In many respects, vehicle rollover accidents are significantly different than other car accidents in St. Petersburg. Both drivers and passengers in a rollover car accident may be thrown around the vehicle multiple times with forceful impact. This often results in serious injuries to the head and neck that, in particularly severe cases, may prove fatal.
Rollover accidents also differ from other car accidents because the cause may be more difficult to detect. Sometimes the actions of another driver may be at fault, but other times road conditions could be to blame, or mistakes on the part of the injured driver.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a rollover accident, it may be a good idea to talk to a St. Petersburg rollover car accident lawyer who understands how to handle these types of cases. A qualified car accident attorney could evaluate your case and work to help you recover the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled.
Filing a Lawsuit
Although Florida’s no-fault insurance laws prevent people injured in car accidents from filing a lawsuit in many situations, those injured in a rollover car accident are often able to seek monetary compensation through a personal injury lawsuit because rollover accidents tend to cause serious injuries.
In virtually every case, a lawsuit must be filed within four years of the crash. or it would be dismissed as untimely. However, that does not mean an accident victim should wait four years before taking action. The best time to collect necessary evidence is right after the accident, so it can be helpful to start working with an experienced St. Petersburg rollover car accident attorney soon after the accident.
Causes of Rollover Accidents and Determining Liability
Rollover accidents can be caused by actions of the driver alone, but in many cases, a number of factors combine together to cause such an incident. For instance, quickly swerving at high speeds in poor weather conditions can result in a rollover.
When a driver suddenly jerks the wheel because their vehicle is drifting into another lane, they may bear responsibility for any ensuing accident due to their own inattention. However, if the car was drifting because of a mechanical defect, then it may be possible to show that the manufacturer or a repair shop should bear some of the responsibility.
Similarly, if the driver swerved to avoid the negligent actions of another driver, that negligent driver should be held responsible for harm suffered as a result. Rollovers are also frequently caused by hitting an object in the road, so if a vehicle hits an object that should not be in the road, the party responsible for leaving the object on the driving surface may be held liable for injuries that result.
A rollover may also be due to a flaw in a vehicle’s design, so in some situations, a car’s manufacturer may be held responsible under product liability theory. Regardless, a rollover car accident lawyer in St. Petersburg could be of significant help determining which party or parties should be named as defendants in a personal injury lawsuit following such a crash.
How a St. Petersburg Rollover Car Accident Attorney Could Help
Proving liability can be difficult in any car accident, but especially in a rollover case. So, it is wise to begin collecting evidence as soon as possible. An experienced St. Petersburg rollover car accident lawyer should understand how to look for the evidence necessary to prove liability.
In addition, an attorney familiar with rollover cases could also evaluate any settlement offers to determine whether they provide fair compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages and income, pain and suffering, and future effects of the injuries suffered. If you were injured in a rollover accident, call today to learn how a rollover accident attorney could help you.
