Single-Vehicle Accidents in California

A single-vehicle accident can result in serious injuries, unexpected expenses, and complex insurance battles. Whether you hit a fixed object, veered off the road, or lost control of your vehicle because of poor road conditions, consequences may be just as severe as a multi-vehicle crash. 

In some cases, a third party may be involved, like a manufacturer, government entity, or a property owner. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our knowledgeable car accident attorneys can assess your situation and help identify the party responsible for your single-vehicle crash. 

Our law firm operates under a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay us nothing unless we win your case. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling (213) 927-3700 or completing our convenient online contact form. 

What Is a Single-Vehicle Accident?

A single-vehicle accident involves only one vehicle and usually happens when the driver swerves or loses control and makes contact with a fixed object. Such incidents may include:

• Crashing into a tree, pole, or guardrail
• Swerving to avoid striking an animal or road hazard
• Running off the road
• Rollovers

Even if only one car is involved, passengers and drivers can still endure serious injuries. Certain factors, like poor road conditions, mechanical failures, or reckless behavior can contribute to the collision even if no direct contact was made.

What Is the Leading Cause of Single-Vehicle Crashes?

The leading cause of single-crashes is alcohol impairment. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 41 percent of drivers died during these collisions and were reported to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of or above 0.08 percent in 2023. Besides alcohol, other factors have also contributed to single-vehicle accidents. This includes the following:

• Excessive speed: Traveling at speeds higher than the posted limit is considered negligent and can expose you to liability if such actions result in a single-vehicle crash (CVC § 22350).
• Drowsy driving: Operating a motor vehicle while fatigued may impair your ability to properly judge and react to sudden road changes. This may also constitute negligence if it contributes to a single-vehicle accident, especially if the driver failed to notice clear traffic signs due to exhaustion. 
• Distracted driving: Using your phone to read, type, or send a text message can disrupt your focus on the road, and is a legal violation (CVC § 23123.5).
• Poor weather conditions: Drivers are expected to adjust their speed to match road and visibility conditions. Failure to do so may increase the risk of a single-vehicle crash. 

Trees were noted as the most common object to be struck by drivers, contributing to 45 percent of deaths, followed by utility poles and traffic barriers.

Where Do Most Single-Vehicle Crashes Occur?

Many single-vehicle crashes, involving fixed objects, occurred on minor (44 percent) or urban roads (54 percent) in 2023. Roughly 38 percent have taken place on other major roadways, such as state routes, and 17 percent on interstates and freeways. In addition, a major portion of fatal collisions were reported on roads with high speed limits, with 43 percent occurring in areas that were 55 mph or above. About 42 percent of deaths happened between 9 pm and 6 am, with the highest proportion occurring between midnight and 3 am (17 percent).

Who Is Liable in a Single-Vehicle Accident?

In a single-vehicle accident, most people will assume that the driver is automatically at fault, but that is not always the case. Liability will vary based on what specific factor caused the crash. While driver negligence, such as speeding or impaired driving, is a common factor, other parties can also share responsibility.

For instance, if your vehicle skidded off the road because of a large pothole or inadequate warning signs, a government agency responsible for road maintenance may be held liable. Similarly, if a mechanical failure is presented, like faulty brakes or a blown tire, and it causes an accident, the vehicle manufacturer may bear full or partial accountability.

California follows the pure comparative negligence law, meaning that liability can be shared amongst two or more parties involved in an auto accident. Even if you are partly to blame for the event, you can still pursue compensation. However, keep in mind that it will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.

For example, if you were speeding when you made contact with an unmarked pothole and crashed, you could be 30 percent at fault while the city would be 70 percent at fault for poor road maintenance.

How Will Liability Differ Across Other States?

Liability in a single-vehicle accident will differ for other states. Although the driver is usually presumed at fault in such cases, establishing accountability and compensation availability will have its own unique method.

For instance, in Nevada, modified comparative negligence will apply. This means that if you are more than 50% at fault, you will be barred from securing compensation. But, if a defective car component, poor road maintenance, or another driver’s negligence contributed to the collision, you could be entitled to pursue partial recovery as long as your share of fault is 50% or less.

Arizona and Washington, on the other hand, comply with the pure comparative negligence system. Like California, both states will allow injured drivers to seek compensation even if they were mostly responsible for causing the accident. 

What to Do After a Car Accident

Implementing the following actions in the aftermath of a car accident can help protect your health and better your chances of securing fair compensation. 

Contact 911

If injuries or damages are presented at the accident scene, you should contact 911 as soon as possible. Be sure to relocate to a safe area when waiting for emergency services. Once they arrive, paramedics will be onsite to provide medical care. Police officers, on the other hand, will create a written report covering crucial information surrounding the single-vehicle accident.

