Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents involving commercial trucks and trailers occur when the front wheels of a vehicle turn more quickly than the cargo the vehicle is carrying. Large trucks are particularly susceptible to rollover accidents because of their high center of gravity and frequently unstable loads. Because of this, rollover accidents frequently occur on curved exit or entry ramps. Commercial trucks are also susceptible to a rollover in the event that they take evasive action to avoid a collision or simply turn the steering wheel suddenly and quickly. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a truck rollover event, you should contact the Birmingham, Alabama commercial truck accident attorneys at Hollis Wright today.

According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which analyzed data from 24 large truck accidents in 17 states from 2001 to 2003, 9% of the accidents involved truck rollover. This study also revealed that, the majority of the time, the rollover event occurred because of truck driver error rather than the error of another driver or condition of the truck. In most cases, the truck driver caused the rollover by driving too fast for the particular situation—whether it was entering or exiting the interstate or carrying a particularly unstable load of cargo.

Smaller vehicles, caught in the path of an out of control large truck, have little chance of withstanding the impact. When an 80,000-pound tractor trailer rolls over on a busy highway the amount of devastation can be severe. Rescue workers who approach the scene know that they will likely find catastrophic injuries and fatalities among the passenger vehicles. These trucking accidents usually bring about a flurry of personal injury and wrongful death claims. If you have been one of the survivors in such an accident, you will need the guidance and advice of an Alabama truck accident attorney. While you should carefully and thoughtfully evaluate an attorney before you hire them, the Birmingham truck accident lawyers at Hollis Wright have decades of experience in handling these types of cases. We will thoroughly investigate the accident and work to find out why the truck rolled over and caused the accident. We will fully explore all avenues of recovery on your behalf in an effort to maximize the compensation that you deserve and likely need to get your life back on track.

An inexperienced truck driver is more likely to be involved in a rollover event than a seasoned professional who understands the forces involved when making sharp turns. Also, a novice truck driver is more likely to overreact when confronted with a dangerous situation that can lead to a rollover event. A knowledgeable truck rollover lawyer knows that most of these accidents are caused by the negligent operation of the commercial vehicle. The attorneys at Hollis Wright will work to find the exact causes and factors involved in an accident. Truck rollover accidents can be caused by many factors including:

• Aggressive driving;
• Drunk driving;
• Distracted driving, either by talking on the radio, using a cell phone, or putting on music;
• Falling asleep at the wheel;
• Load shift;
• Poorly designed and constructed roadways;
• Faulty brakes and other mechanical defects;
• Overcorrecting or swerving abruptly;
• Defectively designed tractor or trailers;
• Speeding on curves;
• Veering onto a soft shoulder; and
• Tire blowout or under-inflated tires.

Because of the special knowledge truck drivers should have about rollover risks, a trucking company may also be held liable for negligence if a third party is injured as a result of the driver’s poor training.

Our legal team at Hollis Wright is highly experienced in the science of accident investigation and reconstruction as well as determining the responsible parties. We have been involved in many cases that require significant and detailed forensic analysis. It is often necessary to retain an accident reconstruction expert to examine the vehicles and trucks involved in a rollover incident in order to accurately determine who is liable. We have access to some of the best experts in the country who can conduct a full scale investigation and reconstruction of these types of accidents.

If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a rollover truck accident, or if your property was damaged, don’t wait, contact an experienced attorney at Hollis Wright today for a free consultation. If you retain an attorney at our firm, your case will be handled on a contingency fee basis which means you don’t pay a fee unless we obtain a monetary award or settlement on your behalf.