Have you been injured in a rollover accident in Dothan, AL? If so, you could be left with painful injuries, expensive medical bills worsened by lost wages, and a lower quality of life. However, you shouldn’t be left to deal with these challenges alone if someone else is responsible for the accident.
At Stokes Stemle, LLC, our Dothan rollover accident lawyers provide personalized and compassionate service to injury victims in Southeastern Alabama and throughout the state. When you reach out to us for your free case review, we will evaluate your situation to determine whether you have grounds for a case and how much you could be owed. If you decide to work with our firm, we will aggressively pursue the full range of compensation you deserve. Contact us now to tell us your story and learn more about your options.
What Happens to Your Body in a Rollover Accident?
Any car wreck has the potential to cause life-changing injuries. However, some types of accidents are particularly likely to. This is the case with rollover accidents. A rollover car wreck has an exceptionally high risk of severe or fatal injuries because of what can happen to the body as a vehicle overturns.
Rollovers involve many collisions within a single accident, each with the potential to cause severe trauma. As the car tumbles around, so will everyone inside it. Seatbelts and modern safety features provide a valuable degree of protection. But they cannot prevent injuries entirely – particularly as objects within the car fly inside as it rolls over.
Another major factor in many rollover accidents involves damage to vehicle frames, roofs, doors, and windows. For example, if a door gets ripped off or a window breaks as the car rolls, it could expose occupants to direct contact with the road or other hard surfaces. And if the frame or roof buckles, cabin intrusion can cause serious crushing injuries.
When vehicle occupants do not wear seatbelts or have seatbelts that fail during rollover accidents, the risk of serious injuries is considerably higher. Unrestrained drivers and passengers can get thrown around the interior of a vehicle as it rolls over, potentially sustaining fractures, spinal cord injuries, or even traumatic brain injuries. In worst-case scenarios, occupants may even be ejected from rolling vehicles, leaving them vulnerable to blunt-force impacts and crushing injuries.
Short- and Long-Term Injuries from Rollover Accidents
A short-term injury is a relatively minor injury that requires minimal treatment and causes you to miss work days or weeks. These injuries do not cause permanent disabilities or require life-long medical care. Common examples of short-term injuries from rollover car accidents include:
- Dental injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Seat belt injuries
- Airbag injuries
- Simple fractures
- Dislocated bones
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Strains and sprains
- “Road rash”
- Certain psychological injuries
On the other hand, a long-term injury is a moderate-to-severe injury that requires extensive care and causes you to miss work for several months or longer. These injuries may cause long-term or permanent disabilities, require follow-up treatment well into the future, and prevent victims from returning to work in any meaningful capacity. Rollover car accidents can easily result in long-term injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
- Partial or total paralysis
- Puncture wounds
- Internal injuries
- Certain serious fractures
- Amputation or loss of limb
- Soft tissue tears
- Serious burn injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
How Much Is My Rollover Car Accident Claim Worth?
Whether you sustained short- or long-term injuries in a rollover car accident, you deserve fair compensation for your losses. With a successful injury claim, you could recover money for:
- Hospital bills and other medical expenses from your crash injuries
- Incidental costs, such as mileage expenses from medical travel
- The value of any lost wages or benefits from the time you miss at work
- The projected value of losses in your lifetime earning potential
- Subjective losses, such as pain, suffering, and lower quality of life
- The costs of repairing or replacing property damaged by the crash
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Rollover Car Accident?
Whoever is at fault for causing a rollover accident is legally responsible for compensating anyone injured. However, rollovers are complicated accidents that often have many potentially liable parties. Depending on the circumstances of the crash that hurt you, you may be able to hold any of the following parties responsible:
- Another driver or road user– Another driver or road users, such as a cyclist or pedestrian, may also be liable if their behavior contributed to the rollover.
- The vehicle’s manufacturer– The manufacturer of a vehicle or its components could be liable if a design or manufacturing defect contributed to the accident.
- A local government agency– The government entity responsible for local road maintenance could be liable if the accident was caused by unreasonably hazardous road conditions, such as missing signage or large potholes.
What Should I Do After a Rollover Accident?
You can protect your rights and establish a strong foundation for your rollover accident injury claim by:
- Seeking prompt medical care to make sure your injuries are properly diagnosed, treated, and added to your official medical records
- Following your doctor’s care plan and attending all follow-up appointments
- Collecting evidence to support your claim, such as photos of the crash scene, eyewitness statements, medical bills, bank statements, and proof of lost wages
- Watching what you say to the other driver, the insurance company, and any other parties about the crash, as anything you say could be used against you
- Refraining from sharing information or photos online while your case is pending
- Contacting a knowledgeable rollover car accident lawyer for dependable advice
Get in Touch with a Rollover Accident Lawyer Who Can Help You
The sooner you get in touch with a rollover accident attorney, the better your chances of recovering total and fair compensation for your losses. Contact Stokes Stemle, LLC for a free consultation with a Dothan rollover accident lawyer.
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