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Our San Diego SUV Rollover Attorneys

Why Choose Us?

If you or a loved one has been injured or has suffered a fatality in a Sport Utility Vehicle rollover accident, you need the help of an experienced SUV rollover accident attorney who can help you through this difficult time. John Gomez is one of the most experienced San Diego SUV rollover attorneys in the country. He has represented victims of SUV rollover cases involving virtually every kind of accident.

Gomez Trial Attorneys handles vehicle rollover accident cases nationally, but most often in Southern California, including San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties. Our track record of success speaks for itself. Here are some of the most accident cases we have handled in the past:

• $5.2 million for a motor vehicle accident victim with a brain injury
• $2.9 million for a car accident victim
• $2.75 million for a trucking accident victim with a brain injury
• $1.68 million for a personal injury/auto accident victim
• $1.4 million for a motor vehicle accident victim who suffered a knee injury

While past success never guarantees future results, you can rest easier knowing you have experienced trial attorneys on your side. Our dedication to accident victims in San Diego is why so many injured SUV rollover accident victims choose our law firm to help them through their darkest times.

We have an office located conveniently in San Diego at 655 West Broadway, Suite 1700. Our office is located just blocks from Waterfront Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Seaport Village Shopping Mall. You can take the Sycuan Green Line trolley to the Santa Fe Depot station when taking public transportation to our office. If you are unable to come to us, don’t worry. We can easily meet you wherever is most convenient – in your home, your office, or your hospital room.

We offer free consultations and handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket. You won’t pay anything unless we win your case. Call us now for a free case evaluation and to find out what we can do to help you. We are committed to helping our clients in any way possible.

Contact the San Diego SUV rollover accident lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys at (619) 237-3490 today. You may have the right to recover substantial compensation.

SUV Rollover Accidents in San Diego

SUV rollover accidents and deaths occur at an alarming rate in California due to the growth and popularity of Sport Utility Vehicles. Nearly 1 out of 4 vehicles on the road in the U.S. is an SUV.

Since the 1990s, the sport utility vehicle (SUV) has consistently ranked at or near the top of the list in popularity of car body styles. Anywhere you drive in San Diego, from the crowded lanes of the I-5 to the tight streets of the Gaslamp Quarter, you will likely see many SUVs.

SUVs owe much of their popularity to their height, which gives drivers commanding views of the road and inspires feelings of safety and control. Unfortunately, that very feature of SUVs can contribute to accidents occurring, and can add to the severity of damage and injuries those accidents cause.

Victims of San Diego SUV accidents often need answers to a host of questions about their rights to seek compensation from at-fault parties. We can help answer those questions in a FREE initial consultation. If you believe that defective manufacturing or design may have led to your rollover accident, we can help. For more specific answers about a San Diego SUV accident that injured you or a loved one, contact an experienced attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys today.

Why Are SUVs Dangerous?

Sport Utility Vehicle rollovers are an issue for multiple reasons. Since SUVs possess a higher center of gravity than normal vehicles, they are much more susceptible to rolling over. The center of gravity of an SUV is also affected by the load, the number of people in the car, and any cargo being carried by the SUV.

In addition, SUVs are made without roll bar protection. Originally, these vehicles were made for offroad activity and most offroad vehicles have roll bar protection on top of the roof. Auto manufacturers, however, began marketing SUVs as family cars and did not include roll bars. Without roll bars for protection, rollover accidents are much more dangerous.

In many cases, makers of SUVs can and should be held responsible for the injuries or deaths that occur as a result of these rollover accidents because of weak roof structures and safety restraint system failures that are built in these motor vehicles.

Although newer SUVs have significantly more protection and safety features, older SUVs do not. In a 2003 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, not a single SUV earned the highest government safety rating.

The Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner, Honda Passport, and Isuzu Rodeo are some of the SUVs that have been involved in rollovers that led to serious injuries and death. Ford Explorer rollover accidents have led to as many as 500 lawsuits claiming vehicle defects against Ford Motor Company.

Filing an SUV Rollover Accident Claim in San Diego

In a normal personal injury claim, negligence needs to be shown to collect damages. Liability in a product defect case, like one involving the product liability of an unsafe Sport Utility Vehicle, is controlled by strict liability.

Strict liability is a legal doctrine that makes a party responsible for damages their actions or products cause regardless of any “fault” on their part. In these cases, the plaintiff does not need to prove that a manufacturer was negligent, only that the vehicle was defective.

