Posted by duijim in on September 12, 2018
The Gilmer County community was recently shocked by the tragic death of the Gilmer Middle School principal. The accident occurred when the principal’s tractor overturned into water and pinned him underneath. The exact cause of the accident is still unknown. No matter what type of vehicle you drive, rollover accidents are often deadly and occur at an alarming rate.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration even reports that more than 7,600 individuals in the United States each year are fatally injured due to rollover accidents. Another statistic compiled by the NHTSA suggests that 35% of traffic fatalities are rollover accidents. Because rollover accidents are particularly dangerous, it is critical to know how to respond if you end up in one of these types of accidents.
The Common Causes of Rollover Accidents
Among the many causes of rollover accidents, statistics reveal that alcohol is responsible for nearly half of all fatal accidents. As a result, many times when accidents occur, at least one of the parties involved was driving while impaired by either alcohol or drugs.
If you were charged with a DUI and a rollover, it is critical to quickly obtain the assistance of an experienced attorney who understands how to best respond to these cases.
What to do if You are Involved in a Rollover
Each year, an unfortunately large group of people are seriously injured and killed in rollover accidents. While rollover accidents are sometimes preventable, this is not always true. Some of the steps that you should always remember to take to survive a rollover accident include the following:
- Do not bend over. Statistics reveal that bending over or attempting to cover your head during a rollover greatly increases the chances that you will be seriously injured.
- Remain calm. After an accident occurs, it is critical to remain calm. If you have been injured, any type of additional movement can result in additional injuries.
- Turn off the engine. If it is possible to do so, you should make sure to turn off your vehicle’s engine because this decreases the risk that a fire or explosion will occur.
- Wear a seatbelt. A large number of people who are killed in rollover accidents were not wearing seatbelts. Due to the violent motions that occur in rollovers, it is common for drivers to be ejected from the vehicle. As a result, you can greatly decrease the chances of being thrown from your vehicle by wearing a seatbelt.
Contact a Traffic Citation Attorney
If you or a loved one is involved in a rollover, it is very likely that at least one of the involved parties is facing a traffic violation. As a result, you should not hesitate to contact an experienced attorney who can make sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner. At Yeargan & Kert LLC, we understand how these accidents occur and remain committed to making sure that your situation resolves in the best possible manner.