BISMARCK, N.D. (KXNET) — Rollover crashes occur when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof, usually after some form of spin or trip. They generally have a higher fatality rate than most other types of crashes — and even those that aren’t fatal can still have disastrous consequences for someone’s car or physical health. To make matters worse, a new study shows, they’re far more common in North Dakota than almost anywhere else.

In a study of these accidents, personal injury attorneys at Anidjar & Levine analyzed the most recent data from the NHTSA Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (2022) to discover which states had the highest number of fatal rollover crashes compared to their total number of fatal collisions. When these percentages were weighed against each other, North Dakota was found to have one of the highest rates of rollover fatalities in the country.

According to statistics, North Dakota is one of the states with the highest rate of fatal rollovers in the country — with nearly half of all fatal vehicle crashes in the Peace Garden State being of this nature. In contrast to these high risks, smaller, more urban states like Illinois, Massachusetts and Maryland report much lower rates of related deaths — with New York in particular having only one-fifth the rate of Wyoming, despite much higher numbers of both rollovers and fatal crashes.

“This study highlights the states where you’re most likely to experience a vehicle rollover resulting in a fatal crash,” explains an Anidjar & Levine spokesperson, “which shows why it’s important to drive carefully and be aware of your surroundings on the road. Wyoming, in particular, tops the list and is one of the few states to experience a percentage increase in vehicle rollovers in 2022. This is likely due to factors such as speeding on long stretches of road and severe weather conditions, including some significant snowstorms in recent years. Given how dangerous vehicle rollovers can be for occupants and other drivers, it would be helpful to see if these numbers improve in the coming years or if there are states where you should be cautious when driving.”

When traveling in a vehicle, it is important to remember to stay focused and be aware of road conditions at all times, as even the slightest misstep can cause a potentially fatal event, such as a rollover crash. For more information on how to prevent rollover crashes and other accidents while traveling, visit Vision Zero’s website here.