Not all motor vehicle accidents involve a collision with another vehicle. In fact, more accidents than people realize are caused by outside factors and defective automotive component parts. By better understanding all potential hazards present on roads and highways across Corpus Christi – including those within one’s own vehicle – drivers can be alert and prepared for safe travels every time they’re behind the wheel.
What are Single Vehicle Accidents?
Single vehicle accidents refer to collisions involving only one motor vehicle. These accidents often occur due to no fault of the driver and due to causes such as debris or unmaintained roads, improper or inadequate posted traffic signage, as well as automotive product defects. Any one of these triggers could cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and be forced off the road or collide with another object.
While the designation of “single vehicle” may imply a less severe roadway accident, these crashes inflict serious injuries and even fatalities to any or all individuals inside the vehicle. Serious injuries could include but are not limited to:
- Amputations
- Broken Bones/Fractures
- Burns
- Deep Cuts and Lacerations
- Paralysis
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Common Causes of Single Vehicle Accidents
Single vehicle accidents can result for a variety of reasons, including environmental factors as well as defective car parts, including:
Automotive product defects can quickly turn a vehicle into a weapon. Vehicles are only as safe as their parts and systems. Vehicles containing defective products and/or materials are more likely to experience major issues while driving. Auto product defects – such as defective tires and defective brakes – can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. Additionally, defective vehicle components, like tires that experience disintegration issues, can leave hazardous debris on roads that can result in other car accidents.
Rollover accidents are one of the most severe types of auto accidents a person can be involved in. While rollovers only make up 2% of all car accidents across the country, they represent nearly 35% of all auto accident-related fatalities. Rollover accidents most commonly occur in vehicles that are tall and narrow in design – such as large trucks, pickup trucks, SUVs and vans – that have a higher center of gravity. This design makes vehicles susceptible to rolling over if a driver makes a sudden stop or movement.
Road debris of any type and size can be extremely dangerous to a vehicle. Often drivers will attempt to swerve or maneuver their vehicle to avoid striking an object, which can easily cause them to either hit another object, road barrier, or guardrail, or cause the vehicle to run off the road. Sadly, debris is commonly left on roads when they are unmanaged and/or improperly cleaned up.
Sudden changes in roadways can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and veer off road, including potentially into an object such as a tree or guardrail. Without proper and adequate signage giving appropriate forewarning of changes in course to drivers, serious and fatal accidents are likely to occur. Additionally, if roads lack adequate lighting and regular maintenance, a routine drive can become fatal.
Corpus Christi Auto Products Liability Attorney
Roadways present enough hazards for drivers to be concerned about as is, and the last thing a driver should have to worry over is whether or not their car will be the cause of a serious accident. Drivers trust and depend on auto manufacturers to comply with federal safety standards and to ensure all materials and products used in a vehicle’s design and manufacture have been properly tested. When auto manufacturers and their suppliers fail to do so, drivers pay the ultimate price. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a single vehicle accident, your crash may have been the result of a defective car part, so contact Corpus Christi personal injury attorney John Flood today to discuss your case at no cost.