As a general rule, by law, you have the right to receive compensation for injuries you suffer in any San Diego SUV accident caused by someone else’s unreasonably dangerous decisions or actions.

You may get a sense of the answer to your question by asking yourself: whether you know, think, or suspect that someone else could have and reasonably should have done something differently and that if they had, the accident probably would not have happened.

The most common and reliable way to obtain compensation for your San Diego SUV accident injuries is to hire an experienced attorney who can evaluate the facts and take action on your behalf against anyone who may owe you damages.

Who is Responsible for Your San Diego SUV Rollover Accident?

At Gomez Trial Attorneys, we represent SUV accident victims who suffered an injury in a variety of accidents. We know that oftentimes multiple parties may bear liability for the crash, including:

• Drivers of vehicles involved in the accident, if their careless actions behind the wheel caused a crash;
• Employers of the drivers of any commercial vehicles involved in the SUV accident;
• SUV manufacturers, especially if a feature of the SUV made it unreasonably dangerous in a collision; and
• Government entities are responsible for preventing or keeping the public away from unreasonably hazardous road conditions. When they fail in this duty, their negligence may have contributed to the cause of an SUV accident, or amplified its severity by (for example) increasing the probability of a deadly rollover.

Every San Diego SUV accident has unique facts for lawyers to evaluate. That is why the best way to get a solid answer to your question is to speak with an attorney who represents San Diego SUV accident victims.

Will My San Diego SUV Rollover Accident Case Go To Trial?

The vast majority of San Diego SUV accident cases end in a settlement before trial. A settlement is an agreement between the injured party and the at-fault party (and often the at-fault party’s insurance company) in which the injured party receives financial compensation and the at-fault party is released from further legal liability. Experienced San Diego SUV accident lawyers negotiate settlements with defense lawyers and insurance adjusters, sometimes with the help of a neutral mediator.

However, some SUV accident cases in San Diego do go to trial. It is often difficult to predict at the beginning of a case whether it will end up in a courtroom, rather than settling. That is why SUV accident victims and their families should always hire an attorney who has a track record of achieving favorable outcomes of cases in both settlement and trial.

How Much is My SUV Rollover Accident Worth?

Obtaining Compensation After a San Diego SUV Rollover Crash

You may have the right to seek what lawyers refer to as compensatory damages; that is, damages that compensate you for your injuries and losses.

These damages may include payment for:

• Medical expenses tied to the treatment of your SUV accident injuries;
• Other expenses you would not have had but for the SUV accident and your injuries in it;
• Wages you lost when you missed work because of the accident or your injuries;
• The loss of earning capacity as a result of your injuries; and
• The pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life you have endured.

Additionally, in some cases, you may also ask a court to award you exemplary (also called punitive) damages, which punish the at-fault party for an accident.

The amount of compensation you may receive for your injuries and damages varies. By and large, the nature and severity of your injuries dictate the amount of money you might receive for your injuries. This is because the bulk of the potential damages consist of your expenses, lost wages and income, and pain and suffering. The worse your injuries, the higher these damages tend to rise.

However, the amount you should receive for your SUV accident injuries, and the amount you can reasonably expect to obtain, can differ. In the first place, your attorney must prove that someone owes you compensation, and how much money that person should pay you. The stronger the case your attorney can build from the evidence available, the higher the likelihood of settling your case for the full amount of your damages, or of convincing a judge or jury to award you those damages.

In addition, the amount of money available to you heavily depends on the financial resources of the liable party. For instance, the policy limits of that party’s insurance can dictate the maximum amount available to you.  Sometimes, the size of the liable party’s available assets can also factor into the amount of compensation you ultimately receive.

The most reliable way to get a sense of the value of your case is to seek the advice of an experienced San Diego SUV attorney today.

Innocent victims who are injured due to a defective product deserve just compensation. The San Diego SUV rollover attorneys at Gomez Trial Attorneys can help you and your family in this difficult time. We are dedicated to helping our clients and we get results. Call today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

Should I Accept an SUV Rollover Settlement Award?

It is always up to the client whether to settle in a San Diego SUV accident claim, but it would likely benefit you to speak with an experienced attorney first before agreeing to any offer of money from anyone who may have a legal liability to you for damages.

Insurance companies tend to offer SUV accident victims settlements directly when they know their policyholder faces legal liability, and they may try to escape their financial obligations for as little money as possible. An offer you receive from an insurance company may fall far short of the amount of money you deserve for your injuries and losses. The insurance company may hope that you will say “yes” to their offer without realizing how much more money you could receive if you hired an experienced lawyer to negotiate on your behalf.

