There are circumstances when the driver in a single-vehicle accident may not be liable, include hitting a tree or any other object with a car, running off the road, or flipping in the middle of the road without hitting another vehicle.
Chris Hoffman is an excellent attorney. He is the best above the rest. What makes him different? He communicates promptly - I don't have to leave message after message for him to reach out to me. When I telephone his office, if he doesn't answer the telephone, his assistant does. Chris Hoffman is very attentive and focused. He means business, and he hit the ground running on the cases. I'm so blessed to have him for my attorney.
"Of all the lawyers I have met, this one is a true professional. This attorney goes against the biggest law firms and wins!"
Response from the owner:The compliment is much appreciated. Like every profession, it all starts with training our lawyers to be the best at every aspect of car accident cases. But the foundation of a great case is a great client. Thanks!
I'd say this lawyer is in the top three of the best you'll ever see. Add this attorney to the interview list if you ever get in an automobile accident. This Law Firm is on another level.
Response from the owner:Much appreciated. Techniques that an attorney or any professional uses are paramount for success. This is part of our lawyers training and preparation. It leads to success. Thank you!
People say this is the best car accident lawyer in St.Louis. Yep! Seeing this attorney in action is incredible.
Response from the owner:Great compliment. We work hard to be the best. Our lawyers also work very hard to help other lawyers in our profession. Not matter what, a cases is only as good as the client is. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thanks! Referrals and recommendations from prior car accident clients is our #1 source of cases. People who grew to trust us send family and friends.
The Hoffman law firm is truly professional. After hiring them I was truly relieved and knew I was in good hands. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Being in good hands is important. Many lawyers take cases with little experience and little resources. Our firm specialized decades ago. We are focused exclusively on accident cases.
The lawyers on tv just dont compare for auto accident injury cases. Mr.Hoffmann is as good as they get.
Response from the owner:Thank you. The TV attorneys are just settlement mills. People are hiring a paralegal, not a lawyer. Our law firm is different. You are represented by an attorney and we do not have settlement quotas.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner:TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner:Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner:This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner:Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner:Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner:Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner:Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Since there is only one driver involved, in most cases the driver is held responsible for the accident. However, there are circumstances when the driver in a single-vehicle accident may not be liable.
Factors that can contribute to cause a single vehicle personal injury case
Motor vehicle mechanical problems and design defects
Improper signage, warning devices about roadway hazards or traffic barriers
Roadway hazards such as road construction, road damage or bridge problems
Negligence such as driving carelessly or too fast.
The passenger has no control of the vehicle, and is generally not at fault. However, in some rare circumstances the passenger may contribute to the accident. For example, if the driver is under the influence of drugs or has been driving, and the passenger is likely aware of this fact and still decided to ride with them. This “assumption of risk” is often used by lawyers in an attempt to minimize the value of claim.
Missouri is a comparative fault state. This means, a party’s recovery is reduced by his/her share of fault. In almost all cases, the passenger is not at fault, because they have no control of the car. So, comparative fault is normally not an issue in single vehicle accidents except under rare circumstances.
Apart from the driver error, there may be other factors that can come into play when it comes to single car accidents. It may happen that the vehicle had some manufacturing defect or the road construction workers forgot to set up road barriers. Failure on the part of the authorities to maintain roadways can also amount to negligence. This type of negligence can result in serious injuries, extensive property damage, and in worse cases, loss of life. It is important to note that just because there is no other vehicle involved in the accident, this does not mean that there is not a potential personal injury claim. If the accident was caused by another person’s failure to act responsibly or properly, a personal injury case can arise.
Liability for a Single-Vehicle Accident
Scenario 1 – A driver is not paying attention to the road signs and as a result causes another car to swerve and crash in an attempt to avoid a collision. In this case, there is no collision and only the second car is damaged. Although only the second driver has crashed, it is not his or her fault. The driver of the first car can be held liable for causing the accident.
Scenario 2 – There is one car driving on the road. The car runs off the road and hits a tree, not damaging any other vehicles, and the accident has not been caused by another vehicle. The driver is the one responsible for the crash.
Scenario 3 – If poor road conditions caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, the driver may file a claim against the agency in charge of maintaining the road. When claiming that poor road conditions caused a single-vehicle accident, a counter argument can be made that the driver should have paid more attention and lowered the speed. A St. Louis car crash attorney can be helpful to prove liability is this situation.
Getting legal help for a single vehicle claim
A vast majority of single car accidents involve driver error. It is important that all evidence of mechanical failure is preserved. The victim should take pictures of the accident scene and surrounding area to prove that road hazards were the cause of crash. In some cases, accident reconstruction may be necessary to show the cause of accident.
Compensation for Single-Vehicle Car Accidents
If you have been involved in a single-vehicle accident and you believe the accident was not your fault, gather the relevant evidence to prove your claim. Contact a St. Louis car crash attorney to give you legal advice and help you file for compensation. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242.
4 Common Causes of Single Vehicle Accidents
Distraction
Every time you take your eyes off the road, you put yourself at risk. The reason is that when you’re in a car, you are often traveling at high speeds. Taking just a second or two to check your phone or give in to some other type of distraction can mean the difference between safety and immense danger. Often, that danger comes in the form of driving off of the road and hitting an object.
Intoxication
Between poor judgment, compromised motor skills, and a propensity for passing out at the wheel, drunk driving is one of the most common causes of single vehicle accidents. If you choose to engage in this behavior, there is a good chance that you’ll leave the road and hit a sign, tree, or pedestrian. Avoiding this result comes down to simply not driving while intoxicated.
Animals in the Road
Whether you’re in the heart of St. Louis or slightly outside the city, there is always a chance of wildlife being in the road. This factor often causes people to make erratic moves in an attempt to save the animal in front of them. While noble, that behavior often leads to a crash. The best way to protect yourself from that result is by keeping your speed down. That way, when you see an animal in the street, you can slow down instead of making a sharp turn.
Weather Conditions
Hydroplaning is one of the scariest things that can happen to you when behind the wheel. What happens is that your tires stop sticking to the ground and you subsequently lose control of your car. In a rural setting, that can mean driving into a ditch or off a cliff. In the city, you could be headed for a collision with a street sign or pedestrian. Either way, you’ll want to watch your behavior closely when weather conditions are wet or icy. One additional note is that people often have trouble with glare, too. You can fight that effect with the help of clean windows, clean mirrors, and polarized sunglasses
The unfortunate truth about single vehicle accidents is that if you get in one, there is a good chance that you won’t have a personal injury case. Still, you may have a credible claim if some other party played a role in your accident. Some typical examples include you evading a reckless driver or you hitting a piece of road debris. No matter what the conditions surrounding your crash are, it is best to talk to a St. Louis car accident lawyer about your options.
