Car accidents can be devastating no matter how many vehicles they involve. However, when we think of the most devastating traffic accidents, they generally involve two or more vehicles. The more vehicles involved, the higher the chances are that someone was hurt or that more damage was done. Still, single-vehicle accidents can be extremely catastrophic on their own. Cars can be totaled, people can suffer permanent injuries, and drivers and passengers can lose their lives in single-vehicle accidents. One way to help prevent single-vehicle accidents is to understand what causes them.
Common Causes of Single-Vehicle Accidents
Single-vehicle accidents can happen for a wide variety of reasons. A few of the more common causes of single-car accidents include the following:
- Speeding – This can involve driving faster than the posted speed limit or driving too fast for the conditions. For instance, if it is raining or the road you are traveling on is in poor condition, even if you are driving the speed limit, you may be driving too fast for the conditions, which could result in a single-vehicle crash.
- Inexperience – Drivers who do not have much experience are prone to making mistakes that more seasoned drivers are less likely to make. Generally, these sorts of single-vehicle wrecks happen when an inexperienced driver encounters something they have never experienced before while behind the wheel. For example, if they haven’t driven on a road with a lot of curves before, they may underestimate how much they need to slow down when rounding a curve, which could lead to them having an accident.
- Drowsy Driving – If a person is sleepy, they should not be driving. All it takes is one slip up and they’re fast asleep behind the wheel of a moving car. It’s a recipe for disaster.
- Drunk or Drugged Driving – No one should drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They generally lose the ability to drive well, including having slower reactions and poor decision-making ability.
- Distracted Driving – When someone is distracted while driving, they might as well be driving with their eyes closed. It may seem like glancing at a text on your phone or taking a sip of coffee while behind the wheel won’t take your eyes off the road long enough for anything bad to happen. However, that’s often all the time that is necessary for an accident to happen.
- Poor Road Conditions – Bad road conditions can force you to drive poorly or lose control of your vehicle. It’s important to drive very carefully when you are traveling through a construction zone or on a road that is in bad shape.
- Mechanical Issues – Single-vehicle crashes can happen when something on a car fails, such as the brakes not working or a tire having a blowout. Suddenly, the driver has little to no control of the car long enough for an accident to happen.
- Bad Weather – Poor weather conditions can quickly turn safe driving conditions into a danger zone. Sudden storms can flood the road or make it impossible to see. Snow and ice can make the roads too slick and unpredictable to drive on. Even high winds can make steering a vehicle a difficult task.
- Objects/Animals/Pedestrians in the Road – When something shows up on the road unexpectedly, if a driver doesn’t have time to react or fails to react correctly, it can lead to a single-vehicle accident.
The injuries and property damage that can result from a single-vehicle crash can rival traffic wrecks involving multiple vehicles. In addition to the driver and passengers in the vehicle, in some cases, pedestrians can be injured in single-vehicle wrecks. Property damage can come into play regarding the vehicle involved in the crash as well as other property it may have hit, such as a nearby house or telephone line.
Schedule a Free & Confidential Consultation with an Experienced Single-Vehicle Accident Attorney
At Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC, we have been fighting for the rights of accident victims and their families since 1999. We understand what it takes to hold negligent individuals and corporations accountable for causing injury, and we have a long track record of helping victims bring those responsible for their pain and suffering to justice. If you were the victim of a single-vehicle accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We want to help you!
Call us at (843) 968-0886 or contact us online today to schedule a free & confidential consultation with our experienced car accident lawyers.