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.
Why Choose Shaw Cowart LLP for Your Single-Vehicle Accident Claim?
At Shaw Cowart LLP, we understand that every client has unique legal needs. Our firm provides personalized legal representation tailored to your specific situation, whether you require assistance with a minor matter or are facing complex litigation. If you’ve been involved in a single-vehicle accident, our experienced attorneys are here to protect your rights and help you navigate the legal process.
Comprehensive Legal Support
Insurance companies often blame the driver in single-car accidents, but our skilled attorneys work diligently to safeguard your best interests. We thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to determine if another party’s negligence contributed to your crash. Whether your accident resulted from hazardous road conditions, defective auto parts, or another driver’s reckless actions, we strive to ensure that liable parties are held accountable.
Experienced Negotiators and Fierce Litigators
Our legal team consists of both skilled negotiators and aggressive litigators who will fight tirelessly on your behalf. We work to minimize your risk of liability while maximizing your potential compensation. Whether through negotiation or litigation, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for your case.
Boutique Firm Advantage
As a boutique law firm, Shaw Cowart LLP offers high-quality legal services with lower overhead costs than larger firms. This efficiency allows us to handle the same types of cases as big-name firms while passing cost savings on to you. You’ll receive dedicated, client-focused representation without the excessive fees associated with large firms.
No Recovery, No Fee for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
For personal injury victims and families pursuing wrongful death claims, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs and owe no attorneys’ fees unless we secure compensation on your behalf. Our goal is to ease your financial burden so you can focus on your recovery while we fight for the justice you deserve.
Get the Legal Help You Need Today
If you’ve been injured in a single-vehicle accident in Austin, don’t assume you have no options for compensation. Contact Shaw Cowart LLP today for a consultation. Let our experienced attorneys evaluate your case and guide you through the legal process to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Proving Liability In Single-Vehicle Accidents
Depending on the cause of a single-car accident in Texas, liability could rest with any of the following:
- A negligent road maintenance agency
- A roadway planning agency
- A road construction company
- Another driver
- The manufacturer of a defective tire or part
- A negligent car repair shop
Proving liability in most cases requires showing evidence of negligence. For example, if a city road maintenance agency failed to repair a large pothole, they could be held liable. Proving liability requires evidence showing that the responsible party had a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to avoid causing injuries, they breached this duty through an act of negligence, the negligent breach of duty caused the injury, and the injury victim suffered damages such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering from the injury.
If the accident was caused by a defective part or tire, the manufacturer is held to strict liability standards, requiring the injury victim to show that the auto part had a faulty design, a manufacturing mistake, or a marketing error.
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.
Common Types of Single-Vehicle Accidents In Austin
Insurance companies commonly blame the driver in single-car accidents unless the driver has skilled legal representation safeguarding their best interests throughout the investigation and claim process. Common types of Austin single-vehicle accidents include the following:
- Roadway departures
- Rollover accidents
- Collisions with obstacles
- Collisions with large animals
Injuries in single-car accidents may be serious or even catastrophic, causing financial hardship for the victim and their family.
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.
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.