CHILDRESS COUNTY, Texas — Zachary Alan Orand, a 34-year-old Grand Prairie resident, lost his life Jan. 15 in a rollover accident near Childress.
Orand was northbound on U.S. 287 at about 6:40 p.m. when his vehicle reportedly traveled into a ditch and rolled several times.
A local official pronounced Orand dead at the scene of the accident.
State troopers are actively investigating the fatal crash and have not released any additional information.
Thoughts on the Rollover Accident that Claimed Life of Mr. Orand
For personal injury lawyers, single-vehicle rollover accidents are complex cases. To understand this area of the law, it is essential to decouple the accident from the injury. The cause of the accident is often the fault of the driver. Most single-vehicle rollover accidents are caused by distracted, fatigued, or impaired driving. However, I come across rollovers caused by faulty vehicle design and drivers avoiding another vehicle or road debris. We will need further details to determine if either of these factors played a role in this accident.
The cause of the injury requires more comprehensive analysis. Without the accident, there would be no injury. However, there are factors at play that could exasperate the injury. For instance, vehicles are designed to provide the vehicle’s occupants with survival space in the event of a rollover. One of the most important factors of survival space is adequate roof strength. The occupants will be crushed if the roof cannot withstand the vehicle’s weight. When manufacturers fail to design the roof adequately, this is often the result. Thus, while the driver may be the cause of the accident, the cause of the injury is both the hypothetical driver’s inattention and the manufacturer’s failure to produce a crash-worthy vehicle.
This is a severe accident that will leave Mr. Orand’s family searching for answers. I extend my condolences and hope for their strength as they begin the post-accident process.
Disclaimer: All the information in this post is from third-party sources or constitutes my opinion. If you are not comfortable with this post or would like further information, please reach out to my firm to speak with me.
