Side Impact Collisions and Rollover Accidents
Being involved in any kind of car accident is a scary experience for everyone involved, and can be especially traumatic for passengers who are completely unsuspecting of any potential impact or incident. Two examples of car accidents that often lead to traumatic injuries are side-impact collisions, and rollover accidents. Some of these include significant injury to the passenger on the immediate receiving end of the point of impact in a side impact collision, or severe head trauma or neck injury to passengers in a car that rolls over.
If you or any of your loved ones have been injured in a side impact collision or rollover accident in Durham, it is absolutely essential that you ensure that comprehensive medical treatment has been administered. Once everyone is safe, contact a Durham car accident lawyer for guidance toward seeking the compensation you deserve for the injuries that were sustained.
Side Impact Collisions
Side impact collisions are often seen in accidents that happen inside of an intersection. With intersection-type accidents, there is what is commonly known as a T-bone accident, where one driver has gone through a red light, or is in the intersection and collides with the side of another vehicle. Depending on the side that was impacted, and whether or not there was a driver or passenger directly receiving the impact, injuries could be very serious.
Common effects of side impact collisions can range from bruising, orthopedic injury, and even death. Depending on where the impact occurred and the proximity to the individual, injuries can be quite severe.
The first step is to seek immediate medical care and, most importantly, stabilize the medical situation.
Damages
The recoverable damages from a side impact collision are the same as damages involved in other types of car accidents, and can include medical expenses, economic loss, or non-economic damages, which are also known as pain and suffering. If the impact was caused by a drunk driver, or criminal charges were uncovered, punitive damages may be sought as well.
Role of an Attorney after a Side Impact Collision
After a side impact collision, an attorney can help by collecting all of the available evidence and hiring an accident reconstructionist if it is a severe accident that needs intersection analysis. For some intersections in larger cities such as Durham, the attorney can obtain footage from intersection and stoplight cameras, which may be important to determine who is at fault in the accident.
Rollover Accidents
A rollover accident occurs when a vehicle loses control or is unable to maintain control at highway speeds and causes an accident. Oftentimes, distracted drivers cause rollover accidents or lose control due to weather and road conditions, sometimes because they are reacting too quickly for the car to respond properly.
Drivers can avoid becoming involved in a rollover accident by maintaining a safe speed so that they can stop in time if there is an accident in front of them, leaving plenty of time to make necessary evasive maneuvers in order to avoid an impact or collision with another car or obstacle in the road.
When the force of a vehicle is great enough for it to rollover, the force of the impact is also considerably greater and can cause more serious injury. When a car is flipped, head trauma can occur that would likely not otherwise be a factor in a less severe accident.
Documenting the Accident
When someone is a victim of a rollover accident, it is important that they seek medical attention as soon as possible. If there is something about the accident that the person remembers happening, such as how the vehicle handled at certain parts on the road, or where an unseen car suddenly appeared, they should make note so that if they are asked to recall the information at a later date, it is fresh in their mind.
Role of an Attorney when Seeking Damages
A car accident lawyer who is experienced in these kinds of cases can help investigate the accident and make sure that all witnesses are interviewed while the accident is still easy to recollect. An attorney may also be able to talk with the law enforcement officers that investigated the accident, and get notes from that investigation to ensure that all incidents and facts are recorded while they are still fresh in the minds of those who investigated, or witnessed the accident.
