How Do Roof Crush Accidents Happen?
A roof crush happens when a vehicle’s roof support pillars are not strong enough or in the right place to support its weight in a motor vehicle accident. This lack of stability allows a vehicle’s roof to collapse inward towards the passenger compartment.
Roof crush accidents are most likely to occur in rollover accidents. Rollover accidents result in approximately 10,000 fatalities each year.
What are Rollover Car Accidents?
A rollover car accident is any car accident in which a car or other motor vehicle turns upside down to rest upon its roof. Some crashes may cause a vehicle to overturn and right itself multiple times before coming to a stop.
Causes of Rollover Car Accidents
Tripping is estimated to be the main cause of 95% of rollover car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tripping is when a vehicle’s tires strike an object or curb interrupting its forward motion and causing the vehicle to pitch forward or sideways into a roll.
Other causes of rollover accidents include:
- Multi-vehicle collisions;
- Defective tires;
- Speeding;
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Inclement weather;
- Poor road conditions;
- Tire blowouts; and
- Vehicle type or design.
Certain vehicle types and designs are more prone to rollover in a car accident such as:
- SUVs;
- Minivans; and
- Trucks.
These vehicles have a higher center of gravity than their smaller counterparts.
Who is Responsible for Roof Crush Injuries?
Multiple parties may bear responsibility for a victim’s roof crush injuries depending on the cause of the car accident. In a normal car accident scenario, an accident claim is filed against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the driver does not have insurance, a personal injury lawsuit is filed against the at-fault driver in court.
However, a thorough accident investigation may reveal a victim’s roof crush injuries were due to a design or manufacturing defect in the vehicle roof or its supporting structure. If this is the case, the vehicle manufacturer or designer may be responsible for a victim’s injuries in addition to an at-fault driver.
Injuries Caused by Roof Crush Accidents
Roof crush accidents compromise a vehicle’s protective structure and can result in serious injury or death to any of its occupants.
Injuries caused by roof crush accidents may include the following and more:
- Broken and fractured bones;
- Head and brain injuries;
- Neck and back injuries;
- Internal injuries and bleeding;
- Lost limbs;
- Nerve damage; and
- Paralysis, temporary or permanent.
If you or your loved one suffered any of these or any other injury in a roof crush accident, contact an experienced car accident attorney to discuss your legal rights and options.
Contact an Experienced Milwaukee Car Accident Lawyer Today
A roof crush accident can be devastating physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. If you are unsure where to turn for help with the legal claims process, call the Milwaukee car accident attorneys of Mingo & Yankala.
At Mingo & Yankala, we will discuss your situation with you at no cost and let you know if you qualify for monetary compensation to pay your accident-related expenses. Our firm also has the resources to investigate your roof crush accident to determine if the auto manufacturer was at-fault for your injuries.
Do not wait to contact Mingo & Yankala. Wisconsin has strict timelines to file car accident claims. If you miss these dates, you cannot recover accident-related damages.