What Vehicles Are Most Prone to Rollovers?

What vehicles are most prone to rollovers? Some vehicles are more prone to rollovers than others, based on their center of gravity and overall size, such as SUVs, tractor–trailers, and box trucks.

Any time a vehicle rolls over, the risk of serious injury to those inside it, as well as to those in other vehicles involved in the accident, is very high. Speak with a New Orleans truck accident lawyer today.

Why Some Vehicles Are More Likely to Rollover

Vehicle rollovers are dangerous and happen for numerous reasons. To understand which vehicles are most likely to rollover, consider the following reasons these incidents happen:

• High speeds increase risk
• Sharp steering of vehicles creates a greater risk
• A higher center of gravity increases risks
• Vehicles with cargo that shifts are more likely to rollover
• Vehicles driven by distracted, impaired, or fatigued drivers may rollover

Most rollover accidents are preventable. They happen when drivers lack experience, control over the vehicle, or the ability to shift around changing road conditions. Rollover accidents happen when drivers are not operating safely. 

Common Vehicles Involved in Rollover Accidents

The style of the vehicle plays a role in whether it is likely to rollover. To be clear, any vehicle, even passenger cars, can roll at high speed and with enough force working against it, especially around corners or with tight steering.

However, the following vehicles are more likely to encounter these dangerous accidents:

• SUVs: Larger SUVs pose a higher rollover risk. They have a larger body frame, which can offer some stability. However, because of their larger size, these vehicles can tip when driven at a high rate of speed or when there is sudden swerving. Even tight corners make them more likely to flip.
• Semi–trucks: All tractor-trailers can roll over, but empty ones are more likely to do so than loaded ones. The higher center of gravity, coupled with the lack of cargo to hold them down, makes them a high risk for rollovers on high-speed roadways.
• Box trucks: Box trucks tend to be larger and bulkier, and while that can help minimize risks, an empty box truck is highly likely to roll over, especially in high winds or unstable driving conditions.
• Pickup trucks: Most pickup trucks are a higher risk because they are top-heavy. Once more cargo is piled into them, they become even more challenging to drive safely.
• Vans: All types of vans, including cargo vans and passenger vehicles, have an increased risk of rollovers. They are large, with a boxy design that makes them prone to instability in high winds. They are also often not loaded with a balanced cargo, increasing the risk that one side becomes heavier than the other.
• Tow trucks: A tow truck is not likely to tip over on its own. However, the pull of the vehicle it is towing, especially if not properly loaded, or the weight of the cargo on it, can cause these trucks to lose balance, especially in slick conditions.

If you are on the road with a vehicle like this, and the driver seems to lose control, try to get out of the way of that car or truck, staying behind it when possible.

In many situations, once the driver loses control, it can be very challenging to regain it, increasing the risk of a rollover accident.

How Drivers Can Prevent Rollover Accidents

When you consider the most common vehicles prone to rollovers, do not assume that a riskier vehicle alleviates the liability of the driver when you are in an accident. Nearly all rollover accidents are preventable if the driver behind the wheel responds to road conditions and changes in driving conditions properly.

There are several ways that can occur:

• Driving at a steady and legal speed. Drivers of these vehicles can reduce the risk of a rollover by driving at the speed limit. Higher speeds, especially when combined with a larger vehicle and wind, can greatly increase the risk.
• Steer properly to avoid tripping. Tripping, which occurs when the tires strike an object such as a curb or a guardrail, is the most common cause of truck rollovers. By steering carefully to avoid collisions, especially with these curbs, it may be possible to reduce risk.
• Avoid sharp turns. Drivers who make sharp turns increase the risk of some of the wheels coming off the ground. The loss of traction and grip on the road surface can cause the vehicle to roll over.
• Avoid overcorrection. Drivers of larger vehicles who encounter dangerous situations should never overcorrect. Though it is very common and a natural habit, abruptly steering like this can cause the loss of balance, increasing the risk of a rollover. Instead, focus solely on the roadway.
• Maintain your sense of control. Avoid impairment and distraction behind the wheel. If you are not operating at your best, do not get behind the wheel of a car or truck.

Not everyone behind the wheel of a large truck has the necessary skills and experience to drive it properly, especially in slick conditions, high winds, or with an empty trailer.

If you are sharing the road with these vehicles, you may not be able to avoid the potential risks of a rollover on your own. Being vigilant is the most important way for you to protect yourself in these situations.

Know What to Do When an Accident Happens

If you are in an accident with a truck like this, get out of the way of additional risks and call 911. Keep in mind that a truck can continue to roll more than once, especially when it is struck with significant force or at a steep angle.

For this reason, drivers need to be very careful if they are in an accident with these vehicles. A New Orleans fatal car accident lawyer can assist with your case.

Hire an Attorney to Help You

If you are in an accident with a truck or other rollover vehicle, contact a New Orleans truck accident attorney to guide you in filing a claim. The risks of serious loss are high. Call Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers if you are injured in a rollover accident.