Information on Single-Vehicle Traffic Accidents
Most any time when someone considers filing an automobile injury lawsuit, the image of two or more wrecked vehicles sitting on the shoulder of a roadway usually comes to mind. And why not? Most traffic accidents involve at least two vehicles, be they a car and a commercial truck, a couple of passenger cars, an SUV and a motorcycle, or a combination of three or more of these vehicles. But there are the occasional single-vehicle crashes, and that makes for a slightly different way of thinking when the question of liability arises.
As Baltimore personal injury lawyers, the legal team at the law offices of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, has seen its share of victims from traffic collisions, highway wrecks and other transportation-related injury accidents. In addition, our professional staff has the skills and training to assist families of deceased victims who have died because of the carelessness or negligence of another motorist. Filing an injury or wrongful death claim is one way of recovering monetary damages from the party(s) responsible for the traffic accident.
Aside from two-car accidents and multi-vehicle pileups, single-car wrecks can be just as serious and cause many of the same injuries. From superficial bruising and minor abrasions to compound fractures and closed-head trauma, victims of one-vehicle traffic accidents are just as vulnerable as those occupants of motor vehicles caught up in two-, three-, and multi-car or truck crashes. Whatever the cause of the accident, the possibility for bodily injury or even death can be just as real, and just as life-threatening.
Being Baltimore auto accident attorneys we understand how many people, including the police, may be quick to label a single-vehicle accident the responsibility of the driver himself. However, in our experience there are many more factors that do not initially come to mind following a one-car accident. For example, a defective tire or poorly maintained roadway could both be causes, in part or in whole, for a bad road wreck. Therefore, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen are always ready to investigate deeply the facts of every auto injury accident rather than assume the driver was to blame.
Whether a motorist is seriously hurt in a single-car collision or killed as a result of a single-vehicle crash, there are two separate causes to consider: First, what happened to trigger the accident in the first place, and, second, what specifically caused the injuries to the victim. If the driver is not to blame for the crash itself, then other factors must be considered.
In some cases, there are instances when a second vehicle causes an accident to occur without actually contacting the victim’s vehicle. This can occur in any number of single-vehicle accidents involving passenger cars, commercial delivery trucks or motorcycles. Quite often, a motorist will end up steering his vehicle off the roadway in an effort to avoid a head-on or other impending collision with another vehicle on the road. If the other vehicle was being driven in violation of standard traffic laws, then this is an important fact when determining fault in a single-vehicle crash.
Witnesses are particularly important in cases of single-vehicle accidents, especially when the wreck was triggered by the negligent actions of another, second motorist. Often times, the driver of the other vehicle may not even realize that he or she caused the victim to ultimately crash. That person, if not aware of the incident, may simply continue on his way and leave the scene of the crash without ever being aware that there was a crash or that there was damage caused to the victim’s car or truck.
Road surface imperfections or other circumstances, such as smoke, fog or mist, may be major contributing factors to some single-vehicle wrecks. An unexpected road hazard such as a downed utility pole or nearby tree can be sufficient to cause an emergency maneuver by a driver that results in loss of control and a subsequent crash. A poorly designed roadway can also increase the risk of traffic accidents. Speed limits set too high, improperly placed roadway warning signs or mismarked roadway surfaces can all be a direct or contributing factor in a single-vehicle traffic collision.
Similarly, a large piece from a vehicle, such as a wheel, muffler or bumper fascia, can result in the same circumstances. Pickup trucks, stake trucks and flatbed trailers can often lose a part of their load causing serious and sometimes deadly results. Lebowitz & Mzhen have the training and courtroom experience to handle cases where a single-vehicle injury accident was triggered by loss of control brought on by another vehicle suffering from defective equipment.
Another car or truck that experiences a failure of a critical safety system can end up veering into the path of the victim’s car and trigger an emergency maneuver that causes a collision with a tree or other stationary object off to the side of the roadway. Our office is equipped to handle injury-related traffic accidents that involve defective equipment on a victim’s vehicle, or a second car, truck or motorcycle. Since it is critical to discover all of the facts surrounding a crash, while at the same time determining what factors were beyond the control of the victim, it goes without saying that retaining an experienced auto injury law firm should be an important consideration.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a single-car accident, contact the auto accident attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen for a free, no obligation consultation. If you or loved one has been involved in a severe roadway collision, we advise seeking immediate medical attention and documenting your injuries. It is important not to give any statements to anyone from an automobile insurance company as you could unknowingly provide information that might cause a denial of your claim later on. Be certain to get all the relevant information you can about the other party, as well as the details surrounding the circumstances of your accident.
There is no doubt that having a qualified trial attorney on your side is important for a successful personal injury claim. If injured in any type of auto accident, including a single-vehicle crash, an experienced auto injury lawyer will be able to explain your rights to collecting compensation from any negligent party(s) under Maryland law.
As automobile accident lawyers, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen can help you better understand your rights as a victim. Being skilled legal professionals, we have the experience to ensure that current, as well as past and future medical expenses will be included in your personal injury lawsuit. Please contact our offices to schedule a no-obligation consultation regarding your traffic-related personal injury accident. You may email either Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen; or call us at our toll-free number: (800) 654-1949.