A recent incident in Tulare County, California underscores the dangers of operating a vehicle on our state’s roads. Even if you are a safe driver, you have no control over the ways other people drive ? which can include drunk, distracted, reckless or even all of the above ? and that’s a scary proposition.

A 73-year-old man from Bakersfield, California is dead today after his vehicle rolled over in a crash. He was driving on Highway 43 in the early evening hours on August 27 when another vehicle apparently neglected to stop at an intersection. That vehicle, a 2001 Chevy, was carrying several passengers, two of whom were ejected from the vehicle. The impact sent the 73-year-old’s car off the road, where it rolled over and slammed into a telephone pole. The Bakersfield man died at the scene while his passenger was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Authorities don’t believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident. Additionally, there’s no way to tell for sure that the man would have survived had his vehicle not rolled over. However, vehicle rollovers, whether they’re caused by an impact or not, are a serious threat and if a defect caused the vehicle to flip, the car manufacturer could be held accountable.

If you or a loved one were killed or injured when a vehicle rolled over, it might be a good idea to speak to an attorney. He or she can conduct an investigation into the accident and may be able to get the compensation you need.

Source: bakersfield.com, “Tulare County crash kills Bakersfield man,” Theo Douglas, Aug 29, 2016