More details are becoming available regarding a fiery, single-vehicle crash that injured two and killed one person on February 8, 2021 in Woodlawn, a northwest suburb of Baltimore, MD. Baltimore County Police Department released a report regarding the incident, which occurred when the driver of the BMW veered off the roadway and stuck a utility pole head-on. The vehicle was in flames when officers arrived and pulled the two injured victims from the wreckage. Both individuals were transported to local hospitals with critical and non-life-threatening injuries. While the third victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Baltimore Police will continue to investigate the crash to determine exact causes. Since there may be additional factors that contributed to the incident besides the driver’s actions. Victims may have remedies, even in a single-car accident, when another party’s negligence was behind the incident. A Glen Burnie, MD auto crash attorney can describe your legal options in more detail, but some general information on your rights may be useful.
How a Single-Vehicle Crash Happens
When you think of accidents involving just one vehicle, it is natural to assume that the driver’s actions were the primary cause. Driving while intoxicated, speeding, running red lights, and related misconduct often leads a motorist to strike a tree, hit a pole, or careen into the ditch. However, some single-auto collisions are caused by unexpected factors – often tied to misconduct by other parties. An accident could be the result of:
- Irregularities or anomalies present on the roadway, pothole and broken pavement;
- Defects within your vehicle, its parts, and components;
- Illegal, unsafe parking by another driver;
- Obstructions;
- Non-functioning traffic lights; and,
- Many others.
Liability and Legal Factors in Single-Car Collisions
Now that you know not all accidents involving one vehicle are the motorist’s fault, you can see how injured victims have options for recovering compensation. Still, you should note a few special considerations:
- You are not required to carry Personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance in Maryland. But you may have added this coverage when implementing your policy. If you have PIP, you can file a claim for compensation regardless of fault. However, you can only obtain amounts up to your policy limit.
- Passengers injured in a one-car crash can file a claim with the driver’s insurance company to obtain monetary damages. It may seem awkward taking action against someone you know, but keep in mind that your losses could be considerable.
- If one of the factors listed above was the cause of the accident. You might qualify to pursue the individuals or entities responsible for creating the risk. Potential parties may include an automaker, government agency, a non-driving road user, and many others.
Speak to a Baltimore County, MD Car Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Options
As you can see, it may be possible to seek compensation if you were hurt in a single-vehicle crash. Though the legal process can be complex. For assistance with filing a claim, please contact attorney Michael A. Freedman to set up a free case evaluation with a member of our team.
