10 Ways to Prevent Rollover Accident Injuries

Car accidents are devastating no matter what type they are, but rollover accidents can cause numerous injuries and be particularly deadly at the same time. Rollover accidents occur when the vehicle’s center of gravity is thrown off and the car turns either on its side, its roof, or completely over.

While any car can be involved in a rollover accident, trucks, SUV’s, minivans and other larger vehicles with high gravity centers and narrow wheel bases are the most vulnerable.

Knowing the causes of rollover accidents can help drivers avoid scenarios likely to cause them, and protect themselves from injury, vehicle repairs, and even death in the process.

Preventing Rollover Accidents

While no prevention method is fool-proof, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of being involved in a rollover accident.

1. Seat Belts Save Lives – 2010 statistics site that 65 percent of vehicle occupants who were killed in automobile accidents were not wearing seat belts. If the vehicle does roll, these passengers or drivers are more prone to be tossed about or even thrown from the vehicle if it rolls. Be sure you and all your companions are buckled in for safety.

2. Vehicle Maintenance – Unbalanced tires can make a vehicle unstable and easily throw off its center of balance. Be sure to check your tires regularly, rotate them when needed, and keep them inflated to recommended amounts.

3. Slow Down while Turning – The most common cause of rollover accidents are taking sharp turns at a fast speed. This can lead to tipping which will cause accidents. Be cautious on roads you are unfamiliar with and slow down on sharper turns.

4. Be Aware of Road Conditions – Changing weather can make roads wet, snowy, or icy, and all drivers need to be aware of these conditions and adapt their driving habits to match them. This will keep you and other cars on the road safe.

5. Keep Space Between Cars – keep enough space between your vehicle and the other cars on the road to give yourself time to react if the other drivers make erratic moves or are forced to react to road condition changes. Driving defensively saves lives.

6. Don’t Drink and Drive – This is a suggestion to prevent all accidents, not just rollover ones. Drinking makes drivers erratic and affects judgment, making a person slow down and unable to make the kind of snap decisions needed during vehicle operation. Sober drivers are safer, so refrain from driving after you’ve been drinking, and take the keys from friends who are drinking so they can’t drive.

As mentioned above, no prevention method is fool-proof and at some point you could be involved in a rollover accident. If you find yourself in this situation, there are things you can do to keep yourself safe after a rollover has occurred.

7. Brace Yourself – oftentimes you can sense when the vehicle is about to go over. If this happens, remove feet from the pedals, release the steering wheel and press your body hard against the seat.

Experts suggest crossing arms over your chest if you can remember it, but overall the important thing is to stay upright and not lean forward during the rollover.

8. Check for Injuries – once the vehicle has stopped, keep calm and check the condition of yourself and your passengers. Run hands gently over your face, hair, arms and body to check for blood, glass fragments, or other injuries that will need to be attended too. If you have a cell phone, call 911 immediately to report any injuries and request assistance.

9. Exit Carefully – If you and your passengers are for the most part uninjured, you can try to exit the vehicle despite what position it’s in. If you are upright, unbuckle and exit normally, but if you are suspended make sure you brace your feet against something to stabilize and prevent yourself from falling. Most injuries in rollovers actually occur when people release their seatbelt’s prematurely without securing themselves from falling first.

10. Watch Traffic – even after you emerge from the vehicle, you still need to pay attention to other cars around you. Numerous drivers have survived crashes to be hit by vehicles upon emerging from the site. Stay off the road as you wait for assistance to arrive.

Following these steps will hopefully keep you, your loved ones, and other drivers safe from rollover accidents, and prevent injuries should you be involved in one.

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