Even if you were the only driver in a car accident, you are not always liable for the accident. Other parties could have been responsible for what happened, including:
- A government agency
- Another driver
- A pedestrian or bicyclist
- A parts manufacturer or mechanic
A lawyer from our firm can figure out who and what caused your accident in order to help you seek compensation for your damages.
How Other Parties Could Have Caused Your Single – Car Accident
At first glance, it might seem like you caused the accident because you were the only one who was involved. Even though it might be the case at times, you should still look into the situation to find out what truly happened.
Someone else could have caused the accident, such as:
A Government Agency
It is the city or state government’s responsibility to keep the streets free of hazards, like debris, roadkill, or damaged traffic signs.
If they don’t address these dangers and clean them up promptly, a driver might not notice them until it’s too late and lose control of the car.
You might be able to hold this entity accountable if they neglected this duty to keep the roads safe.
Another Driver
All drivers owe to all road users a duty to drive responsibly and attentively. Unfortunately, they don’t always uphold this duty.
For example, if another driver is operating their vehicle under the influence of alcohol and speeding, you might swerve to avoid them hitting you. This reaction could backfire, and you might end up hitting a guardrail, causing injuries and damage to your vehicle.
A Pedestrian or Bicyclist
Like drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists must also abide by all road rules. When they disobey them, this decision might seem harmless, but it could affect everyone else on the road.
For example, a pedestrian might think that the coast is clear and jaywalk across the street without knowing that you’re driving through the intersection. If you slam on the brakes, you could hit an object in the road and suffer whiplash from the impact.
The pedestrian could then be held responsible for breaking the road rules and for your injuries.
A Parts Manufacturer or a Mechanic
You might have recently taken your car to the shop for repairs. It’s possible that the mechanic incorrectly installed the correct part or installed a defective part. This mistake could have triggered your accident.
Your lawyer can order a mechanic to look at your vehicle’s condition to see if faulty parts were the culprit of the accident. If so, you might be able to hold the manufacturer or mechanic of the part liable for your single-car accident.
These listed parties are only some examples of who might be liable for an accident. Turning to a car accident lawyer at our firm can help determine who was negligent.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
When You Might Bear Some of the Responsibility
Under OCGA §51-12-33, the State of Georgia follows modified comparative negligence. This law discusses that if you were no more than 50% liable for the accident, you still have the option to claim damages. However, your amount of compensation will be reduced by whatever percentage of blame you hold.
For example, if you are 30% responsible for the accident and your settlement would have been $100,000, you will receive $70,000 in the end.
You Might Still Be Able to Recover Damages in a Single – Car Accident
After you were hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you might have the option to collect compensation for all your consequential damages, including:
- Current and ongoing medical treatment costs
- Past and future lost income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- In-home care expenses
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Disability
- Wrongful death if your loved one passed away from the accident
Whether you decide to file a claim or lawsuit, you can request compensation for each of these damages, among others. If the latter option doesn’t work for your case, you can file a lawsuit. OCGA §9-3-33 sets the deadline at two years. It is imperative to comply with this timeline because the state might keep you from recovering compensation after it expires.
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Working with Our Firm
With decades of experience, we have prioritized our clients’ well-being to help get them the compensation they need. Some of our outcomes include:
- $11,000,000 for a car accident
- $5,750,000 for a car accident caused by a roadway defect
- $4,325,000 for a DUI car accident
We want to help you with your case. We can gather evidence, speak to insurance companies, and negotiate a fair outcome.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Kaine Law is At Your Service
Determining liability for single-car accidents can be confusing, but Kaine Law can help.
You will receive a free consultation when you contact us. We won’t charge you anything upfront for our services. Call today.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
