Rollover Crashes on Texas Roads

 Posted on December 10, 2025 in Car Accidents

When you picture a serious car accident, you might imagine a head-on collision or a T-bone crash at an intersection. However, rollover accidents represent one of the deadliest types of crashes on Texas roads. These accidents happen when a vehicle tips onto its side or roof, often rotating multiple times before stopping. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rollover crashes account for only about two percent of all vehicle accidents, yet they cause nearly 35 percent of all traffic fatalities. That stark difference shows just how dangerous these crashes can be for drivers and passengers.

Texas continues to see hundreds of rollover accidents each year on highways like Interstate 35, which runs through New Braunfels and Seguin. If you are hurt in a rollover accident in 2026, you deserve help from an experienced, aggressive Texas personal injury lawyer. The Bettersworth Law Firm is here to help.

What Makes Rollover Crashes So Dangerous?

Rollover accidents are particularly deadly because of the violent forces involved. When a vehicle flips, occupants inside experience multiple impacts as the car rotates. Metal crumples, glass shatters, and people can be thrown around the interior or even ejected from the vehicle entirely. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that roughly 70 percent of rollover crashes result in an injury to at least one occupant.

Why Do Vehicles Roll Over in Car Accidents?

Most rollover crashes occur when something disrupts a vehicle's balance. Taller and narrower vehicles like trucks, vans, and SUVs have a higher center of gravity, making them more susceptible to rolling over during sharp turns or sudden maneuvers. However, any vehicle can roll over under the right circumstances.

The most common cause of rollover accidents is called tripping. This happens when a vehicle's tires strike an object or surface that causes the vehicle to tip. Examples include hitting a curb, sliding into a guardrail, or driving off the pavement onto soft soil or gravel. The sudden change in surface or the impact with an obstacle throws off the vehicle's balance and starts the rolling motion.

Speed also plays a major role in rollover accidents. When a driver takes a curve too fast or overcorrects while swerving, the forces on the vehicle can overcome its stability. In areas like New Braunfels and Seguin, rural roads create additional rollover risks, especially at night when drivers are speeding.

Can You Prevent a Rollover Car Accident?

While you cannot control other drivers or unexpected road hazards, you can take steps to reduce your rollover risk:

• Drive within posted speed limits and reduce speed on curves and turns

• Slow down in bad weather conditions like rain or when roads are wet

• Check tire pressure regularly and before long trips

• Maintain your brakes in good working condition

• Avoid overloading your vehicle, especially rooftop carriers

• Keep both hands on the steering wheel and avoid distractions like cell phones

• Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking impairing drugs

• Get adequate rest to avoid drowsy driving

If you are involved in a multi-vehicle accident, you may have no opportunity to prevent a rollover if another driver strikes your vehicle with enough force. In these situations, wearing your seatbelt becomes your most important protection.

Common Injuries From Rollover Crashes

The violent nature of rollover accidents often results in severe, life-changing injuries. Some injuries occur from the initial impact if another vehicle is involved, but the most serious harm typically happens as the vehicle overturns.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are extremely common in rollovers. The multiple impacts that occur as a vehicle flips create numerous opportunities for the head to strike the interior, windows, or ground.

Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries

Neck and spinal cord injuries frequently occur due to the compression and twisting forces during a rollover. Damage to vertebrae, spinal discs, or the spinal cord itself can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, or permanent paralysis.

Broken and Crushed Bones

Broken bones throughout the body are also typical in rollover crashes. Arms, legs, hips, ribs, and other bones can fracture or be crushed as the vehicle rolls.

Internal Injuries

Internal organ damage poses a serious risk because some injuries are not immediately apparent. The lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, and other organs can be damaged by blunt force trauma or punctured by broken ribs.

Cuts, Lacerations, and Disfigurement

Cuts and lacerations from broken glass and sharp metal are nearly universal in rollover accidents. While some cuts are minor, others can be deep enough to cause permanent scarring or disfigurement, particularly on the face, hands, and arms.

Vehicle Ejection

Many victims are ejected from the vehicle during a rollover, especially if they are not wearing seatbelts. Being thrown from a vehicle dramatically increases the risk of fatal injuries.

When Can You Recover Compensation After a Rollover Car Accident?

Under Texas law, you may be able to recover damages if another person's negligence caused or contributed to your rollover accident. To succeed in a personal injury claim, you must show that the other driver owed you a duty of care, which all drivers owe to others on the road. You must then show that the driver breached that duty through careless or reckless actions and that this breach directly caused your injuries. You don’t need to become an overnight expert in the law; your personal injury attorney will manage these complicated steps for you.

Can I Sue Someone for a Rollover Accident Even if I Was Partly at Fault? 

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Common damages in rollover accident claims include:

• Medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Future medical care and rehabilitation costs

• Property damage

• Pain and suffering

• Loss of enjoyment of life.

In cases involving catastrophic injuries like paralysis or traumatic brain injury, the compensation needed for lifetime care can be substantial.

Contact a New Braunfels Rollover Accident Attorney

Rollover crashes cause some of the most devastating injuries seen in vehicle accidents. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a rollover accident, an experienced Seguin, TX personal injury lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact The Bettersworth Law Firm at 830-606-0404 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.