Single-vehicle car accidents are exactly what they sound like: accidents involving only a single vehicle. Common examples include a vehicle running off the road and hitting a tree, sign or structure, or a vehicle rolling over while attempting to negotiate a turn at a high rate of speed.
These accidents are almost always the fault of the driver. Accident law considers the person in the driver’s seat of the vehicle to be the one in the best position to avoid the accident, given there is only one vehicle involved. Most of the time, single-vehicle crashes are a result of driver error, alcohol use, distraction or excessive speed. There are also other common causes, such as inclement weather, narrow shoulders or lanes, improper curve banking, sharp curves and poor drainage.
There are some occasional circumstances in which a single-vehicle accident can occur as a result of another person or entity’s actions (or inaction). Examples include:
- Defective car parts: If a defective car part causes a motor vehicle accident, the manufacturer or supplier of the part could be held liable.
- Obstacles in the roadway: If there are obstacles in the roadway, especially in an unexpected, concealed or illegal location, this could make the person or entity that created that dangerous condition liable for the accident.
- Negligent roadway issues: Issues such as poor drainage, unusually sharp curbs or other poor roadway design can cause accidents, and in such cases a municipality could be held liable for this negligence.
If you’ve been injured in a single-vehicle accident that you believe to have been the fault of another person or entity, contact an experienced Sarasota personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh to discuss the best way to proceed with your case.