A Roof Crush Can Cause Injury or Death
A roof crush accident can severely or fatally injure a driver and other passengers in a vehicle. A roof crush occurs in a rollover accident, commonly with SUVs, and often lead to a direct, violent impact on the head and body.
If you or a loved one was in an accident in which the roof of the vehicle failed, every detail in the accident must be evaluated by a technical specialist. Auto manufacturers are required to produce safe vehicles, with the roof structure able to support the weight of the vehicle. If the roof of a vehicle was crushed in a rollover accident, injuring you or a loved one, you need legal representation from a Boulder car accident attorney at once.
Roof Crush Resistance: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Over time, the standards for vehicle manufacturing change. The danger of traveling in a vehicle that cannot withstand rolling over without the roof caving in has led to higher safety standards being imposed on vehicle manufacturers. Many vehicles were manufactured prior to the changes in roof structure standards, and the vehicle manufacturer may be held liable for what occurred, regardless of whether the roof crush was on a newer or older vehicle.
How Does a Roof Crush Happen?
A roof crush occurs when the roof of a vehicle caves in during a rollover accident. Roof crush is most common in SUVs due to their weight distribution, but it can occur with any vehicle. Rollover accidents come about due to an external factor:
- Tripping: A vehicle could have tripped an object such as a curb and flipped onto its side or back. This is the most common cause of rollover in a car. When another driver collides with another vehicle, forcing it to contact a curb, it can lead to a rollover.
- Turns or maneuvers at high speed: In larger vehicles, the center of gravity is higher and sharp turns at higher speeds can lead to a rollover.
- Multi-vehicle accidents: In larger-scale accidents, the force of the vehicles hitting each other, especially into other objects, can cause them to rollover.
- Road conditions: Icy or wet roads, common in Boulder, can lead to a vehicle going out of control and rolling over.
Common Injuries in Roof Crush Accidents
A roof crush can lead to severe or fatal physical injuries. Some common injuries due to roof crush are:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck injury
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries
- Death
In the case in which one or more occupants of the vehicle have died as a result of their injuries, the close family can seek justice by filing a wrongful death claim. This allows a spouse, a child, or other close relative of the deceased to seek compensation for the financial and personal losses associated with the untimely death of a family member.
Evaluating the Evidence: Your Vehicle
The damaged vehicle must be professionally evaluated by an expert. One of the critical points in a roof crush accident is to ensure that all evidence is preserved. If you or a loved one are involved in a roof crush accident the vehicle must be fully analyzed. A professional investigator can bring evidence to light that demonstrates mechanical failure, manufacturing defects and structural failures that allowed the roof to fail and injure the driver and passengers in the vehicle.
What Compensation Can I Seek?
Because of the serious nature a roof crush case, the compensation for damages may be in very high value. Each case is different, but some of the damages that you may be able to receive compensation for include:
- Costs of medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Future estimated medical costs
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Compensation associated with permanent disabilities
When a roof crush is associated with vehicle design failures, the injured person has a critical need for a highly skilled auto accident attorney with extensive trial experience. Vehicle manufacturers are represented by teams of professional defense attorneys who are tasked with reducing the value of compensation paid. You need a personal injury lawyer who has the experience, knowledge, and resources to develop and present a compelling case on your behalf.
Why Choose The Tenge Law Firm, LLC?
The Tenge Law Firm, LLC is a boutique law firm that represents victims in cases of serious injury. We represent a relatively low number of cases so that we can devote our full attention and resources to protecting the rights of victims. We are proud to have a reputation for providing unmatched personal service to our clients. We provide legal counsel on a contingency fee basis, with no legal fees unless we are successful. Contact us today at (303) 665-2929 for a free case consultation.