Rollover crashes happen without warning and are especially violent to vehicle occupants. While less common than other types of motor vehicle accidents, they account for a higher percentage of catastrophic and fatal injuries.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, catastrophic accidents aren’t just cases—they are personal missions. For decades, our Mobile car accident injury attorneys have stood beside survivors when they needed an advocate most. During that time, we have fought tirelessly for more than 10,000 victims, recovering over $600 million to help them rebuild their lives.

Our firm sees legal representation as more than a service, and our clients as more than a number. Because when your world has been suddenly changed, you deserve more than just a lawyer—you need a partner who already knows the path forward.

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What Is a Rollover Crash?

A rollover crash occurs when a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof during an accident. But the speed a vehicle is traveling when it flips may cause it to roll more than once, causing the occupants to experience repetitive violent motion and multiple points of impact.

Vehicles are more likely to flip or rollover when its center of gravity suddenly or dramatically shifts during a turn, after striking an object, or when traveling on uneven terrain. While SUVs, trucks, and other vehicles with higher centers of gravity are more vulnerable to rollovers, sedans and other smaller cars can flip too.

The risk of a rollover crash increases during sudden evasive maneuvers, when traveling at high speeds, or when taking curved roads too fast.

How Do Rollover Crashes Happen in Mobile, Alabama?

Rollover crashes are complex accidents that often result from multiple factors converging in a split second. Contributing factors include vehicle design, road conditions, speed, and driver behavior.

• Tripping Incidents: When a vehicle slides sideways and encounters an object (curb, guardrail, soft shoulder), the angle and speed could be enough to “trip” it into a rollover.
• Sharp Turns at High Speeds: Certain roads in Mobile, including Highway 98 – known locally as “Bloody 98” has an especially high crash rate. Its two-lane design, combined with the lack of a road shoulder, create prime conditions for a rollover to occur, especially when drivers are speeding.
• Collision Impacts: Side-impact or T-bone accidents can transfer enough energy to flip a vehicle.
• Overcorrection: If a driver suddenly swerves to avoid an obstacle or regain control after swerving on Mobile’s rain-slicked roads, a vehicle may flip and rollover.
• Top-Heavy Loading of Vehicles: Overloading any vehicle could make it more likely to flip. However, SUVS, mini-vans, and commercial trucks carrying excessive or improperly secured cargo are especially at risk.
• Tire Blowouts or Mechanical Failures: Tire blowouts are often unexpected and can cause a driver to lose control and flip without warning. Mechanical failures, such as from an engine failure, steering issues, faulty brakes, or transmission failure, can cause a vehicle to flip without warning.
• Hazardous Road Conditions: Heavy rainfall, which is common in Mobile, uneven road surfaces, or poorly designed curves, can all increase the risk of a rollover crash.

Drivers speeding or operating a vehicle while distracted, fatigued, or impaired by alcohol are also significant rollover crash risks.

Why Are Rollover Crashes More Dangerous Than Other Car Accidents in Mobile?

Even when riding in a vehicle that has modern safety systems, like airbags and high-tech crumple zones, these crashes are so violent that occupants have little protection. Rollover crashes strike with such force that they often overcome the structural integrity of most vehicles. If the roof crushes or the cabin caves in, it dramatically increases the risk of catastrophic crush injuries, head trauma, and spinal cord damage.

What Injuries Commonly Result From Rollover Crashes?

The sheer force of a rollover crash, combined with crushing forces, multiple points of impact, and potential ejection – if an occupant is unrestrained – increase the risk of severe or life-threatening harm.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Vehicle occupants can sustain a sever or life-threatening brain injury from striking their heads against the interior of the vehicle. While a vehicle is rolling over, an object could penetrate the vehicle and strike a victim’s head, causing severe damage. But even if nothing strikes a victim head, a TBI is still possible. The violent force is often sufficient to cause a TBI just by shaking a brain enough to strike the inside of the skull.
• Spinal Cord Damage: Victims may sustain vertebral fractures and disc injuries during the tumbling motion. Partial or full paralysis may also result from a spinal cord injury.
• Crushing injuries, particularly to the chest and abdomen, when the roof structures collapse
• Multiple Bone Fractures: Compound fractures and shatter bones are especially likely in rollover crashes.
• Internal Organ Damage: Seatbelts save thousands of lives every year, but in a rollover crash, especially when not worn correctly, victims may sustain seatbelt injuries. Internal organ damage is common and may include ruptured spleens, punctured, lungs, and kidney lacerations.
• Severe Lacerations and Abrasions: Broken glass, flying debris, and twisted metal during a crash can cause multiple severe lacerations.
• Facial Injuries: Drivers or front-seat passengers may suffer permanent disfigurement from striking the dashboard or being hit by a deploying airbag, especially if sitting too close.
• Psychological Trauma: Rollover crashes are especially traumatic and can leave victims with the lasting effects of psychological trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Who May Be Liable for a Rollover Crash in Mobile?

