Boston Rollover Accident Lawyers
Serious accidents demand serious legal representation
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Rollover crashes are violent accidents that often cause permanent injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one was involved in one of these accidents, it is imperative that you retain skilled legal counsel. The right law firm can help you and your family claim monetary damages and bring a sense of justice and closure to your case.
In Boston, that firm is Santoro & Gray. We are experienced litigators who know what it takes both inside and outside of the courtroom to advocate for the victims of rollover wrecks. Find out why so many accident victims trust us to stand up for them.
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How Santoro & Gray can help you
- The Santoro & Gray difference
- Understanding why rollovers occur in Boston
- Who is liable for Boston rollover accidents?
- Rollover injuries are often severe
- Do you have a Boston rollover accident attorney near me?
- Boston rollover accident frequently asked questions
- Contact our Boston rollover accident lawyers
Rollovers can cause catastrophic injuries(opens in new tab) to persons inside and outside the vehicle. A catastrophic injury is not just significant; it is life-changing. It can result in substantial medical bills, permanent disability, chronic pain and suffering, and decreased quality of life, among other losses.
Car and other motor vehicle accident victims will usually first seek benefits under applicable Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, due to Massachusetts’ no-fault insurance rules. However, victims of serious accidents can often file a lawsuit as well. This gives them the right to claim damages not provided by PIP.
If you’ve been involved in a rollover, you will need zealous legal representation that understands not only the present impact of the accident but also how it will affect you years into the future. Santoro & Gray is proud to serve victims in the Boston area by:
- Conducting a full investigation of the accident to understand how and why it occurred
- Determining who may be held liable and proving their role in causing the accident
- Acquiring the evidence it takes to prove liability, including through discovery(opens in new tab)
- Calculating a fair dollar value for your damages, including reasonably projected future damages
- Filing a lawsuit, if your case qualifies, to seek the maximum damages available under the law
- Handling communications and negotiations with the insurance companies so you can focus on recovery
- Representing you in mediation to try to settle the case
Taking your case before a jury if a fair settlement cannot be reached with the insurance companies.
Although a rollover accident can happen anywhere, Boston is known for dense traffic, tight interchanges, and other factors that unfortunately make these crashes more common than some might think. Knowing why your accident happened is important to seeking compensation. Possible explanations include:
- Heavy traffic and sudden stops: Both of these may force drivers to make abrupt and dangerous maneuvers. These actions can lead to a rollover that injures passengers, third-party motorists, and others.
- Speeding: Speeding puts everyone at risk because it makes it far more difficult to control a vehicle. This is especially true in heavy traffic or on narrow streets. Speed doesn’t just mean driving above the posted speed limit, either; it can also include driving too fast for the weather or traffic conditions.
- Sharp turns: Drivers who swerve to avoid an obstacle in the road may overcorrect and lose control. If this happens, the vehicle can tip and roll over.
- Dangerous road conditions: Not all roads in Boston are well-maintained, so issues like potholes, faded lane markings, defective traffic signals, and missing or confusing road signage may make driving unnecessarily hazardous.
- High center of gravity: SUVs, trucks, and vans tend to have a higher center of gravity than passenger automobiles have. This feature makes these vehicles more susceptible to a rollover.
- Overloaded and improperly loaded trucks: When trucks carry too much cargo, or the cargo is not properly loaded, they become excessively top-heavy and hard to control. Truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries due to the size and weight of the truck.
- Vehicle problems: Defects with the vehicle can make a rollover crash more likely or increase the severity of the crash. These issues often point to manufacturing or design defects.
- Driver error: This category may cover a number of causes, such as distracted and drunk driving. If a commercial truck was involved in your accident, a lack of proper training or supervision may be to blame.
- Inclement weather: Boston is no stranger to bad weather. Snow, ice, and other conditions can reduce traction and impair vehicle stability, which are two dangerous elements that may cause a rollover.
In light of all of the ways that rollovers can occur, there are several parties who may be held responsible for your injuries. The more liable parties there are, the more potential sources of recovery may be available. Potentially at-fault parties may include:
- The driver of the rollover vehicle: If the driver of the vehicle that rolled over was negligent, then passengers in the vehicle or people outside of it may have a claim against the driver, typically handled by the driver’s liability insurer.
- Another motorist: On the other hand, another motorist may have struck the vehicle and caused it to tip and roll over. An accident reconstructionist is one type of expert witness who may be called upon to explain how the accident happened and who caused it.
