A pickup truck ran off the road in an early morning accident on I-24 in Christian County. The driver had to be flown to a hospital. A truck and horse trailer jack-knifed on I-71 in Gallatin County, leaving the driver dead, a passenger injured, and three horses to be put down. Five teenagers were injured, one critically, when their vehicle left the road and rolled after striking a light pole. Every one of these accidents was a single vehicle crash.
How does this happen?
There are two main categories of causes when it comes to car accidents – driver error, and everything else. Human error is attributed to any number of causes; distracted driving, failure to observe the rules of the road, stop and go traffic and many more. However, the “everything else” category doesn’t often get the attention it deserves.
There are three main causes of single vehicle accidents that merit special attention. All three boil down to the same thing; it wasn’t your fault. These causes are:
- Poor vehicle maintenance. Your vehicle is a finely tuned machine. When something goes wrong, the effects can be catastrophic. If your warning gauges don’t function properly, you may be unaware that there is a problem until it’s too late. Even if your vehicle is serviced regularly, lazy or inattentive mechanics can cause problems on the road. Additionally, there may be a fundamental design flaw that can endanger you on the road. The sweeping scope of the Takata airbag recall proves that manufacturers don’t always produce a perfect, or even safe, product.
- Poor roadway maintenance. In many of the single vehicle accidents above, drivers over-corrected after their vehicle slipped off the shoulder of the road. Heavy rains coupled with an intensely hot summer have created washouts and contributed to cracked and dangerous roads. Potholes and poorly placed or missing guardrails can also be a factor.
- Bad weather. Bad weather can exacerbate the first two problems. If your vehicle isn’t functioning perfectly, you may not be able to stop on a rain-slicked road. Especially hot and humid weather can cause defective Takata airbags to spontaneously deploy. Poor visibility combined with poorly maintained roads and a neglected vehicle is a recipe for disaster.
If you have been injured in a single vehicle crash, you may be entitled to compensation. For some types of accidents, like those involving damaged roadways, a claim must be filed within a very short time period. Our experienced car accident attorneys here at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm can make sure that your case gets the attention it deserves. Visit our offices in Nashville, Gallatin, or Knoxville, or contact us today for a free consultation.
