When a driver swerves off the road and hits a tree, he will likely suffer injuries and face increased insurance rates. In these kinds of accidents, known as single-vehicle crashes, fault is typically placed on the driver since he was the only person in charge of the vehicle. However, there are cases in which fixed-object accidents can result from causes outside of the driver’s control. Victims in fixed-object collisions may be eligible for compensation in these types of accidents. For example, another party may be held liable for an injury to:
Drivers.
If another vehicle suddenly swerved into the victim’s lane and forced her off the road and into a tree, the victim may pursue a case against that driver. Or if a homeowner placed a trailer or shed too close to the road, or a construction company left debris on the road surface, a driver could seek compensation for any injuries suffered in an accident with them.
Passengers.
Under Rhode Island fault laws, an at-fault driver can be held responsible for the costs of a car accident. If you were injured as a passenger in a single-vehicle crash, you may be owed compensation under the driver’s insurance policy, your own insurance policy, or through a third-party lawsuit. Many fixed-object crashes result in a rollover, and this can cause severe trauma to the passenger or passenger ejection from the vehicle. Additionally, a third party may be held liable for causing the wrongful deaths of passengers if a defective vehicle component led to the fixed-object collision. Surviving family members could have a product liability case against the manufacturer.
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