Rollover crash can cause serious injury or death. Picture courtesy of La Cara Salma.
Single vehicle Crash in Anderson Kills Driver
I’m Ed Smith, an Anderson personal injury lawyer. A single vehicle accident in Anderson, California, on March 7, 2017 cost the driver her life. According to a California Highway patrol representative, alcohol or drugs is not thought to be involved in the crash.
What Happened?
The accident happened at about 5:15 p.m. on Highway 273 as the Nissan truck, driven by a 56-year-old Anderson woman, was heading north on the highway. Police said the vehicle veered into the southbound lane and went over an embankment. The vehicle’s camper shell was lost as the truck made its way down the embankment. The 1986 Nissan did not strike any other motor vehicles in the southbound lane and came to rest after hitting a construction company building located at 6250 Parallel Road in Anderson, identified as belonging to Horizon One Construction.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Single vehicle crashes are common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, such accidents, also known as run-off-road accidents, share common characteristics.
Such accidents occur more frequently on rural, single-lane roads than urban highways. The number of ROR accidents on rural roads occurs at a frequency of 80.6 percent as opposed to 56.2 percent on urban roadways. More ROR accidents occur at night. Bad weather also increases the frequency of this type of accident.
Speeding is a major factor in many ROR accidents. The likelihood a vehicle will run off the road happens more often if speeding is involved. The frequency is increased even more if speeding occurs on a curved road.
The use of drugs or alcohol also increases the risk of a ROR accident. According to the NHTSA, ROR crashes occur at a nearly 20 percent greater frequency in those with a high blood alcohol concentration level.
Distracted driving is another major cause of ROR accidents. With single-occupancy, falling asleep at the wheel is common. Driver error, such as over-correction, is another contributing factor for ROR accidents.
Non-Driver Error Accidents
Not all ROR accidents are due to driver error. This type of accident can occur due to negligent actions in:
- Manufacturing or design error
- Roadway issues
- Defective auto parts
Manufacturing or Design Error
One of the most common issues related to ROR accidents is the design of the vehicle, particularly SUVs and vans. With these vehicles’ high center of gravity, they are prone to rollover accidents. In addition, the design of light trucks, including SUVs and vans, can result in roof crush. When an ROR crash occurs in this situation, the roof collapses in on the occupants, usually resulting in serious injury or death.
Potholes can cause run-off-road or rollover accidents. Picture Courtesy of Editor5807.
Roadway Issues
Roadway maintenance may be another problem. In areas where roadways are not maintained, allowing for broken pavement or signs that are no longer visible, RORs happen more frequently. Public roads are mandated to be kept safe by the city, municipality or state, and failing to do that is a responsibility that can be questioned by a personal injury lawyer.
Defective Automobile Parts
Defective auto parts, such as brakes, can be held accountable for a ROR accident if they malfunction, causing a crash. Manufacturers are required to recall defective parts, however, many times a recall is delayed or does not happen at all. In such cases, product liability can be cited.
Filing a Lawsuit When ROR Accidents Are Not Driver Error
If you, or a family member is involved in an ROR accident, it is important to speak to an ROR accident lawyer. He or she can investigate the cause of the accident. It is possible to determine why the accident happened using accident reconstruction analysis and determining if roadway maintenance, vehicle design or auto part defects were involved. In such instances, a claim can be filed against the vehicle manufacturer, the parties liable for road maintenance or the auto part manufacturer. It is important to remember that if roadway maintenance was involved, the amount of time in which a claim can be filed is decidedly shorter than the state statute for filing other lawsuits. For more information, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Anderson Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Anderson. If you have suffered an injury due to a run-off-road accident, call me at (530) 392-9400 for free and friendly advice. Outside Anderson, call me toll free at (800) 404-5400. I also have an online contact form to fill out on my website if it is easier for you.
I have served the people of California as a personal injury lawyer since 1982.
You can find reviews from my clients and peers on Yelp, Google and Avvo.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This group is limited to the top trial lawyers in the country who have received $1 million and multimillion dollar settlements and verdicts for clients.
For more information on other cases I have resolved, visit my past Verdicts and Settlements page.
Picture Attribution:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newport_Whitepit_Lane_pot_hole.JPG courtesy of Editor5807
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Car_crash.jpg La Cara Salma
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