Why Truck Rollovers Happen

The risk of a rollover is just one of the many dangers of truck accidents, yet is especially severe nonetheless—tipped and tumbling trucks can crush other vehicles from their relatively unprotected roofs, to say nothing of the high odds that the trucker will be ejected from the cabin, potentially being flattened by their own vehicle. If you’ve been a victim of a truck rollover, it’s important to understand the factors that could have contributed to your crash so that you know who to turn to for compensation.

Reckless Driving and Truck Maneuverability

Trucks have high centers of gravity and relatively narrow profiles compared to their overall length and size, making them especially susceptible to rollovers. As such, truck drivers are expected to be well-trained in the handling of their vehicles, as even minor errors behind the wheel could tip their truck over in the wrong situation. As such, a few key acts of negligence tend to make truck drivers especially likely to roll their vehicle over:

• Speeding. Speeding is one of the most common causes of truck accidents overall, yet is especially hazardous when taking tight turns due to excess centrifugal force.
• Poor maintenance. Tire blowouts, cargo shifts, and other easily avoidable mechanical failures can completely deprive a trucker of control, yet are also easily prevented with thorough safety inspections and regular maintenance.
• Impairment. Alcohol impairment can certainly cause rollovers, but in practice, drowsy driving among truckers is far more common, resulting in poor vehicle control and reckless driving.

External Factors

Rollover accident statistics show that most rollovers occur after an external impact of some kind (usually another vehicle); similarly, curbs and roadway debris can vault one side of a truck upwards, causing a rollover if the truck is moving quickly enough. High winds and bad weather also tend to contribute to rollovers, though unlike external impacts, truckers are still liable for weather-based accidents, since they should have driven slower and more cautiously (or not at all) to stay safe.

Who’s Liable for Arizona Rollover Truck Accidents?

With those factors in mind, it’s clear to see that more than one party could be liable for rollover accidents, necessitating thorough investigation and assistance from an Arizona truck accident attorney. Even seemingly clear-cut causes, such as speeding, could be linked to a variety of things, such as excessive pressure from trucking companies or a lack of training. In order to make a final determination, you’ll need to gather extensive evidence, including but not limited to:

• Data from the truck’s black box pertaining to speed, brake usage, steering, hours of service, and general driving tendencies.
• Information on roadway conditions at the time of the crash, such as wind speed and traction.
• Eyewitness accounts of general driving behaviors and how the crash seemed to unfold.

A legal professional can help you piece things together and determine who may be liable for your accident, so give ELG a call today at (623) 877-3600 to schedule a free consultation. You deserve extensive compensation for your suffering and losses, yet trucking companies are bound to field the strongest legal representatives available to them since they have an incredible amount to lose. Don’t let them get away with it—having a lawyer on your side is the best way to level the playing field, and has been statistically shown to dramatically increase your odds of receiving a fair, comprehensive payout.