Every car accident experience will be stressful and scary, but when it’s a single-vehicle accident those feelings may be exacerbated, especially if you are all alone on the road.
Single-vehicle collisions, as the name suggests, only involve one vehicle. This means the person driving the vehicle is the one most likely to be liable, but this is not always true. While there are factors such as operator error or negligence that could cause the accident (think speeding, driving drunk, driver fatigue) there are other factors that could also lead to these accidents, such as inclement weather, sharp curves, improper road design, narrow lanes and lack of ice removal.
Can a separate entity be liable for my single-vehicle accident?
There are some circumstances in which other people or parties could be considered liable for a single-vehicle accident. Some examples:
- Vehicle manufacturers or manufacturers of specific parts could be considered liable if defects in those parts contributed to an accident.
- Municipalities could be considered liable if poor roadway design or obstacles in the roadway that should have been cleared contributed to the accident.
- Contractors who handle issues such as street repair or snow or ice removal could be liable if their inaction or insufficient work contributed to an accident.
As with any other type of personal injury claim, it is necessary for the plaintiff to demonstrate the defendant owed a duty to prevent an injury, that they breached that duty and that the breach of duty directly resulted in injuries.
For more information about single-vehicle accident claims and how you can best succeed in one yourself, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.