People who are injured in Maryland auto accidents through no fault of their own are entitled to make insurance claims and/or start personal injury litigation to recover compensation. This is true even for single-vehicle accidents. Many people mistakenly believe that there can be no recovery or cause of action for a single-car accident. But that is not always the case. Auto accident cases can sometimes be legally complex, so it is helpful to understand how the legal process works. If you have suffered injuries in a Calvert County, MD., auto accident, contact us here at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Our number is (301) 870-1200 or use our contact page. We are experienced and top-rated Maryland car accident attorneys serving all communities in Southern Maryland.

Single-vehicle accidents are, of course, crashes that involve only one car or vehicle. Since there is only one vehicle, most think that “if the driver crashed, the crash must be his or her fault.” It is true that, in Maryland, if a person is even partly at fault for an accident, they cannot recover any compensation for injuries that result from the accident. However, there may be other persons at fault for even single-vehicle accidents and, in those cases, the driver might be wholly innocent of any negligence. Examples include:

• A crash caused by swerving to avoid a crash with another vehicle being recklessly driven — often, the other vehicle drives a way; this is a form of “hit and run” even though only one vehicle is damaged
• Pedestrians improperly or illegally using the road (like walking in the middle of the road) causing a driver to swerve and lose control of a vehicle
• A crash caused by road debris causing loss of control and a single-car crash
• A crash caused by lost cargo from a truck
• Passengers in the vehicle interfering with control of the vehicle
• A dog (or other domesticated animal) chasing a car or running into traffic — in some cases, the owner of the animal can be held liable for allowing the animal to run free
• A vehicle repair shop for negligent and faulty repair
• A car or parts manufacturer for vehicle or parts malfunction or defect
• Government road designers or builders for unsafe road conditions, gradings, shoulders, etc.
• Government or property owners for allowing hazardous road conditions to exist

Will insurance compensate for injuries?

Where it is shown that a single-car accident was not caused — even in part — by the negligence of the driver, insurance should provide compensation for injuries caused and damage to the vehicle. If the at-fault party cannot be determined — like the guilty pedestrian or the drive-away reckless driver — the insurance might come from the driver’s uninsured/underinsured motor vehicle coverage or maybe from the driver’s homeowner’s coverage. Otherwise, insurance claims can be made against the insurance policy of the at-fault party. If the claim cannot be settled with the insurance company or companies, then it may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.