Single-vehicle accidents represent an often underestimated risk, accounting for more than half of reported traffic incidents annually. One-car crashes can result in a number of different outcomes, depending on the cause of the accident and other factors present in the situation, such as weather conditions and surrounding terrain. The process for any attempt to recover the costs of vehicle damage or medical expenses related to injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident can also vary widely. The auto accident team at Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer offers free case evaluations and may be able to help you determine your options after a single-vehicle accident. Call (802) 457-4848 to set up a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys in Vermont, Florida, or New Hampshire today.
What Is a Single-Vehicle Accident?
A single vehicle accident is any crash that involves only one motor vehicle. Single vehicle accidents can affect large commercial vehicles, farm equipment, and motorcycles, in addition to passenger cars. The severity of a single-vehicle accident can range from a simple “fender-bender” or even a minor inconvenience that causes no lasting damage to a deadly rollover accident or dramatic plunge over a cliff or embankment, leading to extensive property damage and tragic loss of life.
How Common Are Single-Vehicle Accidents?
Single vehicle accidents are more common than many people may realize, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reporting that for the year 2022, 53% of crashes nationwide involved only one vehicle. The percentage of total crashes for which these accidents account does vary somewhat by state, and the proportion may also be affected by local factors such as population density and surrounding terrain. For the same year, the statistics shared by IIHS show that single vehicle accidents represented only 51% of total accidents reported in Florida – just over half – while in New Hampshire and Vermont, the share of crashes involving only one vehicle during the same period was 56% and 57%, respectively. Numerous factors can affect the likelihood of a single vehicle accident in any given area, but they are common throughout the United States, and can often be an under-recognized area in driver safety education.
What Are Some Common Causes Of Single-Vehicle Accidents?
Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by a number of different factors. Some of these causes will have a stronger relative prevalence depending on the road conditions and surrounding environment. Missed curbs, for instance, are common in urban and suburban areas, with a range of severity that depends partly on the speed at which the vehicle is traveling when it leaves the designated lane of travel and whether there is another object (such as a sign post, mailbox, or the side of a building) for the driver to strike after crossing the curb. Missing the edge of the roadway can also lead to accidents in more rural settings, but running over the shoulder of the highway is unlikely to lead to a steep drop in the notably flat terrain that prevails throughout most of Florida (note that there are numerous manmade embankments, designed to protect roadways from flooding, that can pose their own hazards); a sharp fall is, on the other hand, a very predictable outcome from the same type of accident in some parts of Vermont.
There are numerous other common causes of single vehicle accidents. Outlining even a few of them serves to underscore their true prevalence and the need for driver awareness.
Animals in Roadway
Whether household pets or local wildlife, animals entering a vehicle’s lane of travel present a hazard to drivers and passengers as well as to the animals themselves. Within city limits, pet ownership is often subject to “leash laws” that require owners to keep domestic animals – their feathered, scaled, or furry family members – either on a leash or behind a fence. However, these laws are not always enforced aggressively, and claims for single vehicle accidents caused by striking a family pet may sometimes be more challenging to pursue than compensation for some other outcomes of leash law infractions (such as dog bites). Wild animals and strays are of course unlikely to compensate drivers for any damages sustained in accidents related to their road crossings, but the reality is that securing compensation can be difficult even when the animal involved is a household pet with a tagged collar clearly identifying the owner.
In some situations, single vehicle accidents may also result from a driver’s attempts to avoid hitting an animal crossing the roadway. If the driver succeeds in avoiding the animal, but crashes their car or other vehicle, then even finding the animal after the accident to check for a collar may prove impractical. For all of these reasons, drivers involved in one-car accidents caused by animals in the roadway often end up relying on collision coverage under their own auto insurance policies – however, it is important to note that collision coverage is not included in all auto insurance policies even in states that require up to date liability insurance coverage on all registered vehicles. Meanwhile, New Hampshire drivers who have not received notice that they are subject to a proof of insurance requirement by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may not carry auto insurance at all, potentially placing these drivers at increased financial risk. The damage caused by crashes involving some types of wildlife can be considerable, so it can be a good idea to periodically review your auto insurance coverage and evaluate whether the coverage outlined in your policy terms is still a good fit for your current situation.
Debris in Roadway
Debris in the lane of travel can lead to crashes for similar reasons as animals crossing through a vehicle’s path. However, the way drivers encounter debris tends to be different from the way they impact – or crash in their attempts to avoid impacting – with a live animal. Fallen rocks or tree limbs, common in many areas (especially after high winds or heavy rainfall) are far more likely than animals to be scattered over a section of road, thus presenting multiple hazards in rapid succession rather than a single obstacle that can be passed by if once avoided. Construction debris, which may enter travel lanes due to an on-site accident, storm damage at the property, or simple negligence on the part of the party responsible for maintaining and properly marking the construction zone, may include a variety of sharp objects that act as shrapnel when struck by a vehicle, or dangerous chemicals that may be released during a crash, further endangering the health of vehicle occupants and potentially complicating the efforts of emergency services personnel to render timely aid. An experienced auto accident attorney with Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer may be able to help you determine whether construction company negligence may have been a factor in your single vehicle accident.
Icy or Rainy Conditions
Even simple rain can affect tire traction. Hydroplaning is a major risk for drivers encountering even shallow levels of water on the road’s surface, and the amount of water it takes to cause a vehicle’s tires to lose contact with the pavement during a hydroplane event is often less than drivers expect. Rain can also cause a distinct set of hazardous driving conditions when it arrives during a drought, as oil and other traffic residue dried on the surface of the roadway loosen and become suddenly slick.
During the colder months, weather events such as snow, sleet, and freezing rain that are regular occurrences across much of the continental United States can severely impact tires’ ability to grip the surface of the pavement. Many drivers are unfortunately inclined to overestimate the power of “four-wheel drive” in overcoming such conditions, and may take unnecessary risks as a result – while others may not realize that even auto insurance policies that otherwise cover single-vehicle accidents resulting from hazardous conditions may contain important coverage exclusions that apply to damage from accidents that occur while the driver is operating the vehicle on a road that has been closed by state or local authorities.
Speak With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer To Ensure Your Rights Are Protected
The causes of single vehicle accidents range widely. Some causes of single-vehicle accidents are more susceptible than others to the pursuit of compensation, either through insurance claims or, when appropriate, through legal action. Good driver safety education and a habit of safe driving practices can help to reduce the likelihood of single-vehicle accidents, but the reality is that none of us can completely control all variables, on the road or elsewhere. If you have been injured, or suffered substantial vehicle damage, in a single-vehicle accident, an experienced auto accident attorney with Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer may be able to review your situation with you during a free case evaluation and help you to explore your next steps. Reach our offices in Florida, New Hampshire, or Vermont by calling (802) 457-4848 today.