A rollover car accident in Midwest City can leave a driver or passenger facing serious injuries and a fault investigation into vehicle defects, dangerous road conditions, or another driver’s negligence. Oklahoma law generally gives injured people two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit under 12 O.S. § 95(A)(3), so early legal help protects the claim.
Common Causes of Rollover Accidents in Midwest City
A rollover happens when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof. Investigators call these crashes “tripped,” when a tire catches a curb or soft shoulder and the vehicle vaults over, or “untripped,” when it rolls from its own momentum without hitting anything first.
Several factors make a rollover more likely on the roads around Midwest City, including the I-40 corridor and the interchanges near Tinker Air Force Base:
- Swerving suddenly to avoid another vehicle, debris, or an animal in the road
- A high center of gravity, common in SUVs, pickup trucks, and passenger vans
- Worn, underinflated, or defective tires
- Uneven pavement, a soft shoulder, or a missing warning sign at a hazard
The NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program rates rollover resistance for every new vehicle sold in the United States, information that can matter if a vehicle’s design made it unusually prone to tipping.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Rollover Crash
The cause of the rollover shapes who can be sued. If another driver’s carelessness forced the evasive maneuver, that driver can be held liable. If the hazard was a pothole, debris, or a missing barrier on a government-maintained road, the government entity responsible may share fault.
A rollover can also become a product liability case against a vehicle or tire manufacturer, based on a design defect that makes a vehicle unreasonably prone to tipping, a manufacturing defect in a specific component, or a failure to warn drivers of a known risk.
Oklahoma follows a comparative negligence rule. Under 23 O.S. § 13, an injured person’s own carelessness does not bar recovery unless it is greater than the combined negligence of the parties responsible for the crash. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s vehicle ratings program publishes separate crashworthiness ratings by make and model, information that can matter when a specific vehicle or tire is a contributing cause in a rollover crash.
Statute of Limitations: Deadline to File a Rollover Lawsuit
As noted above, most rollover injury lawsuits in Oklahoma must be filed within two years of the crash. That window can close faster than expected once medical treatment or an insurance claim takes up several months. If a government-owned vehicle or a defect on a government-maintained street contributed to the rollover, a separate and shorter notice deadline can apply before the two-year period runs out.
A Midwest City rollover accident lawyer can confirm which deadline applies and make sure any required notice goes out in time.
Talk to a Midwest City Rollover Accident Lawyer
Rollover crashes are often severe. Medical bills add up quickly, and a driver or passenger who cannot work while recovering faces lost income. Some rollover injuries are permanent and life-changing.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a Midwest City rollover accident, Hasbrook & Hasbrook can investigate the cause, identify who is responsible, and pursue compensation on your behalf. We also handle rollover claims across the greater Oklahoma City metro as part of our broader work on more car accident cases we represent in Midwest City. Call (405) 605-2426 or reach our office online to set up a free case review.