The driver in the vehicle that rolled over may often be the liable party. While this is not always the case, Mobile prohibits victims who are even one percent liable from recovering any damages. That said, before you discount yourself from having a case, you should consider contacting a lawyer to discuss your situation. Insurance companies often try to shift blame from their liable policyholders.

If we represent you, our highly qualified attorneys can dispute any liability that has been unfairly assessed against you.

Negligent Drivers

Other drivers traveling near you can trigger your vehicle to rollover by operating recklessly, such as by speeding or driving while intoxicated. These individuals may make sudden, dangerous maneuvers, causing victims to attempt an evasive maneuver, which could lead to rollover accidents.

Vehicle Manufacturers

Automobile manufacturers may face liability when defective vehicle design or manufacturing flaws contribute to the severity of a rollover crash. Common defects include stability control system failures, roof structure weaknesses that collapse during rollovers, and airbag malfunctions that fail to deploy or deploy improperly during the accident sequence.

Tire Manufacturers

Defective tires that blow out unexpectedly or experience tread separation can trigger devastating rollover crashes, particularly at highway speeds common on I-10 through Mobile. Tire manufacturers may be liable if their products fail prematurely due to design or manufacturing defects.

Commercial Vehicle Companies

Trucking companies, delivery services, and other commercial fleet operators may be liable for rollovers involving their vehicles, especially if improper loading, inadequate driver training, or maintenance neglect contributed to the crash.

What Evidence Do I Need After a Rollover Car Accident in Alabama?

Rollover crashes leave behind distinctive evidence patterns. While the driver may be liable, crash investigators and, if necessary, accident reconstruction specialists can assess the documented damage to establish liability.

Key evidence that may establish liability for a rollover car crash includes:

• Crushed Roof: Documentation helps to reveal the extent of roof damage and intrusion into the passenger compartment, while providing compelling evidence supporting severe and catastrophic injuries.

• Ejection Point Evidence: This evidence may be relevant to determine who was driving in rollover crashes where one or more occupants were thrown from the vehicle during the crash.
• Tire Markings and Gouges: Marks appearing on the roadway may reveal the precise path of the vehicle as it began to tip.
• Vehicle Final Resting Place: Images of the vehicle in its final resting place taken from multiple angles help to show the full extent of damage.
• Electronic Data Recorder: Data from a vehicle’s onboard EDR may reveal more information about what went wrong in the seconds leading up to the crash.
• Seatbelt Performance: Examining and documenting the performance of the vehicle’s restraint systems to determine if the seatbelts functioned as designed.
• Trip Mechanism: Investigators will examine the crash scene to identify the trigger that initiated the rollover crash, including curbs, soft shoulders, or objects in the road.
• Accident Reconstruction Analysis: These specially trained experts get called in for complex cases to examine evidence using a combination of special tools and high-tech software. This can help determine more specific details, such as the roll direction and number of rotations.

How You Can Prevent a Rollover Car Crash in Mobile

Driving a vehicle with a higher center of gravity? Then you may already know that practicing defensive driving techniques significantly reduces your risk of a rollover crash.

However, whether you driver an SUV, minivan, pickup truck or even a smaller passenger car, you can avoid a rollover crash by:

• Take Curves at a Slower Speed: Slowing down when taking curves, even when driving on rural roads.
• Maintain Your Tires: Regularly inspect and maintain your tires to ensure they have the correct pressure and adequate tread. Repair or replace any worn tires immediately.
• Do Not Overload Your Vehicle: Distribute heavy items you load into your car evenly. If you use a roof rack, do not overload it, as this increases your center of gravity.

• Avoid Abrupt Steering Maneuvers: Continuously scan the road ahead for obstacles and maintaining a safe following distance.
• Adjust your Driving to the Weather: In heavy rain especially, which is common in Mobile, slow down to avoid losing control on slick conditions.
• Respect Your Vehicle’s Limitations: No vehicle is invincible. SUVs, pickup trucks and mini-vans are especially known to have stability challenges at high speed and when turning.
• Never Drive Impaired: Alcohol, drugs and other substances significantly reduce your reaction, which could be the time you need to avoid a rollover.
• Take Caution on Rural Roads: There are many rural roads in Mobile County where uneven shoulders, dirt roads, and a lack of guardrails increase the likelihood and severity of a rollover crash.
• Consider Stability Ratings: When you purchase a vehicle, consider models that have greater electronic stability control, rollover protection, and crash ratings.

Injured in A Rollover Crash? Contact Our Mobile Law Firm Today

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, our legal team is dedicated to securing the maximum compensation you deserve while you focus on healing. We thoroughly investigate every aspect of your case, identify all liable parties, and gather compelling evidence to build a robust claim. Since we take car accident claims on contingency, there are no upfront costs or fees to engage our services.

Call our trusted law firm today for a free, no-risk case review. You can also complete our quick and confidential online form. We will call you back within 24 hours.

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