A rollover is a specific type of motor vehicle accident in which the vehicle tips over onto its side or rolls over (once or multiple times) onto its roof. Rollover accidents fall under one of two categories:
- Tripped Rollover: Caused by an impact of force applied by another external object, such as a curb, wall/barrier, or another vehicle.
- Un-tripped Rollover: Results when steering inputs (overcompensation), vehicular speed, and friction with ground produce destabilizing forces which are strong enough to flip or roll the vehicle over using its own weight and momentum. Some un-tripped rollovers occur as a result of manufacturer defects, such as axle component failure or tire failure (blowouts).
Rollover Accidents in Florida and the US
The Florida Department of Transportation reports that at least 600 rollover accidents occur annually. Out of 600, approximately 450 rollovers result in serious injury while more than 50 result in one or more fatalities. This means that at least person is hurt in a rollover crash every day and nearly one is killed each week.
In the state of Florida, rollover accidents affect operators of both private and commercial vehicles. While tractor-trailer rollovers tend to make news reports as high-profile accidents, SUVs and Pick-up trucks account for the largest segment of rollover crashes in the state of Florida and in the US.
Rollover Statistics (US)
- Fatalities result in 50% of rollover crashes
- 80% of rollover fatalities were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash
- 55% of all single car crashes involve vehicle rollovers
- 75% of all rollovers involves SUVs, minivans, or pick-up trucks
- Approximately 28,000 rollover accidents occur in the US each year
Local Rollover Accidents
In early May of 2013, a Lakeland high school student lost control of his Ford Ranger pick-up truck and rolled over in a rural area of Pasco County. The young male driver approached a curve too quickly (on wet pavement) and entered a skid. He overcorrected and sent the truck careening through a property fence and into a tree. The tree caused the pick-up to flip over and land on its roof (tripped rollover). The driver was treated for serious injuries and expected to recover.
In spring of 2009, a Tampa woman driving a green Ford Ranger pick-up was westbound on W. Gandy Blvd., approaching the Gandy Bridge (the southernmost bridge connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg). The driver drifted into the grassy median dividing the roadway. The sandy soil forced her pick-up into a sideways drift, causing the tires to quickly dig into the soft median producing a “pole-vault” effect. The truck rolled over sideways approximately 5-7 times before coming to rest on its roof (un-tripped rollover). Witnesses discovered that the woman had a broken foot/ankle and cuts and bruises to her face and arms. The woman was responsive and aware of what had just happened. She had also been wearing her seatbelt. When rescue teams arrived, the woman revealed that she had been texting just seconds before she drifted into the median.
Rollover Prevention
The majority of rollover accidents results from driver inattention or distracted driving, such as the 2009 W. Gandy Blvd crash we discussed. Florida recently signed a law into effect making texting while driving illegal. Distracted driving is 100% preventable. Drivers should only use cell phones via hands-free devices, avoid high-volume music, and always wear seat belts.
References:
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollover_accident
Florida Dept of Transportation – https://www.dot.state.fl.us/
