What is the difference between tripped and un-tripped rollovers?

As with most types of vehicle accidents, there are many factors that contribute to vehicle rollover accidents. However, there are only two ways these types of auto accidents occur. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle rollovers are categorized in two ways: tripped or un-tripped rollover accidents.

According to data collected by the NHTSA, approximately 95 percent of vehicle rollover accidents are considered tripped rollovers. Although there are many contributing factors and conditions that produce these types of rollovers, for it to be considered a tripped rollover, factors must be present that produced a high tripping force against the tires resulting in the rollover. These accidents most often happen after a driver’s maneuver applies some type of force to the tire’s sidewalls.

Un-tripped rollover accidents are much less common and occur approximately five percent of the time. Unlike tripped rollovers where tripping force is applied to a vehicle’s tires, un-tripped rollovers are usually due to collision avoidance maneuvers. These rollovers are also much more common in top-heavy vehicles such as semi-trucks. When the driver of these types of vehicles swerves to avoid a collision, their top-heavy body combined with their momentum causes them to lose control and rollover.

Although neither tripped or un-tripped rollover accidents are exclusively the product of negligence, drivers traveling at high speeds or driving erratically may be at more of a risk for these types of accidents. Individuals that have been injured in a vehicle rollover accident, either due to driver negligence or debris in the roadway may benefit by working with an experienced attorney. With their help, negligent drivers may be held accountable for their actions and injured individuals may be able to receive compensation.