You can avoid making that mistake by entrusting your case to a skilled San Diego SUV attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, and protect you from tactics designed to pay you less than you deserve.

How Long Do San Diego SUV Rollover Cases Take?

Every San Diego SUV case differs. Some settle quickly. Others need time to develop before achieving a resolution. Remember, too, that no one can guarantee that you will receive money for your injuries and losses. You can give yourself the best chance of a favorable outcome, however, by retaining the services of an experienced attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys who has represented other clients successfully in San Diego SUV accident cases.

In general, the timeline of an SUV accident case can depend on factors like:

• Your immediate medical needs and the length of time it takes to receive a prognosis from your doctors;
• The availability of the evidence your lawyer needs to build your case; and
• The degree of disagreement among the parties over questions like who is liable and how much money is fair compensation for your injuries.

You can do your part to speed your case along by hiring a skilled San Diego SUV accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your quick action can give your lawyer the best opportunity to gather critical evidence, which in turn can help to accelerate a favorable resolution.

San Diego SUV Rollover Accidents Are Different From Other Car Accident Cases

Like any motor vehicle accident, an SUV accident in San Diego can inflict serious and fatal injuries to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others. SUV accidents commonly happen because of the kinds of human errors that cause other types of accidents.

Yet, SUV accidents do stand out as different. To start, because of their height and relatively high center of gravity, SUVs have a well-documented, dangerous tendency to roll over. That makes them especially deadly in a crash. According to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, barely 2% of all motor vehicle accidents involve a rollover, but rollovers account for nearly 35% of all accident fatalities.

In addition, the height of SUVs contributes to the severity of the harm they inflict in a collision with another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian.

For example, as reported in Consumer Reports, one recent study found that in a head-on crash between an SUV and a smaller passenger vehicle, drivers and passengers in the smaller vehicle are 7.6 times more likely to die than those in the SUV, due to the SUV’s size, weight, and shape relative to the other vehicle. Similarly, a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that SUVs, due to their height, inflict fatal injuries to pedestrians they collide with at a much higher rate than smaller vehicles.

In short, SUV accidents share commonalities with other crashes, but they also result in more severe and fatal injuries.

Wrongful Death Cases and SUV Rollover Accidents in San Diego

If you lost a loved one due to an SUV rollover accident in San Diego, we can help. You and your family may have the right to seek compensation for your loss through a wrongful death lawsuit.

California law permits surviving spouses, children, and other dependent family members to sue for damages when a loved one dies in a San Diego SUV accident caused by someone else’s wrongful actions. Depending upon the circumstances of your loved one’s death, you may also have the right to sue for damages on behalf of your loved one’s estate, seeking compensation for the harm your loved one suffered before death.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, you may have the ability to obtain compensation for:

• Expenses related to your loved one’s death, and to any medical treatment your loved one received before passing away;
• The loss of your loved one’s income and other financial contributions to you and your family;
• The loss of the companionship or guidance of your loved one, and loss of consortium if it was your spouse that passed away; and
• In some cases, exemplary damages.

Speak with an experienced San Diego SUV accident attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys about your rights. You may have a limited amount of time to take legal action against the party or parties at fault for your loved one’s death.

How Much Does a San Diego SUV Rollover Accident Lawyer Cost?

It is normal for people to worry about the costs involved in hiring a lawyer, but it is not something that should be too concerning.

Our San Diego SUV accident lawyers represent our clients on a contingent fee basis. Instead of demanding payment for our services up-front or by the hour, we work for a percentage of any money we secure on your behalf.

This arrangement makes SUV accident lawyers’ services available to victims who need them without the client having to worry about being billed by the hour for help from an attorney. It also means that victims and their lawyers share the common goal of obtaining maximum compensation, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

San Diego SUV Accident FAQs

Since the 1990s, the sport utility vehicle (SUV) has consistently ranked at or near the top of the list in popularity of car body styles. Anywhere you drive in San Diego, from the crowded lanes of the I-5 to the tight streets of the Gaslamp Quarter, you will likely see many SUVs.

SUVs owe much of their popularity to their height, which gives drivers commanding views of the road, and inspires feelings of safety and control. Unfortunately, that very feature of SUVs can contribute to accidents occurring, and can add to the severity of damage and injuries those accidents cause.

Victims of San Diego SUV accidents often need answers to a host of questions about their rights to seek compensation from at-fault parties. Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions of victims in that situation. For more specific answers about a San Diego SUV accident that injured you or a loved one, contact an experienced attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys today.

