One Injured, One Detained After SUV Crash
A crash on San Antonio’s northwest side recently left one injured, and one detained by police after a van crashed into a pole. The crash occurred near the intersection of West Hausman Road and University Heights Boulevard, with the passenger from the vehicle being transported to University Hospital for their injuries. Witnesses described the driver as ‘straddling the median’ before the vehicle crashed, and police detained the driver, though as of this writing there is no word on the exact reason for the driver’s detention. This type of single-vehicle accident can be difficult to recover from, though having an attorney by your side can help the process go more smoothly.
Single-Vehicle Accidents Are Deadly
Statistics show that single-vehicle accidents contribute a high number of fatalities to the overall yearly total of road deaths because many single-vehicle crashes involve rollovers. Rollovers are by far the most deadly type of car accident; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that while rollover crashes only comprise about two percent of the yearly total, they are responsible for as much as 35 percent of the fatalities.
Even in those single-vehicle crashes which are not rollover in nature, the injury and fatality count can be high. Many are head-on collisions, like the crash on West Hausman Road, which often leads to whiplash and brain injuries, though fewer fatalities than rollover accidents occur. In 2017, Texas was second in the U.S. in the number of single-vehicle crash deaths (1,863), which made up exactly half of the state’s total road deaths. If you have been in a single-vehicle accident, it is critical to get checked out immediately, even if you think you have escaped unscathed.
How to Recover?
The issue with many single-vehicle accidents is that there is, at least in theory, no second actor (a driver, a governmental entity, or someone else) to try and recover from. However, this may not actually be the case – in other words, the driver of the automobile that crashed may not be the one at fault, even if their vehicle was the only one affected. Someone could, for example, have swerved or otherwise encroached into your lane and caused you to swerve or lose control.
It is often necessary to reconstruct your accident in order to determine whether or not someone else might potentially be liable, or even if you might bear some – but not all – responsibility for your own injuries. If a fact-finder does determine that you were partially responsible, though, keep in mind that you may still be able to recover, as long as you are not ruled to be more than 50 percent liable. If, for example, you are ruled to be 20 percent liable, that simply means any recovery you are given will be reduced by 20 percent.
Ask a New Braunfels Car Accident Lawyer for Help
While the passenger from the West Hausman Road accident is expected to make a full recovery, this may not be the case in your accident. If you have been injured in a car wreck, contacting a passionate New Braunfels auto accident attorney can help answer your questions. The Bettersworth Law Firm tries to focus on personal injury cases, so we are well positioned to do our best for you. Contact our office at 888-392-0039 today to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.ksat.com/traffic/sapd-passenger-hospitalized-driver-detained-after-vehicle-crashes-into-pole
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm
https://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview
https://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Rollover/Fatalities
