Even the most careful drivers typically focus their self-preservation instincts behind the wheel on remaining watchful of the actions of other drivers sharing the roadway.
In fault-based insurance states like Texas, where car accident victims must recover their compensation for damages through claims against at-fault parties, Austin injury victims hurt in single-car accidents often wonder what their options are for recovering compensation for their property damage, medical expenses, and income loss.
What Causes Single-Vehicle Accidents In Austin?
We often think of two-car collisions when we worry about ourselves or our loved ones having an accident. Still, many drivers are surprised to learn that 71% of car accidents in Austin and elsewhere are single-vehicle accidents. Many car accidents result from driver error, but often other factors cause or contribute to single-care accidents. For example:
- Unrepaired potholes
- Tire blowouts
- Obstructed road signs
- Construction debris causing a road hazard
- Obstacles in the roadway
- Sudden animal crossings
- Confusing intersection designs
- Defective or damaged tires
- Pedestrians or bicyclists who cause a driver to swerve to avoid a collision
Inclement weather, poor visibility, and poorly maintained roads also cause or contribute to single-car accidents.
Some single-vehicle accidents result from “phantom cars” a term used to describe an occurrence when one driver’s unsafe lane change or other dangerous action causes another car to swerve off the road and crash—even though the cars never touched. In some phantom car accidents, the driver who caused the accident isn’t aware of their culpability for the crash or doesn’t see the accident happen.
Who Is Liable for Damages in a Single Car Accident In Fault-Based Insurance States Like Texas?
If you’ve been injured in a crash involving only your vehicle, you don’t have to assume that you are solely at fault. In many cases, another party may be liable for your damages for causing or contributing to the accident. For instance, many compensation claims for single-car accident victims are filed against the following entities:
- Another driver, motorcyclist, pedestrian, or bicyclist whose actions caused your single-car accident
- A negligent road maintenance agency or construction crew
- A negligent road-planning agency
- The manufacturer of a defective tire or auto part
Inclement weather is also a common cause of single-car accidents in Austin. This type of accident Austin car accident claim may not hold another driver or other entity liable, but it may be possible to recover compensation through your own insurance if you choose to carry collision insurance or an umbrella insurance policy.
Injuries and Damages in Austin Single-Car Accidents
Depending on the type of accident, injuries may range from mild injuries such as contusions, lacerations, abrasions, sprains, and strains, to far more serious injuries like fractures, traumatic brain injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, or internal organ damage. Damages in single-car accidents in Austin often include the following:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
If a loved one died in a single-car accident caused by another entity, close family members may recover compensation in a wrongful death claim.
How Can an Austin Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Recovering compensation for the losses associated with a single-vehicle accident can be challenging due to the state’s fault-based car accident laws, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there are no available avenues for compensation. Instead of assuming that you are stuck with financial losses as well as physical harm from the accident, call Shaw Cowart LLP today for experienced representation in this complex type of accident claim.