What Happens to the Body in a Rollover Car Accident?

Rollover car accidents cause thousands of fatalities annually across the country. Those that survive these catastrophic collisions often suffer debilitating and life-threatening injuries. The body can suffer tremendous physical injuries and stress from a rollover accident.

With help from an experienced rollover car accident lawyer, you can heal from your injuries. At the same time, we work on building a powerful case against the individual or entity who caused your collision.

Common Rollover Car Accident Injuries 

The body can endure debilitating injuries in a rollover car accident. Here are some of the most common injuries sustained in rollover collisions:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain damage is one of the top injuries seen in rollover car accidents. Traumatic brain injuries can occur from silently hitting your head within the vehicle as the car rolls over or your head being whipped violently around as the car turns, which causes internal traumatic brain damage as the brain moves back and forth inside the skull. 

Concussions, second-impact syndrome, and degenerative brain conditions are often diagnosed after rollover accidents. These types of devastating head trauma can have a permanent and lasting impact on the victims’ lives.

Spinal Cord Injuries

As the vehicle turns over, the body can be crushed and move around it in ways it should never have. Even in instances where victims wear seatbelts, the crushing force of the seatbelt as a vehicle turns can put significant pressure on the spinal cord. In the worst conditions, the spinal cord could become torn or severed, resulting in paralysis.

Other times, neck injuries, including whiplash, are common. Back injuries such as fractured vertebrae, herniated discs, and ruptured discs may also occur in rollover accidents.

Burn Injuries 

Victims could suffer debilitating burn injuries if the vehicle catches on fire as it lands. In a rollover accident, road rash, scrapes, and lacerations from shattered windshields and windows may also occur. In rollover accidents, victims may be at an increased risk of being ejected from the vehicle.

Broken Bones

Arguably the most common injury in rollover accidents is broken bones. As the car crumples rolling over, the side panels can be crushed, the frame of the vehicle can cave in, and the body is violently thrown against the car’s dashboard, doors, and interior roof. 

This can result in severe bone breaks and fractures to the ribs, legs, arms, face, skull, and other parts of the body that were hit as a vehicle rolled.

Compensation for Your Rollover Accident Injuries

With injuries this severe, it is crucial to recover total compensation for your damages. You will need access to these funds so you can cover the cost of your medical treatment and care and attempt to rebuild your life. There are several ways you can seek the compensation you deserve. 

Generally, these options include filing a claim with the insurance company or bringing your rollover accident case to court. In many instances, rollover accident victims file insurance claims and civil lawsuits to maximize the compensation they win.

What Damages Insurance Settlements Cover 

When you file a claim with the insurance company, insurance coverage pays for specific types and amounts of damages. Georgia follows a fault-based system for insurance purposes, so the amount of compensation you can recover will depend on the types and amounts of coverage the liable party purchased.

Suppose the liable party purchased only $60,000 in bodily injury protection coverage, but your medical bills exceeded $100,000. In that case, you could expect to recover up to $60,000 from the insurance company for your medical expenses. 

In addition to compensation for medical expenses, insurance coverage also covers the damage to your vehicle. Again, the compensation you can win will depend on how much the liable party purchased and the liability coverage of property damage.

Since insurance settlements are often insufficient, bringing your case to court may be necessary to maximize your financial recovery and recoup every loss.

Recoverable Damages at Trial

You can sue the liable party after your rollover accident to recover the entirety of your damages. You might have to if Insurance settlements do not cover all your losses. Thankfully, there is no limit on the amount you can win when you go to trial. 

You can recover economic and non-economic damages the insurer does not cover. Examples of such losses could include:

• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Diminished earning capacity
• Wage-related losses
• Loss of employee benefits 
• Physical pain and suffering 
• Medical equipment costs
• Loss of consortium
• Future medical treatment and expenses
• Out-of-pocket transportation and co-pay costs 
• Skin scarring and disfigurement 
• Loss of household services 

How Long Do You Have to File Your Rollover Accident Claim?

Time is already counting down to file your claim after the rollover accident. Georgia law is strict and requires all rollover accidents, car accidents, and personal injury claims to be filed within two years of the accident.

Those who file their claims after the statute of limitations expires risk their opportunity to be heard at trial. With insurance restrictions limiting the amount you can recover outside court, it is crucial to try your case before a judge to maximize your financial compensation. 

There is a possibility the statute of limitations could be tolled if certain circumstances are present, such as an injury to a minor child. In this case, the statute of limitations will not begin until a later date.  

Meet with a Rollover Accident Attorney

The trauma of your rollover accident will be felt not only physically, but psychologically and financially as well. If another party is responsible for causing your injuries, you should not be stuck covering the cost of your expensive and ongoing medical treatments. 

Get help bringing them to justice. Call a reputable rollover car accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates to find out what your next steps should be. Please fill out our quick contact form or call us to start working on your insurance and civil claims as soon as today.