Rollover Car Accidents in San Jose

When a vehicle flips onto its roof or side, this is known as a rollover accident. These types of wrecks can cause fatalities, and survivors might suffer significant injuries that could leave them unable to work or even live independently. If another party’s negligence contributed to the wreck, an injured person or their family could pursue the negligent party for damages.

If you or your loved one was hurt in a rollover car accident in San Jose, consult a local auto collision lawyer at Solution Now Law Firm. We could investigate the crash, identify negligent parties, and help you collect the compensation you need and deserve.

Common Causes of Rollovers

There are many factors that can contribute to San Jose vehicles rolling over in a wreck. Excessive speed and alcohol are factors in many rollovers. Rollovers can also happen when a vehicle tries to overtake another at excessive speed. If a vehicle is sideswiped at high speed, hits ice or gravel causing the driver to lose control, or veers off the roadway into a barrier or down an embankment, it might be prone to rolling over.

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are more likely to roll over than pickup trucks, and both are more likely to be involved in rollover accidents than vans or passenger sedans. Although passenger cars are less prone to rollovers than other vehicles, occupants of passenger cars are more likely to be fatally injured in a rollover .

Rollovers Produce Significant, Permanent Injuries

People who survive rollover crashes often sustain catastrophic or severe, permanent injuries. Rollovers often cause unbelted vehicle occupants to be ejected, which can lead to severe head injuries, spinal cord damage, paralysis, or even death. If the occupant is not ejected, a crushed roof or displaced steering wheel also could cause serious injuries. Other injuries that can result from rollover accidents include:

• Complex fractures
• Cuts, abrasions, broken ribs and clavicles, and significant facial injuries from airbags and seatbelts
• Internal injuries
• Amputations

Full recovery from rollover injuries might not be possible. Survivors might lose the function of one or more bodily systems and be unable to earn a living or even care for themselves. A San Jose attorney could evaluate the circumstances of a rollover crash and help a severely injured person or their family seek compensation for injuries sustained.

Pursuing Damages After a Rollover Crash

A party whose negligence contributes to an accident is responsible for paying the damages of anyone injured. In vehicle accident cases, the at-fault driver is the one who must pay compensation. If more than one party’s negligence led to the rollover, their insurance companies typically allocate responsibility between them.

Many rollover incidents are single-vehicle accidents. If a passenger was injured, they could sue the driver. If the driver was injured, identifying a negligent party with potential responsibility for the accident could be challenging in some cases.

A skilled San Jose rollover car wreck attorney could investigate whether the actions of another driver, a mechanical malfunction, or an unsafe road might have contributed to the accident. If so, they could claim damages from the other driver, vehicle manufacturer, or local government where the accident occurred.

Compensatory Damages

Damages in a rollover accident claim could be extensive, covering all medical and rehabilitation costs, ongoing care, future surgeries, and mental health support. Damages could reimburse the injured person’s lost wages and diminished future earning capacity.

The injured person also could receive compensation for their physical pain, inconvenience, humiliation, mental anguish, lost enjoyment of life, disfigurement, disability, and other subjective impacts of the accident.

Punitive Damages

California Civil Code §3294 allows an injured person to seek punitive damages in some cases. These are additional payments that are intended to punish the defendant for especially egregious behavior and prevent similar actions in the future. The injured person must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the responsible party acted with malice or oppression.

In car accident cases, punitive damages could be available if a driver was severely intoxicated, drag racing or engaging in other extremely reckless conduct when the injury occurred.

Trust Your Rollover Injury Claim to a San Jose Attorney

Rollover car accidents in San Jose can be serious and even fatal. If you survived a rollover crash, you could seek compensation from the negligent parties who contributed to it.

Our lawyers at Solution Now Law Firm could handle the business of seeking compensation while you focus on recovering your health. Call today to schedule a consultation.