A single-vehicle accident is a one-vehicle crash that can happen on the road, interstate, highway, or even in a residential area. While almost all single vehicle accidents involve severe damage to the vehicle and personal injury to the vehicle operator and passengers, it is crucial for you as a victim to realize that you are entitled to recover damages for your injuries.
Being involved in a single-vehicle accident can be a traumatic experience. If you find yourself in such a situation, connect with us at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. With over two decades of experience, our top-notch legal team will work hard to help you receive rightful compensation for your claim. Call us at (470) 323-8779 or fill out the online form on our website to learn how we can help you and protect your rights to compensation.
Causes of Single Vehicle Accidents
To prevent single car accidents, it is vital to understand their causes. Some of the most common factors that cause single-car accidents include:
- Dangerous Road Design: Flawed pavement designs can lead to hazardous single-vehicle accidents. In some cases, these flaws may be due to poor quality or an improperly graded road design that causes drivers to hydroplane or lose control of their vehicles.
- Road Debris: It is easy for debris to end up on the roadway if a road is not well maintained. While hitting a large piece of debris may cause damage to your vehicle, it can also cause you to lose control and crash if you hit it unexpectedly.
- Mechanical Failure: Without proper maintenance, a car’s gas line can burst, or tires can fly off their rims. If a part fails while driving, you could lose control of your vehicle and crash into another car or stationary object.
- Inexperience/Inadequate Training: Younger drivers and those who haven’t logged many miles on their odometer have a greater chance of being involved in a single-vehicle accident.
- Fatigued Driving: A driver who dozes off behind the wheel may cross lanes without realizing it or fail to brake in time before hitting another vehicle or pedestrians.
- Speeding: Some drivers exceed the speed limit to reach their destinations faster. The high speeds make it hard for such drivers to avoid obstacles and control the steering wheel properly, which leads to an accident.
- Distracted driving: Texting while driving is becoming more and more popular among teens and young adults. Unfortunately, texting while driving doubles your reaction time and increases your risk of crashing.
- Overcorrecting or oversteering: In some cases, single vehicle accidents are caused by one driver overcorrecting or oversteering to avoid hitting another vehicle or object on the road. Overcorrecting can be especially dangerous on wet roads since they are more slippery and less likely to allow a vehicle’s tires to grip the road surface properly.
- Bad weather conditions: Some single-vehicle accidents are caused by inclement weather conditions such as rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, etc., making it difficult for drivers to see what is ahead of them and lose control of their vehicles.
Establishing Liability in a Single Vehicle Accident
Single vehicle accidents can be tricky. When only one vehicle is involved in the accident, it can be challenging to determine who was liable and what type of compensation you may be entitled to receive for your injuries or vehicle damages. This is where we can help. Our attorneys have significant years of experience dealing with single vehicle accidents, and we can review your case and hold those at fault liable. Here are five examples of those who can be held responsible for single vehicle accidents:
Vehicle Owners
A person who owns a vehicle is responsible for its maintenance. If the owner fails to maintain a car and that failure causes an accident, the owner could be held liable. For example, suppose a tire is worn or damaged, and the tread separates, causing an accident. In that case, the driver or passengers injured in the accident may be able to recover compensation from the owner of the vehicle.
Vehicle Manufacturers
Vehicles are complex machines. When they are not manufactured properly or are defective, they can cause single-vehicle accidents. If this happens, victims might be able to hold the manufacturer liable for damages suffered in a car accident. For example, if a tire blows out because it was manufactured with a missing rubber compound and causes an accident, the driver or passengers injured in the accident may be able to recover compensation from the tire manufacturer.
Government Entities
Local governments are responsible for maintaining roads and other infrastructure in good working order. If they were negligent in some way that resulted in an accident, they could be held accountable for the collision. For instance, if a single-lane road was completely covered with ice and caused a car to hydroplane and crash into a tree, the driver may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the state highway department for failing to clean the ice that resulted in a car crash.
Truckers
Truckers are held to a higher standard than other drivers because their vehicles are larger, heavier, and often carry unsecured loads. If a truck driver or company does not properly secure a load or fails to perform routine maintenance checks, they may be liable for the injuries and damages that result from their negligence.
Reckless Drivers
Even though no one else is involved in a single vehicle accident, the driver may be the at fault party if they were driving recklessly. For example, if an intoxicated driver strikes a tree while speeding down the road, they may be liable for any injuries and damages.
Consult with Experienced Auto Accident Attorneys at the CEO Lawyer
An accident with a single vehicle is not as common as a car accident involving two or more vehicles. The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm understand that experiencing an accident can be frightening and overwhelming. That’s why we are here to help guide you through the legal process and get the compensation you deserve.
Single vehicle accidents can cause devastating injuries, and you should not have to deal with this alone or keep wondering what your medical costs might be. If you have any questions about your next move, fill out this online form or reach out to us at (470) 323-8779, and we will assist you in building your claim and launching a successful negotiation to maximize your compensation.
