Lutherville Rollover Accident Attorney
Few things are more devastating then rollover crashes. The risk of death in a rollover crash is higher than in most other types of car accidents. Research indicates that about 3% of car accidents involve a vehicle rolling over. While only three percent of crashes involve rollovers, these accidents account for nearly three out of ten car crash fatalities in the United States.
Some types of cars are more inclined to roll than others. Designs that are more top-heavy, such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, carry a higher risk of overturning then do sedans and cars that are lower to the ground. Still, any vehicle can roll over in given circumstances.
If you sustained injuries because of a rollover crash caused by another driver, you might be able to collect compensation. The first step in learning about your rights and your legal options is to contact a Lutherville, Maryland, car accident attorney. The attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP have more than 30 years of experience helping people who suffered injuries in car crashes. Call our offices today at 410-769-5400 to schedule a consultation with a dedicated Lutherville, Maryland car accident attorney.
The Reasons For Rollovers
Many factors can make a car more likely to roll over, aside from the design of the vehicle. Some risk factors include a vehicle that does not have proper tire pressure, a car that is overloaded with cargo, and drivers traveling too fast for the road conditions. Speed is one of the leading causes of rollover crashes. Most accidents that involve a rollover take place in rural areas where roads have speed limits at 55 mph or higher. Many rollovers also take place because a driver is violating the speed limit. Data suggests that about 40 percent of drivers whose cars roll over were speeding at the time of the wreck.
There are also cases where an impact between cars will lead to one vehicle or both rolling over. Rollover crashes that involve several vehicles tend to be some of the most severe and most likely to result in serious injuries.
Seatbelt Use and Contributory Negligence in Lutherville, Maryland
When it comes to car crashes in Maryland, plaintiffs must overcome a hurdle that most car crash victims in the United States do not have to contend with. The obstacle is that in Maryland, the courts follow what is called contributory negligence. The theory of contributory negligence is often considered unfriendly towards those who are injured in car crashes. Most states allow for a person to collect compensation even if the injured individual played some role in the cause of the crash that led to his or her injuries. Maryland will not permit a person to recover if that individual was contributorily negligent and partially liable for the collision.
In some cases, a driver will only be minimally responsible for an accident while another driver will bear the bulk of the liability. Even in such cases, courts in Maryland will not divide that liability and will prevent the injured person from collecting compensation. In the event of a rollover crash, one of the reasons that injuries are so severe and that the risk of death is so high is that drivers and passengers who failed to use their seatbelts are often thrown from their vehicle. It is important to know that the defendant cannot present evidence of the lack of seatbelt use to argue that the injured victim was contributorily negligent.
Compensation Available to Crash Victims in Lutherville, Maryland
In Lutherville, Maryland, car crash victims can collect two broad categories of damages. First, crash victims are able to collect economic damages. Economic damages are fairly concrete and calculable. Costs associated with medical care, the loss of income, and property damage are considered economic damages and can be recovered in the course of a personal injury lawsuit.
The other type of damages is non-economic damages. Non-economic damages compensate a crash victim for other types of harm and losses such as pain and suffering. It is more difficult to put a dollar amount on what a person’s pain and suffering are worth. The same is true for other non-economic damages, such as disfigurement. Courts find ways to come up with an appropriate sum in these cases, and much of the time, the non-economic damages will be for higher amounts than the economic damages.
If you were injured in a rollover crash and would like to know more about the value of your claim, contact a Lutherville, Maryland, car accident attorney.
Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP Today
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our attorneys know that your claim is an important part of your recovery from your car crash injuries. Call our dedicated team of Lutherville, Maryland, personal injury attorneys today at 410-769-5400 to discuss your case.
