A motorist has been killed in a rollover accident that occurred on Route 146 in Providence. The accident was a single vehicle crash and the victim was thrown from his vehicle after his truck rolled. According to initial reports, the driver did not have a seat belt on at the time of his accident. The cause of the rollover crash has not been determined by investigators, but police indicated the driver may have been operating the vehicle erratically before the collision.

Car accident lawyers in Providence know that around 10,000 people die each year in the United States from rollover crashes, and that around 200,000 total rollover accidents happen each year. Many of these crashes occur in circumstances just like this tragic accident, with just a single driver involved and the motorist not wearing a seatbelt. Drivers need to be aware of the serious risks of rollover accidents, and should do everything they can to keep themselves safe from becoming a victim. A full one-third of fatal accidents nationwide involve rollover crashes.

Protecting Yourself From Rollover Accidents

One of the best ways to protect yourself from being involved in a rollover accident is to be careful about what car you buy and drive. Light trucks are significantly more likely to roll and there are 127 percent more rollovers per registered light truck as there are for any other kind of vehicle. The Providence man was one of many victims in a truck, which tend to be more prone to tipping due to the fact they are top-heavy. SUVs and vans also have a higher rollover risk while passenger cars with a low center of gravity, wide tires and a stable base are the least likely to roll.

If you already have your car and aren’t shopping for a new one, there are also some behavioral changes you can make to avoid a rollover crash. For example, drivers should:

• Always slow down around curves and turns, as the top cause of rollover crashes is going around a turn too fast and swerving sideways. The turning vehicle can tip as the side wheels come off the ground when going around the curve, or can run up against a guardrail or curb and be forced over.
• Avoid low air pressure in tires. Most newer cars will let you know when your air pressure is low. You can also get a tire gauge and check to make sure the tires are within the pressure levels recommended by the manufacturer.
• Slow down for dangerous road conditions. Roads that are slick because of rain or inclement weather can increase the chances of a rollover crash.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 5:48 pm and is filed under Car Accidents. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.