Liability In A Single-Car Accident

When most people think of vehicle accidents, they think of two or more vehicles colliding with one another. However, many vehicle accidents only involve one car. It may be tempting to say that liability falls to the driver of the vehicle in the event there was only one car involved. However, there are situations where liability may fall to another party, even with a single-car collision. Here, we want to discuss liability in a single-car accident in New Mexico.

Common Causes of Single-Vehicle Accidents in New Mexico

Single-vehicle collisions can occur in a wide variety of ways, and the liable party may not always be clear. Yes, it is certainly possible for a single-vehicle collision to be caused by the driver of that vehicle. There are various ways in which careless or reckless driving behavior can lead to a single-vehicle crash, including:

• Operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Operating while distracted by a phone or another device
• Failing to obey traffic laws
• Driving too fast for conditions

However, there are also times when a single-vehicle crash can occur, and the driver of the vehicle is not at fault. Some of the other possible causes of single-vehicle collisions in New Mexico include the following:

• Poorly maintained roadways
• Poorly constructed roadways
• Hazardous conditions or obstacles on the road
• Poorly placed road signs 
• Hazardous construction zones
• Inadequately drained roadways
• Defective vehicle or vehicle parts

If a single-vehicle collision is caused by something other than the driver in the vehicle, it is important to explore any other possible liable party. For example, poorly maintained roadways or hazardous roadway conditions could be caused by the municipality responsible for road maintenance or a construction company actively working in the area. Additionally, if a single-vehicle collision occurred because of a vehicle defect or a faulty part, companies or manufacturers could hold liability if they produced those parts.

Single-Car Accidents Caused by Other Drivers

There are also times when other drivers could be responsible for causing a single-vehicle collision. It could be the case that a “no-contact†vehicle accident occurred. A no-contact vehicle accident can occur anytime the careless or negligent actions of one driver cause another driver to take abrasive actions in order to avoid a collision. Even though there was no vehicle-on-vehicle contact, the driver who caused the evasive actions to be necessary could be responsible for the incident.

For example, if a drunk driver barrels through a stop sign late at night and there is another driver already going through the intersection, the other driver may have to take evasive actions to avoid the drunk driver. Unfortunately, these evasive actions could lead to serious accidents.

These Crashes Must be Investigated

Single-vehicle collisions must be investigated. If you or somebody you love has been involved in a single-vehicle crash and you suspect that another individual or entity was at fault for the incident, you need to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. A skilled Albuquerque car accident lawyer can use their resources to conduct a complete investigation into the crash in order to determine any possible liable party. Some of the evidence that could be obtained includes:

• Video surveillance from nearby cameras
• Photographs were taken at the scene of the incident
• Statements from eyewitnesses
• Accident or police reports
• Road safety and maintenance records

An Albuquerque accident attorney can help you through this entire process and handle all negotiations with other parties in order to help you secure the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries or property damage.