Maryland Rollover Accident Attorney
Any car accident is scary, but rollovers are downright terrifying. These crashes come with a high risk of fatalities. Studies show that only three percent of crashes involve rollovers, and yet about 30 percent of deaths caused by vehicle collisions involve a rolling car.
SUVs and other taller vehicles are often associated with a higher risk of rolling over. Top-heavy designs can indeed make cars more prone to overturning; however, any vehicle can roll if certain factors are present.
If you were injured in a rollover crash caused by another driver, you should contact an attorney to learn how you could recover compensation for the injuries that you suffered. In the tragic event that you lost someone in a rollover crash, your family may be able to recover compensation for the loss of income and the incredible emotional pain and suffering that the collision caused.
Contact the compassionate and dedicated attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP today to learn how we can help you. Call 410-769-5400 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced car crash attorneys.
Maryland Rollover Crash Causes
When a rollover crash occurs, several possible things could have gone wrong. A driver may cause a rollover because he or she was speeding, especially on a curvy roadway. In fact, about 40 percent of drivers who are in rollover crashes were speeding when the accident occurred.
The majority of rollovers happen on roadways in rural locations where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour or more. Traveling too fast for the road is one of the likely causes of rollover crashes. When a car is moving fast, a swerve or attempt to round a tight curve can cause the driver to lose control over the vehicle. Poor vehicle maintenance, such as not ensuring that the car’s tires are inflated to the proper pressure, can also make for a greater risk of a vehicle rolling.
A crash with another car, especially one that involves a side-impact, can push a vehicle to overturn as well. Multiple car crash-related rollovers are some of the most devastating wrecks that can happen.
Contributory Negligence and Seatbelts in Maryland
In Maryland, a person injured in a crash that is partially the victim’s fault will not be able to recover for his or her injuries. Maryland law follows what is called “contributory negligence” as opposed to the more common “comparative negligence.” Comparative negligence allows injured people to recover a portion of their damages from a more at-fault party in proportion to their fault. In Maryland, on the other hand, if the crash victim was in any way to blame, the victim will be prevented from collecting any damages at all.
This rule does not apply to a victim’s failure to use a seatbelt. The prohibition on evidence of seatbelt use or nonuse is particularly important in the case of rollover crashes. When a person is not wearing a seatbelt, and their car rolls, there is a high risk of that person being thrown from the vehicle. Sadly, vehicle ejections are often deadly, and even when victims survive, the injuries are extensive.
While a defendant in a rollover case may wish to argue that the injured or deceased victim negligently failed to buckle up, the court will not let them make such a claim.
Juries in Maryland Will Not Hear About Seatbelt Use
In Maryland, not only will the failure of a person to use a seatbelt not be used to prevent the victim from receiving compensation for his or her injuries, but it will not even be presented to the jury. There is a concern that jurors would shift some blame to an unrestrained victim, so the court will not even permit a reference to a plaintiff’s failure to use a seatbelt in most personal injury claims. The exception could be a product liability claim against a car manufacturer where seatbelt use may be more relevant.
Rollover Crash Injuries
If a person survives a rollover crash, the injuries can be devastating and could impact the person for the rest of his or her life. Injuries often caused in these collisions include:
- Neck injuries
- Head and brain trauma
- Injuries to the spinal cord
- Lacerations and bruises
- Bone fractures
The road to recovery after a rollover crash will often be long and arduous. Collecting compensation from the responsible party will help meet the financial burden of the accident.
Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP’s Maryland Car Crash Attorneys Are Here to Help
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our experienced attorneys know how much is at stake for victims of rollovers and other severe car crashes. We are ready to fight for the compensation that you need and to which you are entitled. If you or a loved one was hurt in a rollover crash in Maryland caused by another driver, call us today at 410-769-5400 to speak to one of our dedicated attorneys.
