What Are Your Legal Options After a Rollover Car Accident in Georgia?

Rollover car accidents in Georgia are one of the most dangerous traffic collisions. When a car loses stability and rolls over on the road, everyone inside the vehicle is at major risk, often resulting in severe injuries, and in some cases, tragic fatalities.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rollover accidents accounted for 29% of passenger fatalities across the U.S. in 2022. With such an increased risk, it’s even more important to be aware of how to stay safe, potentially prevent rollover crashes, and know your legal rights if you find yourself in this scary situation. 

Having a trusted and experienced Atlanta rollover accident lawyer on your side can make all the difference. They will effectively prove liability for the crash and secure compensation for your emotional, physical, and financial losses.

Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers has years of experience in securing justice for victims of these types of accidents. We’re here to help you understand the risk of rollover crashes and the laws surrounding them so you can protect your well-being, your rights, and seek the best legal representation for your injuries. 

What Causes Rollover Accidents in Georgia?

Rollover accidents can occur for several reasons, including driver negligence, poor road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, or excessive speed. Each of these factors triggers a significant force of impact that causes a car to roll over on its side. This can occur with or without impact from another car, and vehicles with a higher center of gravity, such as SUVs and trucks, are more likely to tip. 

It’s important to stay vigilant of reckless driving or unsafe road conditions, especially on roads with higher speed limits and fewer traffic controls, where rollovers are a higher risk. 

Look out for these common causes of rollover car accidents in Georgia:

• • Tripped vs. un‑tripped rollovers (curbs, guardrails, soft-shoulder drop-offs).
  • High center-of-gravity vehicles (SUVs, pickups, vans).
  • Excessive speed on curves & abrupt steering maneuvers.
  • Tire blowouts or tread separation.
  • Weather-related loss of traction (such as ice, snow, or heavy rain). 

Typical Rollover Accident Injuries  

Rollover car accidents expose passengers and drivers to harsh and violent movements upon impact, leading to severe or devastating injuries and/or death. 

These accidents can, unfortunately, leave victims with permanent injuries that require long-term medical care and extensive costs. However, an experienced injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA, will fight to secure compensation for any medical bills, physical pain, and emotional trauma you face as a result. 

Typical rollover car accident injuries include: 

• • Crush injuries & roof‑intrusion trauma – Including spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). 
  • Seat‑belt or ejection‑related injuries – Thoracic, abdominal, or internal organ damage. 
  • Orthopedic fractures – Long-bone or pelvic fractures are most common.  
  • Long‑term cognitive deficits – Can lead to PTSD and other trauma-based psychological effects. 

Single-Vehicle vs. Multi-Vehicle Rollover Liability  

Determining liability for a rollover crash can be tricky. It first depends on whether the collision was caused by a single-vehicle or multi-vehicle rollover. 

For instance, in a single-car rollover accident, driver error, roadway defects, or a vehicle defect can cause a rollover without impact from another driver on the road. In these cases, the fault is solely on the driver. 

In a multi-vehicle rollover, however, your car may flip due to someone else’s reckless driving. These accidents happen in two distinct ways: 

• • Evasive Action: A car may come straight at you after making an impact with another car or roadway, causing you to exhibit defensive or evasive action to protect yourself.
  • Impact-Reduced Rollovers: Direct contact from another vehicle slamming into the side of yours causes it to flip or roll over. 

Multi-car collisions are especially hazardous, as they can lead to multi-car pile-ups, where several vehicles collide in a chain reaction. This creates a more complex determination of liability—an accident lawyer will use evidence to determine which driver created the initial impact. 

Georgia’s Comparative Negligence & Defective-Vehicle Claims

When determining fault for a rollover crash in Georgia, the state abides by a comparative negligence law, sometimes referred to as the 50% bar rule. This states that an injured driver or passenger can recover compensation so long as they were less than 50% at fault for the collision. 

Additionally, Georgia also recognizes defective-vehicle causes for these accidents, where third-party liability is held for defective components or tire failure that causes a rollover. Your lawyer can help you file a defective-vehicle claim if you believe these factors are involved in your case. 

Knowledge of each of these laws is crucial to understanding and protecting your rights as a victim of these dangerous crashes, and hiring an Atlanta accident attorney who is seasoned in Georgia traffic laws will support you in securing a favorable legal case. 

