp drop-off, which may cause the vehicle to roll for a long distance before it comes to a stop.

5. Big trucks.

Because of the large population of Boston and its convenient location, it sees a great deal of truck traffic. Those big trucks, however, often have more trouble navigating those tight streets. On curving mountain roads, big trucks may have even more problems avoiding the risk of a serious accident. Sometimes, the company that loads the big truck may load the truck incorrectly, causing an increase in weight at the top and increasing the risk of a rollover accident.

6. Top-heavy vehicles.

Top-heavy vehicles, including SUVs, may prove more likely to roll over than smaller vehicles, especially cars that sit low to the ground. Tourists coming to the Boston area with fully loaded vehicles and cargo on top of their vans and SUVs may make their vehicles even more top-heavy, which may also increase the risk of rollover accidents. Loading the interior of a vehicle, rather than the exterior, can help reduce the risk of a car rolling over in an accident.

7. Multi-vehicle accidents.

The heavy traffic in Boston, especially during rush hour, may mean an increased risk of multi-vehicle accidents. When multiple vehicles get involved in a single accident, it may substantially raise the risk of a rollover. Multi-vehicle accidents may involve a great deal more overall force behind the accident. Ultimately, that may mean that more vehicles rollover or end up with other serious damage.

What Should You Do After a Boston Rollover Collision?

You ended up in a car accident, and your vehicle rolled over. If you suffered serious injuries, you may need to wait for an ambulance to arrive. In some cases, you may even need first responders to help cut you out of your vehicle, especially if the vehicle landed upside down or on its side and the damage to the vehicle prevents you from unfastening your seatbelt. In others, you may even walk away from the vehicle feeling relatively unhurt, though shaken from the adventure. Now what?

1. Call the police.

Whether you suffered a single-vehicle rollover accident, most often as a result of distracted driving or poor road conditions, or you faced a multi-vehicle accident that led to multiple damaged vehicles and a rollover, you should always notify the police at the scene of the accident. The police can fill out an accident report that will make it easier for you to seek compensation through the liable driver's insurance company and will give you a better idea of what steps you need to take next, including how to contact a towing company to remove your vehicle from the scene of the accident. After any type of accident that involves significant property damage or serious injury, you should always contact the police. Never leave the scene of the accident, and do not say anything that might give the other driver permission to leave the scene of the accident. A police report can help determine liability for the accident, which can serve as vital evidence in a later personal injury claim.

2. Seek medical attention immediately.

Rollover accidents involve a great deal of force and trauma. Even if you think you escaped relatively unscathed, you should always see a medical professional for a full evaluation of your injuries. Keep in mind that you may not feel all of your injuries immediately after the accident, or you might not realize the full severity of the injuries you sustained. For example, you might feel slightly disoriented, but not realize until later that you sustained a traumatic brain injury in the accident. You might even have broken bones or severe bruising that you do not recognize. Your seatbelt may have caused internal bleeding. By having an evaluation by a medical professional, you can ensure that you do not miss any important details related to your injuries and that you get the best possible treatment for them as soon as possible. Seeking medical attention after a Boston rollover accident also serves another vital purpose: it will provide you with evidence of exactly when your injuries took place if you later need to file a personal injury claim. If you do not have that evidence, especially if it takes some time for you to notice the full extent of your injuries, you may have a hard time proving exactly when they took place, which can make it more difficult for you to move forward with your rollover accident claim. In Boston, all drivers must carry personal injury protection insurance as well as liability insurance on their vehicles. After a rollover accident, your personal injury protection insurance can offer vital assistance with your medical expenses. Boston PIP insurance covers up to $8,000 worth of medical expenses related to the accident, minus the cost of your deductible. It doesn't matter who caused your accident. Whether you or the other driver caused the accident, you may use your PIP insurance to cover those initial medical expenses, which can help make your costs more affordable and make it easier for you to get the immediate medical attention you need.

3. Get in touch with an experienced Boston car accident attorney.

As soon after your rollover car accident as possible, get in touch with a Boston car accident attorney. The attorney can help you understand the compensation you deserve after a rollover accident, from who may bear liability for your accident to how much you should expect to recover from the liable driver's insurance company. A Boston car accident attorney can also deal with the liable driver's insurance company on your behalf, increasing the odds that you will get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

4. Avoid admitting liability, including partial liability, for the accident.

Following a Boston rollover accident, avoid admitting any liability for the accident or your injuries if at all possible. While you should offer an honest assessment of what led to the accident if you speak to the police, you should avoid any statement that could accept full or partial liability in dealing with them or the insurance company. If you deal with the insurance company directly, rather than referring those communications through an attorney, you may also need to avoid making any statements about your injuries, especially statements about your recovery or any activities you may have engaged in that might indicate that you have recovered more than anticipated. Insurance companies may use a variety of tactics to reduce the compensation you may recover following a rollover collision. Letting your attorney deal with interactions with the insurance company can make it easier for you to avoid potential pitfalls and maximize your compensation.

5. Follow all instructions given to you by your doctors.

Your doctors will put together a care plan designed to help improve your odds of making a full recovery after your accident. Your care plan may include specific steps you need to take, including procedures you will need to go through to increase your body's ability to recover and therapy exercises you may need to perform. Your doctor may also give you instructions regarding activities you should not engage in immediately, or that your injuries may prevent you from engaging in long after the accident. You should follow those instructions carefully. If you ignore your doctor's instructions and your recovery suffers, the insurance company could blame you for your ongoing problems. You should also keep track of all instructions given to you by your doctors and the medical bills associated with those visits, since your attorney may refer back to that information for your car accident claim. If you suffered injuries in a Boston rollover accident, an experienced car accident attorney can help you learn more about your legal rights.