West Palm Beach SUV Rollover Accidents

As opposed to regular-sized vehicles, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are more prone to rolling over when they are involved in an accident. Due to this tendency, these collisions lead to more significant, life-altering injuries for victims, as well as some tragically avoidable fatalities. The West Palm Beach car accident attorneys at Donaldson & Weston assist victims, as well as their families, in pursuing proper legal action in the aftermath of a serious SUV rollover accident. Our firm understands that victims involved in SUV rollover crashes need time to focus on their recovery, and therefore we take on the responsibility of ensuring that their legal rights are protected and advanced.

SUVs are becoming more and more common on West Palm Beach roadways. As families move further from traditional vans or other large vehicles for their daily use, and as manufacturers release more eco-friendly models, SUVs occupy a large percentage of the market. This growth also means that the potential for SUV rollover accidents rises. Recently, Okeechobee Boulevard has been the site of several serious collisions involving SUVs, some of which resulted in deaths to a vehicle’s occupants. The West Palm Beach sections of Florida’s Turnpike and Interstate 95 are also prone to SUV rollover accidents.

SUVs have a higher center of gravity than other cars, which can lead to rollovers, especially when a driver does not know how to properly maneuver. Common situations giving rise to an SUV rollover accident include:

• Drivers engaging in sharp turns or rapid changes in direction;


• The vehicle catching an edge or shoulder of the road or a pothole; or


• Drivers excessively speeding.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2010 that rollover crashes only make up about two percent of all accidents, but they were responsible for 35 percent of fatal car accidents. Locally, West Palm Beach witnessed more fatal accidents than the state average in 2014, some of which involved SUV rollovers.

Often, SUV rollover accidents leave victims severely injured and in need of financial help in order to cover the costs of recovery, since insurance policy limits tend to be inadequate. Many of these collisions are due to a driver’s negligent acts. Personal injury lawsuits are based on the legal theory of negligence, which requires a showing that a defendant has breached their duty of care owed to a victim, that breach caused the victim’s injuries, and the victim suffered damages related to the accident.

All motorists owe each other, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians a duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would in a similar set of circumstances. Many times, a driver of an SUV is at fault for a rollover crash, such as by speeding, turning too quickly, or otherwise engaging in an irresponsible maneuver. Passengers or other drivers who are injured due to these actions may recover compensation for past and future medical costs and time missed from work due to recovery, as well as diminished earning capacity and pain and suffering damages. When a victim loses their life as a result of a devastating SUV accident, certain family members may pursue legal action on their behalf under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act.