What makes SUV accidents different from other San Diego car accidents?

In one sense, nothing. Like any motor vehicle accident, an SUV accident in San Diego can inflict serious and fatal injuries to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others. SUV accidents commonly happen because of the kinds of human errors that cause other types of accidents.

Still, in other ways, SUV accidents do stand out as different. To start, because of their height and relatively high center of gravity, SUVs have a well-documented, dangerous tendency to roll over. That makes them especially deadly in a crash. According to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, barely 2% of all motor vehicle accidents involve a rollover, but rollovers account for nearly 35% of all accident fatalities.

In addition, the height of SUVs contributes to the severity of the harm they inflict in a collision with another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian. For example, as reported in Consumer Reports, one recent study found that in a head-on crash between an SUV and a smaller passenger vehicle, drivers and passengers in the smaller vehicle are 7.6 times more likely to die than those in the SUV, due to the SUV’s size, weight, and shape relative to the other vehicle. Similarly, a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that SUVs, due to their height, inflict fatal injuries to pedestrians they collide with at a much higher rate than smaller vehicles.

In short, SUV accidents share commonalities with other crashes, but they also result in more severe and fatal injuries.

Can I sue for compensation after getting hurt in a San Diego SUV accident?

Possibly. It depends entirely on the specifics of what happened.

As a general rule, by law, you have the right to receive compensation for injuries you suffer in any San Diego SUV accident caused by someone else’s unreasonably dangerous decisions or actions. You may get a sense of the answer to your question by asking yourself: whether you know, think, or suspect that someone else could have and reasonably should have done something differently, and that if they had, the accident probably would not have happened.

The most common and reliable way to obtain compensation for your San Diego SUV accident injuries is to hire an experienced attorney who can evaluate the facts and take action on your behalf against anyone who may owe you damages.

Who might owe me damages for my San Diego SUV accident injuries?

That, too, depends entirely on the particulars of your San Diego SUV accident.

However, broadly speaking, lawyers who represent SUV accident victims often find that the following parties may bear the blame for a crash and the injuries resulting from it:

• Drivers of vehicles involved in the accident, if their careless actions behind the wheel caused a crash;
• Employers of the drivers of any commercial vehicles involved in the SUV accident;
• SUV manufacturers, especially if a feature of the SUV made it unreasonably dangerous in a collision; and
• Government entities that should have prevented or kept the public away from unreasonably hazardous road conditions that contributed to the cause of an SUV accident, or amplified its severity by (for example) increasing the probability of a deadly rollover.

These are examples, mind you. Every San Diego SUV accident has unique facts for lawyers to evaluate. That is why the best way to get a solid answer to your question is to speak with an attorney who represents San Diego SUV accident victims.

What kind of damages can I obtain from my San Diego SUV rollover accident?

You may have the right to seek what lawyers refer to as compensatory damages; that is, damages that compensate you for your injuries and losses.

These damages may include payment for:

• Medical expenses tied to the treatment of your SUV accident injuries;
• Other expenses you would not have had but for the SUV accident and your injuries in it;
• Wages you lost when you missed work because of the accident or your injuries;
• The loss of earning capacity as a result of your injuries; and
• The pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life you have endured.

Additionally, in some cases, you may also ask a court to award you exemplary (also called punitive) damages, which punish the at-fault party for an accident.

How much money can I get from my San Diego SUV rollover accident?

It varies. By and large, the nature and severity of your injuries dictate the amount of money you might receive for your injuries, because the bulk of the potential damages consist of your expenses, lost wages and income, and pain and suffering. The worse your injuries, the higher these categories of damages tend to rise.

However, the amount you should receive for your SUV accident injuries, and the amount you can actually reasonably expect to obtain, can differ. In the first place, your attorney must prove that someone owes you compensation, and how much money that person should pay you. The stronger the case your attorney can build from the evidence available, the higher the likelihood of settling your case for the full amount of your damages, or of convincing a judge or jury to award you those damages.

In addition, the amount of money available to you heavily depends on the financial resources of the liable party. For instance, the policy limits of that party’s insurance can dictate the maximum amount available to you.  Sometimes, the size of the liable party’s available assets can also factor into the amount of compensation you ultimately receive.

The most reliable way to get a sense of the value of your case is to seek the advice of an experienced San Diego SUV attorney today.

My loved one died in an SUV rollover. What are my rights?

