Single vehicle accidents are the most prevalent and dangerous type of vehicle collision in California. According to the National Highway Safety Administration approximately 62% of all fatal California car accidents in 2011 consisted of single-car accidents. In most cases, the vehicle runs into a fixed object, such as a tree, sign post, highway divider or wall.
When you’ve been in a single-car crash, you may think that you’re the only one to blame for the incident and your injuries. But that’s not always true. The factors contributing to single-car accidents can be very complex, involving far more parties than the driver. And if others are to blame for the accident – or your injuries – then they should be held responsible.
Causes of Single-Vehicle Accidents
Driver error, such as speeding, drinking alcohol, or driving while fatigued, is the cause of the majority of single-vehicle accidents. Yet even in these cases, other factors might have ultimately caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. These include:
- Defective auto parts: Faulty brakes, steering wheels, tires or other auto parts can cause single car accidents in California. Poorly designed vehicles may cause a rollover. If the car involved in a single-vehicle crash was defective, the manufacturer, designer or seller of the vehicle might be held responsible.
- Defective roadways: If you’re driving in the rain and your car hydroplanes and crashes, the cause of the crash might not be the rain but the road you’re driving on. Well-designed roads should allow water to drain to the side instead of building up. If a negligently designed road was the cause of your accident, you may have a claim against the construction company that built or maintains it.
- Construction zones: Even though construction work occurs on California highways day and night, these zones should pose minimal risk to drivers. Each should be properly marked off with cones or barriers, have clearly visible warnings signs, and divert traffic in a safe manner. When these safety precautions are not take and a crash results, the construction company might be liable for any injuries.
How a Bay Area car accident lawyer can help you after a single-car crash
If you or someone you love has been injured in a single-vehicle crash in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s a good idea to speak with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer. An experienced lawyer will thoroughly investigate the accident to determine the exact cause of the crash and the cause of your injuries.
This distinction is an important one: even if the driver was the cause of the crash, another party – such as the car manufacturer – could be the cause of the injuries sustained. If this is the case, then the culpable party may be responsible for compensating you for your injuries, pain and suffering, or the wrongful death of your loved one, even if the driver is to blame for the accident itself.
If you suspect that factors other than driver error were at-play in your single-car crash, don’t hesitate to contact us right away for a free consultation at 925-938-2000. We’d be happy to help you discover the truth about your accident. Do not let too much time pass or you may miss your opportunity to file a lawsuit and seek compensation.
The California single-car accident attorneys at the Appel Law Firm LLP are dedicated to helping San Francisco Bay Area residents receive compensation for injuries and wrongful deaths arising from single-car accidents.
Photo Credit: Ruin Raider via Compfight cc
Speak Your Mind