An upside-down hatchback with open doors lying in the middle of the road after a rollover accident.A rollover accident can involve one or more vehicles, resulting in the car flipping onto its side or the roof.

Because of the extreme physical impact during the crash, a rollover accident can leave the victim with serious injuries and expenses. A car crash doesn’t end when all parties leave the scene, and the repercussions of an accident can be long-lasting and financially draining.

After a rollover accident in Hartford, you can contact an auto accident attorney for representation through your financial recovery.

The experienced and dedicated associates at The Bert McDowell Law Firm are standing by to help you begin the process of settling expenses from your rollover accident. The first step is a consultation with an attorney who can help you review the process of litigation and go over the important details of your case.

This first consultation is free, and The Bert McDowell Law Firm does not charge any upfront fees for auto accident claim representation. We won’t get paid unless you do. To schedule a free consultation, call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online.

What Steps to Settling a Damage Claim Will a Hartford Rollover Accident Attorney Take Over?

Settling an insurance claim involves many dull and time-consuming tasks that can overwhelm an accident victim’s day-to-day schedule, but an attorney can take many of the most critical tasks of litigation off your hands, including:

  • Communication between all parties: A claimant will need to manage communication with the negligent party, their insurance, and possible representation to effectively settle their rollover accident claim. Having an attorney means that you can relay all outside communication to your legal representation. Instead of spending your own time in drawn-out conversations, your attorney can map out important details in a private meeting.
  • Organization of documentation regarding damages: The only way to secure compensation for economic damages incurred in a rollover accident is to provide valid proof of losses. Your attorney will manage the submission of bills and other documentation to the claim adjuster and can help you outline exactly what qualifies for recovery.
  • Claim investigation and valuation: A claim’s value is dependent on various factors, and the way a claim adjuster sees each detail of your crash can heavily impact the final outcome. It’s up to a claim adjuster to value your vehicle, adjust for pain and suffering, and ultimately make the settlement offer. Your attorney will prevent critical details from being undervalued and jeopardizing the composite value of your settlement.
  • Negotiate with lien holders: A lien is a hold on your settlement in order to pay for outstanding costs. Entities like debt collectors for medical bills have a legal right to enforce these liens. A  collection agency may put a lien against your settlement and hold the money before you ever see it. Your attorney can help negotiate the final cost of a lien against your accident settlement, oftentimes decreasing the financial obligation.
  • Representation during settlement negotiation: Even after the value of your economic damages has been established through your bills and other documentation, a negotiation will determine the final amount that a claimant walks away with. A lawyer can combat any attempts to lowball your claim’s worth at the last minute and can help a claimant keep a realistic expectation of what the settlement may look like. Claim adjusters are skilled professionals, and their undervaluation tactics can leave an accident victim flustered about the ins and outs of the settlement, but an attorney will prevent any gray area from distracting you.

How Is Negligence Determined in a Rollover Accident?

Liability in an auto collision is often determined by the events leading up to the crash and if negligence can be established. Navigating it after a rollover accident can be more complex than addressing who hit who.

In some cases, a claim adjuster will almost automatically take responsibility for their policyholder’s actions because of the overwhelming evidence, but when the moments leading to the accident are less clear, a more thorough investigation may be necessary.

In order for another driver to be deemed liable for an accident, their actions must meet each of the four points of negligence:

  • Duty of care: The person in question had a duty of care to the claimant. All drivers generally have a duty of care to each other when sharing the roads.
  • Breach of duty: The other party’s actions broke their duty of responsibility. Breaking any rules of the road meets this point of negligence.
  • Causation: Moreover, it must be provable that their actions objectively caused the accident.
  • Resulting injury: Finally, a claimant must provide evidence of an injury or substantial property damage.

How Do You Prove Damages in a Rollover Accident?

An insurance adjuster will accept various methods of proof to take responsibility for their policyholder’s actions:

  • Photos
  • Dash cams
  • First responder scene report
  • Traffic light cams
  • Telemetric data from the vehicle’s onboard computer, if available

What Compensation Can a Hartford Rollover Accident Damage Claimant Seek Out?

An accident settlement will consist of compensation for a combination of damages, including but not limited to:

  • Medical treatment and hospitalization
  • Continued care, such as physical or occupational rehabilitation
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages due to inability to work
  • Disability costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages

How Does a Rollover Accident Happen?

Almost anything can cause an accident, but the severity of rolling over in a vehicle can have especially harmful repercussions.

The NHTSA reports that every year, roughly 30% of all passenger vehicle occupant fatalities are caused by rollover accidents.

Rollover accidents are most often caused by another driver’s error, but they can also occur because of a vehicle malfunction or a defective car part. In these cases, the driver may not be filing a claim with another driver but instead with the vehicle/car part manufacturer.

A rollover accident happens when a vehicle tips onto one side or flips completely onto the roof, and some of the most common factors that cause these accidents include:

  • Tires hitting tripping hazards: When a car hits a curb, median, or object in the road at a high enough speed, it can cause the car to tip over.
  • Turning too fast: Turning a vehicle will cause the weight to shift, and approaching this maneuver too fast can lead to a rollover crash. 
  • Unequal weight distribution: Tire pressure and an uneven load are two common causes of unequal weight distribution, and driving with this hazard can suddenly cause a vehicle to tip over or may make a rollover more likely in the event of an accident.
  • Driver behavior: Distracted driving, aggression, and intoxication can all make a rollover accident more likely because of the driver’s unpredictable actions.
  • Tire blowout: This most commonly happens when a tire suddenly loses pressure. A tire blowout can cause a rollover accident because of the imbalance of weight on the three stable tires.

What Are the Most Common Injuries After Rollover Accident?

Rollover accidents can leave the victim in serious physical pain, and some of the most commonly treated injuries include:

  • Head injuries (TBIs)
  • Neck and spine injuries
  • Chest trauma
  • Internal bleeding and other complications
  • Broken and fractured bones
  • Torn ligaments and dislocated joints
  • Cuts, scrapes, and other aesthetic injuries

Steps You Should Take if You Have Been in a Rollover Accident

While an attorney can be an invaluable resource for claimants as they approach the complexities of litigation, there are many ways that an accident victim can protect their own financial well-being at the early stages of their claim.

An accident can be a nerve-wracking and confusing situation, but a rollover crash victim can follow these steps to protect their recovery – financial and physical:

  • Have a medical professional treat any injuries
  • Cooperate with first responders’ efforts
  • Document the scene of the accident
  • Take photos of injuries and the healing process
  • Commit to follow-up care

Contact a Hartford Rollover Accident Law Firm for Comprehensive Claim Management

The expenses from a Hartford rollover accident can be overwhelming to face, but an attorney can help you take control of your financial future and settle debts caused by the negligence of another driver on the road.

Your lawyer will be your knowledgeable resource to turn to with questions or concerns that emerge during your claim. While settling an auto accident claim can feel like a guessing game for a claimant with limited experience, an attorney can map out the process and take on the most time-consuming tasks while raising your chances of receiving appropriate damages.

The Bert McDowell Law Firm works on contingency for auto accident claim representation, which means that we don’t take away upfront or hourly fees for our services. Instead, we will only be paid from a small, agreed-upon percentage of your final settlement.

That means we won’t get paid unless you see a settlement!

Representation is only a call away. To schedule a free consultation with a Hartford rollover accident law firm, call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online today.