Seek Medical Attention

Get yourself evaluated by a doctor, even if you feel fine. Seeking medical care is important, and should be done as soon as possible. The adrenaline and stress from the event could temporarily mask pain or symptoms. Certain forms of bodily harm, like whiplash or internal bleeding, may not appear until hours or days later. Having a medical professional assess your condition early on can benefit your health and can protect any potential legal claims.

Your health records can serve as critical information. If you wait too long to have this process completed, the insurance company may argue that your injuries were not as serious as you claimed or that it was not caused by the crash.

Gather Evidence

Try to document the accident scene to protect yourself, both legally and financially. The more evidence you collect, the stronger your case will be. Start by capturing multiple angles of the incident, whether it be through images or surveillance video footage. This includes the following:

• The position and location of the impact
• Close ups of vehicle damage
• Debris, skid marks, or shattered glass
• Traffic signs, signals, or lane markings
• Street names, intersections, or landmarks
• Weather and road conditions

If you suffered injuries, you should have that documented, as well. Make an attempt to gather witness information by asking for contact details, like their name(s) and phone number(s). Have them explain what they saw. Witnesses can provide significant insight on the matter if fault is disputed later on.

It is also a good idea to request a copy of the police report and your medical records. The more documentation you have at hand, the harder it will be to have the insurance company or the other driver challenge the facts you present.

Speak to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer

After a motor vehicle accident, legal guidance can make all the difference. Even if the impact resulted in minor damages, having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side will help ensure no critical information is overlooked and your best interests are being prioritized all throughout the duration of the case.

Insurance companies will try to settle claims quickly and for the lowest amount possible. They will try to shift blame onto you or push you into accepting the offer presented before you are given enough time to fully assess the injuries you sustained. An attorney will step in to communicate with the opposing side, preventing you from sharing a statement that could be used against you. They will also negotiate on your behalf to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Report to Insurance

After the single-vehicle accident, you should report the incident to your insurance company. Most policies will require prompt notification, and delaying this process could result in denied overage or legal complications later on.

When reporting, you should stick to the basic facts, like when the incident occurred, the number of vehicles involved, and if any visible damages are presented. Do not speculate about fault or make statements that could be used against you down the line.

This is where a car accident attorney can reach out to the insurance company on your behalf, making sure you do not share information that could be misinterpreted to undermine the value of your personal injury case. With legal guidance and support, you can avoid making mistakes that could jeopardize your financial recovery.

Will Insurance Pay for a Single-Car Accident?

You can receive financial assistance to cover damages in a single-car accident, but it will depend on the type of insurance policy you have. If you own collision coverage, your insurer may cover vehicle damage regardless of fault. This could apply in cases where you hit a tree or pole. If the crash was caused by other factors, like an animal or falling object, comprehensive coverage may apply.

If you only have liability insurance, which is legally required in California, it will not provide financial assistance for vehicle repairs or medical bills in a single-car collision. You will need to look into additional coverage, like medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP), if included in your policy. Or, you can use your health insurance to cover injury-related expenses.

In most cases, the driver will be deemed liable in single-vehicle accidents, so filing a claim could affect your premiums. With that being said, if the incident resulted from a vehicle defect or dangerous road conditions, you may be entitled to pursue legal action against a manufacturer or government entity to recover compensation for the losses you incurred.

How Much Compensation Do You Get From a Car Crash?

The amount of compensation you can get from a car crash will depend on following factors:

• The extent of your injury
• Who was at fault
• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and earning capacity

Financial recovery may include two key categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to financial expenses you sustained, like property damage and medical expenses. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, will cover subjective, non-monetary losses, such as emotional distress or pain and suffering. These will be determined after evidence has been reviewed.

To learn what you could be entitled to, you can use our personal injury settlement calculator by entering the expenses you suffered as a result of the auto accident.

What Are the Consequences of Not Having a Lawyer?

Dealing with a car accident without an experienced auto accident attorney on your side could leave you vulnerable against tactics that could minimize payouts or deny liability altogether. Without legal representation, you may exceed deadlines or unknowingly accept an unfair settlement.

An attorney can protect your legal rights, particularly if certain factors, like dangerous road conditions or vehicle defects accounted for the impact. They will negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you do not make any mistakes that could tamper with the outcome of your personal injury claim.

Even if no other vehicle was involved, an attorney can help establish fault if third parties share liability. In addition, they will make sure all important filing deadlines are met so you do not lose the opportunity of securing financial recovery.

Injured in a Solo Crash? Our California Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help

If you were involved in a single-vehicle accident, West Coast Trial Lawyers is here to help. Our knowledgeable auto accident attorneys will provide the guidance and support needed to get you through your personal injury case with satisfactory results. We will assess your situation, establish fault, handle insurance claims, and get you the compensation you are entitled to.

To book a FREE consultation, you can connect with us by calling (213) 927-3700 or filling out our quick online contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions About Single-Vehicle Accidents