Single-Vehicle Accidents

Among the most dangerous types of motor vehicle collisions are single-vehicle accidents. Many of these crashes tragically result in fatalities when a car is driven into a fixed obstacle, such as a tree or highway median. In some cases, the driver of the vehicle is to blame for the accident, but sometimes causation is more complex, involving third parties' negligent actions. At Sharifi Firm, our Los Angeles car accident attorneys can help you look into whether there may be other sources of compensation for the injuries that you have suffered, when you suspect that another party may be partially or fully responsible for causing the crash.

One of the major causes of single-vehicle accidents is driver error. The error may be the result of speeding, fatigued driving, or distracted driving. However, in some cases, defective roads, defective car parts, or construction conditions can contribute to an accident or cause it.

For example, if your brakes are faulty, you may not be able to brake in time to avoid a large object that is unexpectedly dropped onto the road. As a result, you may crash into the object and suffer injuries. Similarly, if an SUV is badly designed, you may suffer a rollover accident while maneuvering through a construction zone. In cases like these, it may be appropriate to file a product liability lawsuit. Often, a manufacturer can be held strictly liable for a defective car or car part. To establish strict liability, a plaintiff would need to show that the product had a manufacturing, design, or marketing defect and that this harmed the plaintiff. When strict liability applies, the plaintiff need not show that the defendant manufacturer breached a duty of reasonable care. Even a manufacturer that used reasonable care may be held strictly liable for injuries arising out of a defect.

In another example, a road may be negligently designed, resulting in standing water that causes your car to hydroplane and crash. Construction zones in California can be hazardous, and they should be marked with warning signs, cones, and other barriers as appropriate. Either a government entity or a construction company can potentially be held liable for negligent design or an unmarked construction zone. You must provide notice to a governmental entity that you have a claim within a shortened window of time (usually six months from the accident) and comply with other procedural requirements.

If you are a passenger in a single-vehicle accident in which the driver of your car was at fault, you may be able to sue the driver for damages. In most cases, you would sue on a theory of negligence. This means that you would try to establish the driver's duty of care toward you, the driver's breach of duty, actual and proximate causation, and actual damages. Although it may be difficult to sue someone you know, in most cases, you are battling his or her insurer, not your friend, to establish liability and recover your losses.

At Sharifi Firm, APC, our experienced Los Angeles lawyers can look into all possible sources of compensation if you have been involved in a single-vehicle crash. In some cases, it may be necessary to retain an accident reconstruction expert to determine what caused your injuries. Contact our motor vehicle collision attorneys at (866) 422-7222 or use our online form to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. We also represent accident victims in Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Temecula, as well as other Southern California cities.