Over 10,000 people are killed every year in rollover crashes. Single-vehicle rollover crashes account for 47 percent of driver deaths in SUVs, compared with 39 percent in pickup trucks and 21 percent in passenger cars.

Rollover crashes in Wisconsin are definitely a serious matter to motorists who sometimes wonder why vehicles roll over: is it because of the driver, or because of the vehicle?

Let's look first at the vehicle. A vehicle riding forward at a certain speed acquires inertia that can only be gradually changed by braking or turning. If you turn brutally, the vehicle starts skidding on the road surface, continuing its forward movement even though it is now oriented more sideways. Tires skidding sideways have too much grip, and this is when the vehicle's forward pushing inertia makes it tip over. Three factors decide whether a vehicle flips over easily or not:

· The vehicle's center of gravity: An SUV with a high ground clearance, or a fully loaded 15-passenger van, has a higher center of gravity than a sedan car, making it more prone to tipping over;

· The track width: A narrow vehicle will roll over sideways more easily than a wider vehicle.

· The road surface: Rollover accidents often start when the out-of-control vehicle hits a soft terrain or the curbside, stopping the skidding abruptly, which causes the vehicle to tip over the obstacle.

Let's also look at the driver. Most rollovers occur in single-vehicle accidents, with drivers losing control of their vehicle often for the same reasons as in any other crash: distracted driving, speeding or drunk driving. Young drivers, combining a lack of driving experience, a lower sense of danger and, in most cases, ignorance about the laws of physics applied to automobiles, are the first victims of deadly rollover crashes.

Close to 80 percent of rollover crash fatalities can be prevented simply by buckling up, as many fatalities are due to unrestrained victims being fatally ejected from the vehicle during rollovers.

If you have been hurt in a Wisconsin or Illinois car, truck or motorcycle accident, contact Hupy & Abraham, S.C. today at 800-800-5676 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (local) for a free evaluation of your case, or send us an e-mail with your questions. Hupy & Abraham has offices in Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton in Wisconsin, and Gurnee and Bloomington in Illinois.