Single-vehicle accidents occur when only one vehicle is involved in an accident. Often, a single-vehicle crash happens when a vehicle leaves the roadway and moves onto the shoulder, median, roadside or parking lane, etc. and then crashes into an unmoving object like a tree, pole, wall, or fire hydrant. In some cases, a pedestrian is hit. In a single-vehicle accident, property damage and personal injuries are the typical outcome. You might be surprised to hear that motor vehicle accidents involving only one vehicle have a higher fatality rate than head-on or side-impact collisions. More than 8,000 people die in single-vehicle rollover crashes in the United States each year.
If you were injured as a pedestrian or passenger, or your property* was damaged in a single-vehicle accident, you have the right to file a personal injury claim and receive a full and fair settlement for your losses. Contact a car accident lawyer for help as soon as possible. You don’t have to face this alone!
*Property damage may occur when a vehicle runs off the road and crashes into a house or yard.
How does drunk driving increase the risk of single vehicle accidents?
Drunk driving accidents cause thousands of personal injuries and fatalities every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are an average of 32 fatalities per day caused by alcohol-related crashes. The upcoming Christmas holiday period and New Year’s period have an increased risk of drunk driving accidents because of holiday parties.
Drunk-driving is a major crash risk factor, including for single vehicle crashes. Single-vehicle accidents often happen when a driver loses control of their vehicle, which is much more likely to happen when judgement and reflexes are impaired by alcohol.
Bellingham single-vehicle accident results in airlift to Harborview Medical Center
As reported by Whatcom-News.com, first responders were dispatched to the northbound lanes of I-5 about 12:50 a.m. on Wednesday, December 14, in response to a report of a single-vehicle injury crash. The crash happened about two miles south of Bellingham, according to the PulsePoint EMS dispatch log reporting system.
A press memo released by the Washington State Patrol (WSP), revealed that a 2002 Honda Civic had been traveling northbound on I-5 when it drove off the left side of the roadway and smacked into guardrails on both sides multiple times. The Honda ended up facing the wrong way on the right shoulder.
The car was a total loss and the 23-year-old Lynden driver was badly injured in the accident. He was first taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Medical Center by a medic unit but was later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. The driver was reportedly not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, which may have contributed to his injuries, and drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the accident. The driver is facing a charge of driving under the influence.
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
