A rollover accident in the south suburb of Posen claimed the life of a 29-year-old man early last Wednesday morning. Though a second vehicle was involved, there were no other injuries or fatalities reported.
The victim was driving a Cadillac on northbound I-57 just after midnight when a collision occurred between his vehicle and another car. The impact forced both vehicles into a concrete median that separates the northbound and southbound lanes near 147th Street. The Cadillac rolled over and ejected the victim, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, and severely injured him. Though he was transported to Metro South Medical Center following the crash, he was pronounced dead before 1:00 a.m.
The crash caused northbound lanes of I-57 to be closed for an hour while police officers investigated the collision and clean up crews could clear the roadway. All lanes were reopened by the time morning rush hour traffic began.
Rollover accidents like this one are generally classified as a “tripped rollover,” where an initial impact or contact with a fixed object caused the vehicle to roll over. Tripped rollovers often come to mind when thinking of a rollover crash because it is easy to appreciate that a car can roll when it is impacted at a high speed, like in a crash with another car.
Rollover collisions make up a small percentage of all crashes but a larger percentage of all fatalities in Illinois and across the nation. This is because rollovers are much more dangerous than some other types of crashes, meaning that occupants are more likely to suffer from serious or even fatal injuries in a rollover. Part of the reason for this discrepancy is that there are often multiple points of impact in a rollover accident. This means that in addition to an impact felt when two cars collide, for example, a rollover also has an impact when the side of the vehicle strikes the ground, another when the roof of the vehicle hits the ground, and possibly more when the far side and tires hit the ground. If a vehicle rolls more than once, the impacts keep adding up, which can throw a passenger about inside the vehicle and cause injury.
In addition to the increased number of impacts, the design of vehicles makes rollovers deadly. The roof of a car does not often get the same attention to detail when it comes to safety that a front bumper might. This is because there are so many more front and rear end collisions that engineers focus on these types of crashes when they make safety improvements. In contrast, the ceiling of a car and the roof often buckle inwards upon impact as opposed to keeping their shape, meaning that the ceiling can injure or trap passengers inside the vehicle. While there are some features that can limit this, particularly a roll-over bar, few vehicles have them and those that do are often designed for rough outdoor use, like a Jeep Wrangler.
If you have been injured in a rollover collision or if a loved one has been killed, you may have a claim for the losses you suffered, including your injuries. Rollover accidents can be a complex case and therefore you should be sure to contact an experienced rollover attorney regarding your rights.
If you have been injured, the Illinois rollover accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. may be able to help. Call us today at (312) 924-7575 for a free telephone consultation regarding your accident, your injuries, and whether you have a claim. We have a lawyer standing by at all times so please call us now.
Prior Blog Entries:
Crash Between Fire Engine and Car Leaves 2 Injured in Chicago, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published June 6, 2013.
South Side Crash Leaves 4 Injured, Including 2 Cops, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published June 5, 2013.
Resources:
Man Killed In Rollover Crash On I-57, CBS Chicago/Chicago Sun-Times, published June 5, 2013.