Roof crush accidents occur when a motor vehicle (typically a large SUV or van) loses its balance and flips over onto its top. Although vehicles under 6,000 pounds are mandated to have roofs that pass extremely tough safety inspections; vehicles over that weight are exempted from these tough standards. This is unfortunate, in that many of the most serious roof and rollover cases involve minivans, small trucks, and SUVs.
The physics involved in these crashes can get quite complex, given that so many variables are at play. The strength/integrity of the vehicle’s roof and its roof pillar can play an enormous role in either protecting passengers or failing to shield them from harm.
What are some common injuries from these Washington roof crush accidents?
- Damage to spinal cord
- Compressed vertebrae
- Paraplegia/quadriplegia
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head injuries
- Death
Can you claim damages if you were partially at fault for the accident?
In some cases, drivers can overcompensate for turns, fail to swerve in time to avoid an obstacle or another car, or simply drive too fast for safe handling. That said, just because you may be partially at fault doesn’t mean that you can’t collect money to compensate you for your injuries, medical costs, and time out of work.
After all, if you’re only partially at fault, you may still be able to seek damages from other parties based on their partial responsibility.
For instance, let’s say that you lost control on the highway because you were driving too fast. The van flipped over; several of your friends were hurt in the resulting roof crush accident. The van’s manufacturer can still be held partially liable for designing a structure that had a dangerously low threshold for misuse. Call 1-800-481-8282 to speak with a Seattle roof crush lawyer here at the Bernard Law Group to explore your legal options.
