Who is Responsible for a Vehicle Rollover Accident? 

Vehicle rollover accidents may have many different potential causes. The causes or circumstances that lead to a vehicle rollover may determine who can be held responsible for the accident. A rollover crash may result in a traditional car accident claim, or it might lead to product liability or professional negligence claims. 

The Driver of the Overturned Vehicle

Many vehicle rollover accidents are caused by driver error. A vehicle may overturn because its driver was speeding or traveling too fast for the conditions, because the driver made a reckless maneuver such as swerving in and out of traffic, or because the driver put too much cargo on the top of the vehicle and gave it a dangerously high center of gravity. In these circumstances, the driver of the overturned vehicle may be held responsible for the crash.

Other Drivers

Vehicles can also overturn when they are hit by other vehicles, such as being hit on rear bumpers or rear fenders while traveling at highway speeds. If a vehicle is flipped over because another driver carelessly collided with the vehicle, that driver may be responsible for injuries resulting from the rollover. 

The Vehicle’s Manufacturer

Some vehicles are designed in such a way that they have a greater risk of a rollover. In particular, vehicles such as SUVs and trucks are more susceptible to rollovers due to their higher center of gravity. If a vehicle’s manufacturer designed the vehicle in such a way that it has an unreasonably high risk of a rollover, the manufacturer may be held responsible for a crash through a product liability claim. 

Manufacturers of Vehicle Parts

Rollover accidents sometimes occur due to failures of vehicle parts, such as tires, brakes, or transmission. If an auto part was defectively designed or manufactured and thereby causes a vehicle to suffer a rollover, the part manufacturer may also be subject to a product liability claim. 

The Dealership

Auto dealers may knowingly sell a vehicle that the dealer is aware suffers from design defects or other mechanical issues that increase the chance the vehicle might suffer a rollover. In these cases, the dealer may be held responsible under product liability or a breach of warranty claim. 

Other Potentially Liable Parties

In certain circumstances, other parties that may have liability for a rollover accident include:

• Auto or tire shops, who may be responsible for a rollover accident that occurs because of inadequate or negligent maintenance performed by the shop, such as selling a customer old tires at greater risk of failure.
• Road construction crews, who may fail to clean up debris from construction that may end up puncturing another motorist’s tire or otherwise cause them to lose control of their vehicle and rollover.
• State and local governments, which might have responsibility for a rollover accident that is caused by unsafe road design (such as roads built with too steep of an incline or curve) or negligent maintenance of roadways, such as failing to clear snow and ice or failing to repair potholes and broken pavement

Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Rollover Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a rollover car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw Injury Lawyers represent clients injured because of rollover accidents in Hoboken, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, East Orange, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market St., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, Trenton.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.