Overcoming a Flipped Car Accident: Why Legal Support is Key to Recovery
Have you or someone you know been seriously hurt in a flipped car accident? A flipped car accident comes with the potential for serious and devastating injuries. You might have broken bones, internal organ damage, brain injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, or other medical conditions.
Unfortunately, anytime that the vehicle rolls, turns over, or is otherwise knocked off its center of gravity, the potential for severe injuries increases dramatically. If you’ve been injured in a flipped car because of someone else’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation. This can be a complicated legal process, however, and you may need the help of an experienced attorney. As any survivor of a flipped car accident can tell you, your willingness to get help from a qualified lawyer can make a dramatic difference in your ability to recover compensation.
Far too many people are injured in preventable flipped car accidents that leave them suffering from critical injuries. In some cases, the devastation can even be fatal. While many other aspects of a vehicle are built to withstand certain kinds of impact, this is not always true of the top of the vehicle. It is so rare for a vehicle to flip over entirely that a manufacturer may not make it as safe or durable as the sides, front, or rear of a car, which are all much more likely to sustain an impact.
However, when the unthinkable happens and a car is flipped, the possibility of severe injuries in a flipped car accident is very high. Most people who live through a flipped car accident will have long-lasting or permanent disabilities and will need to have their case reviewed by a qualified flipped car accident lawyer, like the attorneys working at Morgan & Morgan.
You shouldn’t have to suffer and also handle the expenses of an accident because of someone else’s negligence. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to determine how you can get compensation.
What Causes a Flipped Car Accident?
Usually, a flipped car accident occurs when someone loses control of the vehicle or when the vehicle is struck in such a manner that it turns the car off its center of gravity. This can lead to the car flipping over or even rolling. The circumstances of the accident site itself will also influence whether the car is likely to flip or not. For example, in a flipped car accident that happens over a hill or along a median next to a ravine, there is a much higher chance that the vehicle will roll multiple times down that hill. This puts passengers inside the vehicle at much greater risk of serious injury. Whereas you have the ability to grab onto the steering wheel, apply the brakes, or take other protective measures in the event of a traditional car accident, a driver has little to no control in a flipped car wreck.
When the car starts flipping or rolling, a driver can do everything possible to prevent serious injuries, but may have little to no control because of the violent movement of the car itself. In many cases, a flipped car accident goes back to the actions of a negligent party. If you can show that a negligent or irresponsible person caused your car to flip and the injuries that you sustained from that accident, you may be able to win compensation through a settlement or a lawsuit. In either of these circumstances, you cannot afford to wait because recovery of compensation is dependent on you filing a claim within the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations simply refers to your state's rules on how long you have to file a lawsuit after the accident happens. Depending on the state where you live, this can be anywhere from one to four years, but may alter based on the specifics of the accident, such as if you're filing a claim against a government entity. If you're filing a claim against a government entity that you allege was negligent, you may have a much shorter window to file your personal injury claim, usually around six months. Here are some of the other driver behaviors that may contribute to the chances of a flipped car accident;
- Driving recklessly
- Excessive speed
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Distracted driving
All of these factors may increase your chances that you are struck in such a manner that your car flips. However, sometimes there is another party responsible for your injuries, such as a truck driver who strikes you and throws your car off balance or the maker of a defective part on your vehicle that causes your car to tip over. If you were involved in a flipped car accident, one of the most important things you can do is to get medical attention immediately. In the heat of the moment, you have very limited opportunities to do anything in response to feeling the car getting ready to rollover. If you can remove your feet from the gas or brakes, which can prevent a broken ankle during the rollover itself. If the car has come to a complete stop after flipping over, turn off your engine and then look for any potential injuries. Contact 911 immediately. You will always want to get a copy of a police report. Bear in mind that some of the most serious injuries from vehicle accidents and flipped car wrecks are tied to things that do not show up immediately. For example, you may suffer critical injuries but do not realize this until hours or days later. Some injuries, such as paralysis, concussions and internal bleeding do not present right away, which is why it is so important to be evaluated by a medical professional immediately after the wreck occurs. If you can get photographs or videos of the scene so that you may help present this information to a personal injury lawyer working at Morgan & Morgan after the fact. Tire defects, avoidance maneuvers, roadway conditions, and more are all common causes of rollover accidents.
Should I File An Insurance Claim For A Rollover Accident?
Frequently a flipped car accident or a rollover accident involves only one car. Depending on whether or not you live in a no-fault insurance state this may influence whether you can recover compensation. If you live in a no-fault insurance claim, you must file an insurance case with your own company. If you were a passenger in the vehicle, your claim should be covered.
In many cases with a flipped car accident there are often extensive medical bills, lost time at work and even potentially pain and suffering. Communicating with a personal injury lawyer is one of the only ways to verify your legal rights and to determine the most appropriate course of action. If you have further questions about how to proceed with a flipped car accident, the lawyers at Morgan & Morgan are here to help.
Talk to your insurance company as soon as you can after the accident happens. They need to be notified about your claim so they can start the process.
When Do I Really Need a Lawyer?
With some simple car accidents, you might be able to work things out directly with the insurance company. Sadly, that's rarely not the case with a flipped car accident. Since this is usually a one car accident, it's harder to prove liability, meaning that you may have substantial injuries that are not fully covered by your insurance protection. Having someone who can investigate the entire accident and determine potentially liable parties can make a big difference in your ability to receive compensation. If you believe that someone else's actions or inactions left you with devastating injuries, you may not have to take on the burden of your medical bills and other expenses.
A lawyer takes a great deal of stress off of you when you have been hurt in a flipped car accident. Because of the inability to control the vehicle during a flipped car accident, you may have substantial injuries. If you were traveling with family members in the car, you may also be dealing with their serious injuries. This can create a full plate as well as ongoing pain for anyone who survives the accident. Similarly, if you lost a loved one in a flipped car accident, you may want an advocate who will work as hard as possible to protect your loved one's legacy and to protect your family's ability to recover compensation. As a survivor, you deserve to have someone in your corner who will do everything possible to represent your side of the story. You have enough to worry about after you have been critically injured in a flipped car accident and you should not wait to get help from a qualified personal injury lawyer.
Your attorney may be able to help with all aspects of your legal claim, including identification of liable parties, collection and promotion of evidence, and presentation of your case in settlement conversations or in court. Because the selection of your attorney is so important, it is critical that you do research to select the right personal injury lawyer for a flipped car accident. It can take some time to gather evidence from these accident scenes were to reconstruct the scene of the accident, so do not hesitate to take action and hire a lawyer. If you wait too long to file a lawsuit, you may be unable to pursue compensation based on your State's statute of limitations.
Let the talented team at Morgan and Morgan handle your flipped car accident case.
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