Driver Transported to Bellingham Hospital After Rollover Crash on Birch Bay-Lynden Road
As reported by Whatcom News, Birch Bay-Lynden Road was temporarily closed in both directions at Woodland Road on April 13, 2021, because of a rollover crash with injuries. First responders were called to the scene of the injury crash at 10:25 a.m. and the road was reopened to traffic in both directions about 11:30 a.m. The single-vehicle rollover crash occurred when a Dodge Durango left the road and crashed into a pole on the north side of the road as it was traveling westbound on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. The vehicle landed on its side in a grassy area next to the road. According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rocky Oliphant, the driver was transported by aid to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He also noted that the driver would be arrested for driving under the influence upon release from the hospital.
Factors affecting the rollover injury crash
Although no one else was involved in this accident, it is still considered a serious accident because of the injuries to the driver, the severe property damage to the vehicle, and the alleged intoxication of the driver. As we will discuss, there are several common causes of rollover injury crashes and this accident shared a few of them: type of vehicle, driving while intoxicated, rural road, and single-car crash. It is unclear if speed played a role or whether the route was familiar to the driver or not.
Top rollover accident causes
Supported by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are six main factors that contribute to the risk of vehicle rollover accidents.
Type of vehicle
While any type of vehicle could be part of a vehicle rollover, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans are at increased risk because of their height and shape; they are taller and narrower than most other types of vehicles. The higher center of gravity that accompanies the height and shape puts these drivers and passengers at increased risk for a rollover accident if they are involved in a single-vehicle crash.
Driving while intoxicated
Almost half of all fatal rollover crashes involve a drunk driver. Even a slight impairment can be enough to reduce muscle coordination and reflexes and blur vision, which increases the chance of losing control of your vehicle.
Rural roads
Roads with clear divisions and barriers help to decrease the risk of rollover accidents but rural roads tend not to have these safety measures. As a result, almost 75 percent of fatal rollovers happen on rural roads and in rural areas with a typically posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or higher.
Single-car crashes
According to NHTSA data, almost 85 percent of all rollover accident deaths are the direct result of single-vehicle crashes. What this means is that the vast majority of rollover accidents only involve one vehicle.
High speed
Approximately 40 percent of fatal rollover car accidents involve excessive speeding. Fatal rollover car crashes more often involve speeding than other types of fatal car accidents. Of particular note is that almost 75 percent of fatal rollovers took place on roadways with a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or higher.
Routine driving
NHTSA data suggests that more than 90 percent of fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes involved a driver doing routine driving maneuvers like driving straight ahead and taking a curve or turn in the road. From this finding we may be able to infer that driver behavior such as distracted or impaired driving, type of vehicle and road conditions play the biggest roles in the risk of rollover accidents.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
