Single Vehicle Accidents

When people think of the classic car accident, they think of a two vehicle collision. Whether it’s an accident at an intersection, or a rear-end accident, people usually picture themselves as the driver. In reality, many vehicles have more than one person in the car when they’re involved in a collision. Importantly, single car accidents are often the cause of injuries for many passengers.

Whether you’re driving with a friend, spouse, or even in a rideshare, single car accidents can lead to claims against the driver. All drivers have an obligation to drive safely. If a driver is careless and crashes his/her car, he/she will be liable for any injuries sustained by the passenger.

Single car accidents happen in a variety of circumstances. This includes:

• Speeding Accidents
• Snow and Ice Accidents
• Road Rage Accidents
• Distracted Driving Accidents
• Elderly Driving Car Accidents
• Teen Driving Accidents
• Rollover Accidents

No matter where they are in the vehicle, passengers have the same injury risk as the drivers. This can be especially true if the passenger is not focused on what’s happening. Whether a passenger is reading a book, listening to music, or taking a nap, they’re often not fully aware of what’s happening on the road. And usually, that’s ok. They’re not driving, so they have no obligation to pay as close attention as a driver. However, when an accident occurs, passengers who aren’t paying attention may not have enough time to brace themselves for impact, putting them at a higher risk of injury.

Injuries in single vehicle accidents are often quite severe. In most low speed collisions, drivers and passengers alike are able to properly brace for impact. This limits their vulnerability to the head, neck and spine injuries that commonly occur to people in low speed crashes that were unable to brace. Therefore, injuries in a single vehicle accident tend to be much more serious. That’s because when a single vehicle car accident occurs at a high speed, no amount of bracing will shield a passenger from injury.

One of the trickiest parts of injuries stemming from single vehicle car accidents is that you’re often presenting a claim against someone you know. Whether it’s a friend, colleague, or family member, no one wants to sue someone you know. Even when injuries are severe, many people refuse to pursue the case.

However, this is exactly why people have insurance. If they injure someone, especially someone they care about, they want to make sure that the injured person is fully compensated. That is why they insist that the injured party at least make a claim against the insurance company. If you don’t, you’re essentially writing a check to the insurance company for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies make enough money without you giving any to them.

At Marcotte Law Firm, we understand that there’s a human element to these types of car accidents. We know that well after your case is done, you’ll still be friends or family with the driver. That’s why we handle these cases carefully and tactfully so as to bring about a resolution that’s good for everyone.

Even if you elect not to pursue the claim, having a conversation with a lawyer about your options can help you make a decision. If you were the passenger in a single vehicle car accident, call the experienced lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free consultation.