What To Know About Solo-Vehicle Crashes

When you think of car accidents, you may think of two or more vehicles colliding with each other. However, not all car crashes have to involve multiple vehicles. Some are solo-vehicle crashes that don’t involve other cars.

Solo-vehicle crashes tend to cause significant property damage. That’s because they are often caused by the car going off the road. The car then hits an object, such as a tree, pole, or guardrail. In some cases, the car may roll over, causing serious injuries as well. A person can suffer broken bones, head trauma, or other catastrophic injuries.

Causes of Solo-Vehicle Crashes

Solo-vehicle crashes can be caused by the following:

• Going too fast can cause loss of control, which can lead to a crash.
• Drunk driving. A driver who is intoxicated lacks judgment and experiences slower reaction times, making accidents more likely.
• Distracted driving. A driver who is distracted is not paying attention to the road and can easily veer out of their lane. They may be texting, changing the radio station, eating, reading, grooming, or performing other tasks.
• Animals in the road. Large animals such as deer can be unpredictable. They may linger in the road or dart out in front of a car, causing major damage to the vehicle.

Liability in a Solo-Vehicle Accident

In most cases, you’ll be considered liable for a solo-vehicle accident. However, there are some exceptions:

• Vehicle defect. If your brakes or tires malfunctioned and led to a crash, the manufacturer could be held liable instead of you.
• Road conditions. If you were unaware of a road’s poor condition and this contributed significantly to the crash, you may not be considered at fault.
• Hitting an animal. Animals such as deer can be unpredictable, so if you hit one, you may not be considered at fault.
• Avoiding another accident. If you swerved to avoid another vehicle that was about to cause an accident, the other driver may be blamed instead of you.

Will Insurance Cover My Damages?

Insurance coverage will depend on the nature of the accident. If the crash was preventable, then collision coverage generally applies. If the accident was considered unavoidable, then comprehensive coverage applies.

For example, if you crash into a telephone pole, it will likely be covered under collision because the pole is fixed and easier to swerve away from it. If you run into a deer, however, it should be covered under comprehensive insurance because the deer’s movements and location are beyond your control.

Contact Us Today

Solo-vehicle crashes often result in major property damage and can cause serious injuries as well. These crashes follow the same rules as other car accidents, so you’ll want to make sure you are following the proper steps.

A Boca Raton auto accident lawyer from Leifer & Ramirez can assist you after a solo-vehicle crash. Learn more about your legal rights and responsibilities. Schedule a consultation by filling out the online form or calling 561-660-9421.

Source:

progressive.com/answers/single-vehicle-accidents/