How To Prevent Vehicle Rollover Accidents In Texas

Rollover accidents are notoriously deadly – in fact, they are the most fatal type of car accident next to head-on collisions. Each year, thousands of people die in rollover accidents across the country and hundreds die in Texas alone.

How do rollover accidents happen, and how can they be prevented?

• Avoid sudden movements. A large number of rollover accidents take place when drivers jerk the wheel to one side or another suddenly, causing the car to tip or roll. This can happen if a driver nods off at the wheel and suddenly wakes up, if a driver drifts off of the road and suddenly overcorrects, if a driver serves to avoid an obstacle in the road, or even if a driver switches lanes or makes a lateral maneuver too quickly.
• Don’t speed. It is simple physics: the faster you are going, the more likely you are to become involved in a rollover accident. Always obey the speed limit, and slow down even more if presented with poor visibility or poor road conditions.
• Beware of uneven ground. Rollovers are much more likely to occur if a vehicle hits uneven ground, such as a median, roadside ditch, or even a gravel shoulder. Off-road vehicles are also more likely to rollover if they are being driven on unlevel ground.
• Choose your vehicle wisely. SUVs, some jeeps, and passenger vans with high centers of gravity are significantly more likely to roll during a car accident. Be sure to research the rollover history of a car before you buy it, and be especially careful if you must drive a vehicle with a greater rollover risk.

Remember: not all rollover accidents can be prevented. To greatly increase your chances of survival during a rollover accident, be sure to always buckle up. Wearing a seat belt can keep you from being ejected during a rollover and significantly lower your chances of serious injury and death.

Have you or a loved one been harmed in a Texas rollover accident? Contact a Houston traffic accident attorney today to learn more about your case.