You and your family may have the right to seek compensation for your loss through a wrongful death lawsuit.

California law permits surviving spouses, children, and other dependent family members to sue for damages when a loved one dies in a San Diego SUV accident caused by someone else’s wrongful actions. Depending upon the circumstances of your loved one’s death, you may also have the right to sue for damages on behalf of your loved one’s estate, seeking compensation for the harm your loved one suffered before death.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, you may have the ability to obtain compensation for:

• Expenses related to your loved one’s death, and to any medical treatment your loved one received before passing away;
• The loss of your loved one’s income and other financial contributions to you and your family;
• The loss of the companionship or guidance of your loved one, and loss of consortium if it was your spouse that passed away; and
• In some cases, exemplary damages.

Speak with an experienced San Diego SUV accident attorney about your rights. You may have a limited amount of time to take legal action against the party or parties at fault for your loved one’s death.

Will my San Diego SUV accident case go to trial?

The vast majority of San Diego SUV accident cases end in a settlement before trial. A settlement is an agreement between the injured party and the at-fault party (and often the at-fault party’s insurance company) in which the injured party receives financial compensation and the at-fault party is released from further legal liability. Experienced San Diego SUV accident lawyers negotiate settlements with defense lawyers and insurance adjusters, sometimes with the help of a neutral mediator.

However, some SUV accident cases in San Diego do go to trial. It is often difficult to predict at the beginning of a case whether it will end up in a courtroom, rather than settling. That is why SUV accident victims and their families should always hire an attorney who has a track record of achieving favorable outcomes of cases in both settlement and trial.

Someone else’s insurance company offered me money. Can I take it?

It is always up to the client whether to settle in a San Diego SUV accident claim, but it would likely benefit you to speak with an experienced attorney first before agreeing to any offer of money from anyone who may have a legal liability to you for damages.

Insurance companies tend to offer SUV accident victims settlements directly when they know their policyholder faces legal liability, and they may try to escape their financial obligations for as little money as possible. An offer you receive from an insurance company may fall far short of the amount of money you deserve for your injuries and losses. The insurance company may hope that you will say “yes” to their offer without realizing how much more money you could receive if you hired an experienced lawyer to negotiate on your behalf.

You can avoid making that mistake by entrusting your case to a skilled San Diego SUV attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can communicate the insurance company on your behalf, and protect you from tactics designed to pay you less than you deserve.

How long will it take to receive payment?

Every San Diego SUV case differs. Some settle quickly. Others need time to develop before achieving a resolution. Remember, too, that no one can guarantee that you will receive money for your injuries and losses. You can give yourself the best chance of a favorable outcome, however, by retaining the services of an experienced attorney who has represented other clients successfully in San Diego SUV accident cases.

In general, the timeline of an SUV accident case can depend on factors like:

• Your immediate medical needs and the length of time it takes to receive a prognosis from your doctors;
• The availability of the evidence your lawyer needs to build your case; and
• The degree of disagreement among the parties over questions like who is liable and how much money is fair compensation for your injuries.

You can do your part to speed your case along by hiring a skilled San Diego SUV accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your quick action can give your lawyer the best opportunity to gather critical evidence, which in turn can help to accelerate a favorable resolution.

How much does a San Diego SUV accident lawyer cost?

It is normal for people to worry about the costs involved in hiring a lawyer, but it is not something that should be too concerning.

Our San Diego SUV accident lawyers represent our clients on a contingent fee basis. Instead of demanding payment for our services up-front or by the hour, we work for a percentage of any money we secure on your behalf.

This arrangement makes SUV accident lawyers’ services available to victims who need them without the client having to worry about being billed by the hour for help from an attorney. It also means that victims and their lawyers share the common goal of obtaining maximum compensation, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

For a free consultation about your rights after a San Diego SUV accident harms you or a loved one, contact a skilled attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys today.

Contact Our San Diego SUV Rollover Accident Attorneys

The experienced San Diego SUV rollover accident lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys are here to help you and your family move forward after a serious crash. We want to take the legal burdens off of your shoulders during this time. We make it easy to seek justice because you deserve a full and happy future.

We offer a free case evaluation and there’s no obligation if you call. Our San Diego attorneys take all accident cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact the experienced legal team at Gomez Trial Attorneys at (619) 237-3490 to schedule a free case consultation; we can discuss the specifics of your claim, and help determine the best path forward.

For a free consultation about your rights after a San Diego SUV accident harms you or a loved one, contact a skilled attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys today.

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