Single-Vehicle Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
A majority of auto accidents that occur generally involve more than just one party, not every crash will include another driver. Many situations could cause you to be in a single car accident, and these types of collisions are more common than you may realize. When you get involved in a single-vehicle accident, you might assume you’re automatically at fault and that you have to pay for your own damages.
Due to that reason that isn’t necessarily always the case. In some cases, you have a right to recover from another party that causes your single-vehicle accident. It’s imperative for drivers to understand the legalities and options for recovery after single-car auto accidents to ensure they are protected if ever in this situation. Here’s what to know about single-car collisions and liability.
What Is a Single-Vehicle Accident?
A single-vehicle accident is any accident that causes damage to only one vehicle. Even if another driver may have contributed to the accident taking place, if your crash involves only your automobile and no one else’s, it’s considered a single-vehicle accident.
For example, if you spin out of control and hit a stop sign, that’s a single-vehicle accident. If someone pulls out in front of you and you drive off the road and hit a tree instead of hitting their vehicle, that’s also a single-vehicle accident. A single-vehicle accident can involve property, but it involves only one automobile.
Who is Liable for a Single Vehicle Accident?
When a driver is liable for a single-vehicle accident their actions are the proximate cause of a crash. Proximate cause means that their actions put the events in motion to cause the crash.
For example, if it’s a severe raining day and you’re driving too fast for conditions, you’re liable for the crash, regardless of the negligence. If however you’re just driving too fast and you lose control, that’s another way you’re responsible for an accident. Any time that you make a driving error or act in a way that isn’t careful enough, you’re liable for your accident.
Don’t assume you’re at Fault
Alternatively, in most cases a driver is responsible for a single-vehicle accident, it’s not always the case. There are times that a perfectly careful driver might still end up in a crash. When that happens to you, you may have the right to recover from the responsible party. Knowing your rights after a single-vehicle accident can make all the difference for a deserving victim.
When Is a Driver Not Liable for a Single-Vehicle Accident?
Perhaps indeed someone pulled out in front of you, and you drove off into a rather than hit the other vehicle. Maybe another vehicle weaved into your lane, and you had to take evasive action. Perhaps your accident happened because of a vehicle malfunction rather than because of anything you did wrong. These are all very real situations where you may not be liable for a single-vehicle accident.
Possible Outcomes When a Driver Isn’t Liable
When you’re not liable, you may be able to hold the responsible party accountable for your damage. The responsible party might be another person on the roads, or it may be a vehicle manufacturer. It might also be a government entity.
Statute of Limitation for School Bus Accident
The statute of limitation for a corporate or individual personal injury lawsuit is limited to two (2) years from the date of injury. However, if the injury was not discovered right away, then it is one (1) year from the date the injury was discovered.
Statute of Limitation on Government Bus Accident
In some cases, bus accident injuries can be involving government run buses, such as those made against the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, known as the LACMTA (or for short commonly referred to as the MTA), require that a government claim for damages be timely filed with the appropriate agency, usually within just six (6) months from the date of the accident. These deadlines and procedural requirements are different from other types of accident injury cases and MUST be strictly followed, with some exceptions, or one may lose their rights and remedies.
What to Do After an Accident?
If one is involved in a bus accident, there are many things to do, including the following:
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If seriously injured, receive appropriate emergency medical care;
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If medical care can wait, then obtain the name and contact information of the bus driver, bus owner and anyone who witnessed the accident, including the passengers on the bus;
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Obtain the identifying number and license plate number of the bus;
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Obtain the bus driver’s driver’s license and employee number;
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Take photographs of all damaged vehicles and property, all visible injuries and scene of the incident;
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Look for any video cameras that may have captured what occurred; and ask the bus driver to identify all video cameras with which the bus is equipped;
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Obtain appropriate medical care;
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Contact a personal injury attorney that has been experienced in handling bus accident injury claims.
As stated, many buses are equipped with video cameras that may record the exterior or interior of the bus, including what the bus driver was doing and what happened to the passengers inside the bus during any collision. One should obtain these videos, which, unfortunately, usually require special computer programs to view. These video recordings can be obtained through subpoena or other legal discovery conducted by a Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorney, including a formal request to produce video recordings, documents and other evidence. To secure and obtain such video evidence, bus accident injury victims should immediately contact an experienced personal injury attorney who handles bus accident injury claims.
We Fight To Recover Your Remedies
Based on the specifications of your case - the details of the accident, how severe your injury was, it is ultimately going to determine what you could be entitled to sustain based on your case. However, what you can be compensated for if your case prevails can often be put into several different categories.
The categories of compensation can include:
Medical bills: Should you win your case, you could be awarded compensation for medical bills you’ve had to pay as a result of your injury. This includes both past and future bills stemming from the injury, and can potentially cover expenses such as transport or in-home rehabilitation services.
Lost wages: Lost wages can be awarded if your injury has caused significant missed time at work, or has made you unable to perform your job. You could be entitled to even more lost wages if the injury leaves you permanently disabled and unable to find consistent work.
Pain and suffering: In some cases, the damages endured from physical pain and emotional suffering can be compensated to pay for therapy treatments.
Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded in more extreme cases, wherein the injury was caused by someone’s recklessness. They are awarded to try and dissuade the defendant and others from acting with that level of recklessness again.
No Recovery. No Pay.
Contact an experienced Single-Accident Accident attorney in Los Angeles to schedule a free, no obligation initial case evaluation at 1-424-256-9055. Our Los Angeles Single-Vehicle Accident attorney will help protect your rights. And remember, You Don’t Pay until You Win, or You Don’t Pay At All!
Lawyer Referral Service
If you are in a need a Los Angeles Single-Vehicle Accident attorney to help you get appropriate compensation and medical care you deserve, you should contact an auto accident lawyer today. Our experienced auto accident lawyers in Los Angeles will help you overcome your injury or damage.
If you have any questions about the information provided above, please contact Legal Leaf. Legal Leaf is a Lawyer Referral that can provide you with a Single-Vehicle Accident Accident Los Angeles Attorney or law firm. If you do have any questions about a Single-Vehicle Accident attorney in Los Angeles area please contacts us for a free Lawyer Referral to a Los Angeles Lawyer.
One Call Does It All
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles today at 1-424-256-9055.
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