Evidence That Proves Fault and Damages

In the unfortunate event you’re involved in a rollover crash, it’s essential to collect various types of documentation or evidence from the scene, as you’re able. Report the accident to the police and take photos of the scene, such as vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and traffic lights or cameras. 

Your Georgia personal injury lawyer will collect these from you, as well as additional types of evidence from accident reports and eyewitnesses to prove liability to insurance and build a strong case on your behalf: 

• • Police accident report & crash-data retrieval (EDR) downloads.
  • Skid/scuff marks, gouges, and roadway debris mapping.
  • Vehicle inspections for tire, suspension, and roof-structure failures.
  • Eyewitness and accident-reconstruction expert testimony.

Compensation Available After a Rollover 

Being involved in a rollover crash is a devastating and often traumatic experience. Whether you were directly hit by another vehicle or your vehicle suddenly tipped and rolled due to impact from risky road conditions, the sudden impact is shocking, leading to severe physical, emotional, and financial damages. 

The effects of rollover car accidents in Georgia often leave victims needing long-term medical care, which has steep associated costs, exponential time away from work and lost wages, and overall extensive pain and suffering conditions. A well-versed rollover accident lawyer will help secure the following types of compensation to help: 

• • Economic damages: Monetary compensation for emergency transport, surgeries, inpatient rehab, lost income, etc. 
  • Non-economic damages: Compensation to ease pain, disfigurement, and loss of consortium.

Additionally, you can secure punitive damages in the case that your rollover crash involves driver negligence, such as DUI or speeding, or defective-vehicle claims to hold the responsible parties at fault.

While the effects may be severe and long-lasting, Georgia law and a reputable attorney will help you get the justice you deserve.  

What to Do After a Rollover Crash

If you’ve been involved in a rollover crash, the steps you take afterwards protect your well-being and legal rights to pursue compensation for your injuries:

1. Call 911: Call 911 immediately, and request a medical evaluation no matter the extent of your injuries. 
2. Document the Scene: Collect evidence of the scene of the crash for your case. Photograph the vehicle’s resting position, roof damage, roadway gouges, skid marks, etc.
3. Collect Witness Statements: If anyone observed the accident happen, collect their contact information and name so they can provide witness testimony on your behalf. Also, look for nearby surveillance cameras as evidence to prove fault.
4. Preserve Your Vehicle: Keep the impacted vehicle intact for mechanical inspection, and decline insurer-requested release forms until you have spoken to your rollover accident lawyer.

How an Atlanta Rollover Accident Lawyer Helps 

After a rollover accident in Georgia, prioritize your health, safety, and right to legal justice. Seek immediate medical attention and contact an experienced Atlanta rollover accident lawyer who can advocate for your recovery and financial future. 

A trusted lawyer will collaborate with crash reconstruction and medical experts, handle all insurance negotiations, and develop a full life-care plan to ensure you’re compensated for both current and future needs. 

At Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience representing victims of serious motor vehicle accidents, including rollover crashes. Our attorneys are well-versed in Georgia traffic and personal injury laws. We know how to uncover every possible source of liability, whether it’s a negligent driver, a defective vehicle component from a third-party manufacturer, or a poorly maintained roadway. 

We also ensure your claim is filed before Georgia’s two-year statute of limitations expires, and we work on a contingency-fee basis so you don’t pay unless we recover compensation for you. With free consultations and no fees unless we win, we’re here to fight for your justice while you focus on healing. 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What causes rollover accidents most often in Georgia?

Rollover accidents in Georgia are most commonly caused by reckless driving or speeding, unsafe road or weather conditions, or vehicle malfunctions, such as tire blowouts. They occur with or without the impact of one vehicle onto another. 

Can I sue if my SUV rolled over without hitting another vehicle?

Yes, even if no other vehicle is involved, rollover accidents can occur as a result of vehicle design flaws, defective tires, poor road conditions, or the negligence of third parties. Your attorney will help you determine and collect evidence to prove the potentially liable parties for a single-car rollover accident. 

How is compensation calculated for rollover car accident injuries?

Compensation is generally based on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term impact on your life. Factors like fault, extent of damages, and insurance policies also influence the final compensation amount. 

Do I need a lawyer if the insurance company has already offered a settlement?

Yes, consulting a lawyer is strongly advised. Insurance companies often don’t have your best interests at heart, offering quick, low settlements that don’t reflect the full value of your losses. A lawyer can assess the offer and negotiate to help you receive fair compensation.