A vehicle rollover is probably one of the most frightening types of car accidents because it happens really fast, and serious injuries occur. Even people who do wear seat belts get injured when the car makes that unnatural turn or spins out of control.
This blog aims to help readers to learn more about potential injuries from a rollover car accident.
What Causes a Vehicle Rollover?
A rollover occurs when a vehicle tips onto its side or rolls completely over. Sometimes, this may happen more than once. This usually occurs when:
- A driver makes a too-sharp turn to avoid something
- The car strikes a curb, guardrail, or soft shoulder and loses its balance
- The tire blows out, and the car flips
- The vehicle is top-heavy and takes a turn too fast
Rollovers can occur on highways, country roads, or even at low speeds in bad weather. Because there’s so much movement, people inside can hit many parts of the car, like the windows, roof, or each other, which leads to injuries.
Head and Brain Injuries
Head injuries are among the most common and dangerous results of a rollover. People may hit their heads on the window, steering wheel, or roof as the car rolls. Even with airbags, the impact can be powerful. Common head injuries include the following:
- Concussions
- Skull fracture
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Wearing one’s seat belt and having airbags that inflate appropriately might minimize some of these injuries, but the jerking motion during a rollover can still cause injury.
Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries
Because rollovers twist and turn the body in strange ways, neck and spine injuries are also very common. The sudden jerking motion can strain the neck muscles. In more serious cases, the spine or the bones in your back might fracture or be crushed.
The most serious complication occurs if the spinal cord, or the nerve pathway running through your spine, is damaged, which can cause paralysis in various parts of your body.
Broken Bones
When a car flips, arms and legs can hit hard surfaces or get caught under something. For this reason, fractures are very common in rollovers. People often break:
- Arms and wrists, from bracing during impact
- Legs and ankles, if the car’s frame or dashboard collapses
- Ribs, from seat belts or side impacts
Some breaks are simple, but others require surgery, casts, or months to heal.
Cuts and Bruises
During a rollover, the glass from the windows may shatter and fly in all directions. Sharp metal edges, seat belts, and flying objects all contribute to cuts, bruises, and scrapes.
These may appear minor, but deep cuts can lead to infections or scars, while some bruises might hide an internal injury underneath. Wearing seat belts properly and keeping loose objects, particularly bottles and phones, secure reduces these small, painful injuries.
Chest and Abdominal Injuries
When the seat belt tightens across the body to protect you, it can also cause pressure injuries. The chest and stomach area can be injured by:
- Seat belts that may cause bruising or even cracked ribs
- Airbags that sometimes hit with enough force to cause soreness
- Steering wheels or dashboards
In more serious crashes, the chest can receive such an impact that it could affect the lungs or heart, or it could bruise the organs in the stomach, like the liver or spleen. This is why doctors check for internal bleeding following rollovers.
How to Stay Safe
Here are a few simple ways to reduce your risk of injury in a rollover:
- Always wear your seat belt
- Don’t overload your vehicle
- Avoid making sharp swerves
- Check your tires
- Drive the speed limit
Conclusion
Rollovers are frightening and can lead to all sorts of injuries:
- From minor cuts to serious brain and spinal damage.
- Wearing your seat belt, driving carefully, and keeping your vehicle in good condition can go a long way toward reducing the risk.