- Vehicle or parts manufacturer: There may have been some defect with the rollover vehicle, which means the manufacturer, distributor, or a related party could be responsible. Let our dedicated team investigate to see which parties might be liable for the injuries you’ve suffered.
- Commercial trucking company: Commercial truck companies sometimes put profits over public safety, and this might have played a part in your accident. These cases often involve violations of federal trucking regulations(opens in new tab) that point to negligence.
- Cargo loading company: A truck with too much weight or poorly distributed weight could roll over, and this may show that the cargo loading company was responsible. Many different parties are involved in truck accidents, so let us investigate how yours happened.
- State or local government or road construction company: These parties can be responsible for poor road maintenance or work leading to an accident. However, special notice requirements and deadlines apply when suing the government. Talk to our experienced legal team for assistance.
Seeking immediate medical attention after a rollover accident is important. Even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt, you need to let a doctor examine you. Some injuries start out as minor but can become more severe in the subsequent hours and days.
Victims of rollover accidents commonly experience:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI results from powerful jolts to the head that disrupt the normal functioning of the brain. Victims may experience a decline in cognitive function, permanent brain injury, personality and behavioral challenges, and more.
- Spinal cord injuries: The movement that a human body undergoes during a rollover can cause damage to the vertebrae or spinal cord. Nerve damage, chronic pain, and partial or complete paralysis may follow.
- Neck and back injuries: These also can arise in a rollover due to the twisting and rollover motion of the accident. Whiplash and herniated discs could be initial problems, but the pain may last long into the future.
- Internal injuries: Not all victims recognize these at first, but they can include injuries to various internal organs or internal bleeding. Either of these can be life-threatening situations, so seek immediate medical attention after being in a rollover.
- Broken bones: Airbags and other safety features do not necessarily offer protection against the violent effects on the human body that come with rollover accidents. You may suffer broken bones in your arms, legs, chest, face, and skull.
- Psychological trauma: Physical injuries can cause psychological problems like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These are issues for which victims can make a claim for monetary damages.
- Death: Sadly, many victims die in rollover accidents, leaving family members behind to grieve and struggle financially. If your loved one died in a rollover crash, the executor or administrator of their estate may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party.
If you were hurt in a rollover accident in Boston, Santoro & Gray is local to you. Located at 131 Dartmouth St, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116, we are conveniently accessible to many parts of the city by car, subway, commuter line, and bus. We have ample space in a parking garage, and our office is approximately one minute from I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike).
Some of the notable landmarks in our area are the Prudential Center, Newbury Street, the Boston Public Library, the historic Trinity Church, and Copley Square Park. We are right next to Back Bay Station in one of the premier shopping and business districts of the city.
What damages might be available in my case?
If you’ve incurred reasonable and necessary medical expenses exceeding $2,000 or suffered an injury covered by one of Massachusetts’ statutory exceptions, you may be able to recover pain-and-suffering damages. Possible types of compensation include economic damages (e.g., medical bills, lost income, and lost earning capacity) and non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering and reduced quality of life).
Many of these damages account for reasonably estimated future losses, like medical treatments you will need long after the accident. These are common in rollovers since accident injuries tend to be catastrophic. We can help you demand a fair amount of compensation.
Is there a deadline to file a lawsuit?
Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits stemming from rollover accidents normally have to be filed within three years of the date of injury or death. In limited circumstances, the deadline (known as the statute of limitations) can be longer, but a victim should never assume that this will be the case. Different procedures and timelines apply if you are suing the government.
It’s important that you do not miss the deadline to file in your case. If the statute of limitations expires before you file, the court will dismiss your lawsuit. This will bar you from any financial recovery, regardless of how serious your injuries or losses are.
Will my case settle out of court?
The answer depends on numerous factors like the severity of your injuries, medical treatments you are likely to need later, how much time you miss from work, and whether you can return to work. Other factors include the types of damages you claim and the number of defendants.
One notable factor affecting settlement is whether your legal counsel is prepared to fight through trial. While Santoro & Gray tries to settle cases where possible and thereby save our clients time and stress, we aren't afraid to go to trial if it’s necessary to demand a fair verdict.
Contact our Boston rollover accident lawyers
Rollovers bring disaster to victims and their families, and we understand the stress of what you are experiencing. That’s why we serve clients with the same level of professionalism and compassion that we would want for ourselves. If you’ve been injured in a Boston rollover accident, reach out to Santoro & Gray to start working on your case today.