Single Vehicle Accidents: Are You Always At Fault?

When we think about auto accidents, many think of two cars with one car’s bumper buried in the trunk of the other car or something along those lines. But single-car accidents are as common as those involving multiple cars. In multiple vehicle accidents, although not always straightforward, you can decipher who was at fault.

If you are in a single-vehicle accident, are you at-fault? Will your insurance cover your damages? These and many other questions arise when a single-car crash happens.

This article explains important aspects of single-car accidents, including what they are, how they come about, and, most importantly, how a personal injury lawyer can help.

What Is a Single-Car Accident?

A single-car crash is an accident where only one vehicle suffers damage. However, it does not mean that only one car is involved in a single-vehicle accident.

For instance, if someone swerves into your lane suddenly without indicating, you might be forced to move out of the road to avoid hitting them. If, in this scenario, you hit a tree or roll over, only your vehicle suffers the damage. This then becomes a single-car accident, but another vehicle could be involved.

Scenarios That Can Lead to a Single-Car Accident

When an accident happens, there is a contributing reason. Even in single-vehicle scenarios, there are reasons that make such accidents happen. The assumption in such cases is that the driver is at fault, but there are other causes beyond the driver. They include:

Another reckless driver

You might be driving your vehicle, paying maximum attention to the road to avoid any uncalled-for eventualities. Then from nowhere, someone obstructs you, and in your efforts to avoid a collision, you get in an accident, but this time not with the obstructing driver, but with something else on the roadside.

You are certain the one at fault is not you. In such a scenario, will your insurance cover you or will the driver at fault cover you? It is possible to get compensation but to prove such a case, you will need solid evidence and a good lawyer.

Vehicle defects

Manufacturing is not always an error-proof process. Therefore, there are times when products roll out of the production line with defects. Some single-vehicle accidents occur because vehicle components malfunction or fail.

For instance, if the vehicle has a problem with alignment, that might be a danger, especially when negotiating sharp corners. If the brakes are faulty, that can be catastrophic. In any case, you have to show that the car’s defect was not known to you before use, and you had the chance to address it before.

Poor road design or maintenance

Unfortunately, you might be in a road accident, not by your doing but because of the road’s design or maintenance. If the design is faulty in that it has a blind spot, then an accident that took place might be the liability of the body in charge of that road.

Who Is at Fault for Single Vehicle Accidents?

In a single-vehicle accident, it is easy to deflect fault to the involved driver, but that is not always the case. At times, fault can be from another road user who, in that case, should carry the liability.

Florida is a no-fault state. That means every involved party’s insurance should be responsible for their compensation. Therefore, in Florida, if you find yourself in a single-car crash, your insurance will cover damages and injuries up to your coverage limits. This means that your car insurance is responsible for paying for your medical expenses.

The Florida no-fault policy requires that the victim prove that they have suffered a permanent injury before they can sue for other benefits like lost income, pain, and suffering, or the cost of future treatment.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

A knowledgeable lawyer comes in handy in these times because they help you decipher what you can do and what you cannot. If your lawyer finds ground for the pursuit of compensation, here is how they can help you:

1. Analyzing your specific accident

From a lawyer’s extensive experience and having dealt with dozens or even hundreds of such cases, they can dissect an accident fast and efficiently. Then, after they have looked at your case, they can promptly advise on your legal provisions.

2. Advice on the way forward

After you understand your legal provisions, a competent lawyer can advise you on the way forward. If it is a matter to be addressed by your insurance company, they direct you so, and if your case can be pursued through the justice system, then they can advise accordingly.

3. Help you to put the case together

If you have grounds to pursue compensation, your lawyer can be instrumental in collecting, arranging, and deciphering what makes strong evidence. This is to ensure that your claim does not fall apart and you walk away empty-handed, which is very likely to happen.

4. Represent you

Your lawyer takes your case and represents you in discussions and proceedings. Competent and experienced lawyers have your best interests at heart, and they push to have them properly taken care of.

Injured in a Single-Car Accident? Contact Stevenson Klotz Injury Lawyers Today!

The impact of an accident on one’s life cannot be understated. Motor vehicle accidents usually involve complex litigation, depending on the extent of vehicle damage and the severity of the injuries.

At Stevenson Klotz Injury Lawyers, we understand the rules of the road in Florida and Alabama, and the special duties imposed on public and commercial carriers. With a combined experience of over 54 years, our team of skilled attorneys has litigated different types of car accident claims and has helped many people recover hundreds of dollars in compensation. We would be happy to help you too.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation with our personal injury attorneys to discuss your single-car accident case and learn more about our legal services.

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