A 62-year-old Henderson man was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital following a single-vehicle crash, according to a recent report. The accident, which occurred around 4:00 a.m. in the 1900 block of East Warm Spring Road, involved a 2001 Honda Civic that ran off the road and hit a utility pole. Witnesses to the accident gave no reason for the man to have run off the road, so police are investigating the cause of the accident. It is possible that the victim suffered some sort of medical complication just prior to the crash.
SINGLE-CAR ACCIDENTS: CAN A VICTIM COLLECT DAMAGES?
Many people assume that if a victim is involved in a single-car crash that there is no way for him or her to collect damages. However, this is not true. Many single-vehicle accidents are actually caused by another person’s negligence, and if this is the case, the victim may pursue damages. Here are some examples of how a single-car accident could be caused by someone’s negligence other than the driver’s:- A person in the car interferes with the driver. If someone else is riding in the car and does something that causes an accident, the driver may be able to hold that person responsible.
- A malfunction or defect in the car leads to the crash. If the brakes fail or the tires blow, for example, the victim may be able to recover damages from the car or tire manufacturer or from someone who incorrectly serviced or repaired the car.
- Another driver’s actions lead to the crash, even if there is no collision. For example, if a driver runs a red light, causing another driver to crash into a pole in an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver who broke the law may be liable.
- A drug or medication has an unexpected side effect. If a person receives medical treatment or is prescribed medication that causes the person to pass out or lose control behind the wheel, it is possible that the doctor or pharmaceutical company could be liable.