Getting hurt in a car crash is a terrifying experience. It is even more confusing and frustrating when you are the only one who crashed. If you were involved in a single-vehicle accident in Missouri that sent you to the hospital, you might be feeling overwhelmed. You are dealing with severe pain, missing time at work, and a pile of medical bills you do not know how to pay.
People might quickly point the finger and tell you the crash was your fault just because you were the only car involved. The police might be quick to assume you did something wrong. The insurance companies will definitely try to blame you so they do not have to pay.
But that is not always the truth. Just because your car was the only one involved does not mean you are automatically to blame for your injuries. Understanding exactly who is responsible and how the law works can make a massive difference in your life.
You have rights, and there is hope for your financial recovery.
Key Takeaways of Single-Car Crash Liability in Missouri
- A single-vehicle crash does not automatically mean the driver is at fault, as other drivers, unsafe road conditions, or defective vehicle parts may have contributed to the accident.
- Single-vehicle crashes are especially dangerous, accounting for about 53% of fatal crashes even though they represent a smaller share of overall accidents.
- Common causes include speeding, distracted or impaired driving, fatigue, poor weather, unsafe roads, animals in the roadway, or mechanical failures.
- Missouri requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person for injuries, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, along with uninsured motorist coverage.
- After a crash, drivers should remain at the scene, call police, seek medical care, document evidence, and report the accident as required by Missouri law.
Statistics About Single-Car Crashes
Many people think that the worst auto accidents always involve two or more cars smashing into each other. However, crashes that involve just one car are actually some of the most dangerous and deadly on the road.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), single-vehicle crashes involving fixed objects, pedestrians, and non-collision events (like a vehicle rolling over) make up 53% of all fatal car crashes. This is a shocking number, especially when you consider that these types of accidents account for only 25% or less of all overall crashes and injuries.
Common Causes of a Crash Involving One Vehicle
As you might guess, a single car wreck can happen for many different reasons. Sometimes, the driver makes a mistake. Other times, the crash is completely out of the driver’s control. Here are the most common reasons these devastating crashes happen on Missouri roads:
- Another Driver’s Recklessness: Sometimes, another car runs you off the road. They might swerve into your lane, run a red light, or cut you off. You swerve to avoid hitting them, and you end up crashing into a tree or a ditch. Even though their car never touched yours, they caused the crash.
- Speeding: Driving faster than the speed limit is dangerous. But even if you are going the speed limit, driving too fast in rain, ice, or fog can cause you to lose control.
- Distracted Driving: Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds to look at a phone, change the radio, or grab a drink is all it takes to drift off the road and hit a fixed object.
- Drowsy Driving: Being extremely tired is just as dangerous as being drunk. Falling asleep at the wheel for even a split second can lead to a tragic crash.
- Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drugs slow down your brain. They make it hard to judge distances and react quickly, which often leads to a driver losing control of their car.
- Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, massive cracks in the road, missing signs, or loose gravel can easily cause a car’s tires to slip. Poorly managed construction zones can also force a driver off the road.
- Bad Weather: Missouri weather changes in the blink of an eye. Heavy rain, sudden ice storms, and high winds make the roads incredibly slippery.
- Animals or Objects in the Road: Swerving to avoid hitting a deer, a dog, or a large piece of trash that fell off a truck can send your car crashing into a guardrail.
- Car Troubles and Bad Parts: Sometimes, a car part fails while you are driving. If your brakes stop working, or a tire suddenly blows out, you can lose control of the car through no fault of your own.
Who Can Be At-Fault in Single-Car Collisions?
When you are involved in a single-car collision, figuring out who is at fault is the most important step in getting the money you need for your medical bills. Liability depends entirely on what caused the crash.
Here are three different situations to help you understand how this works:
Scenario 1: The Phantom Driver Causes Your Crash
Imagine you are driving home from work, following Missouri’s driving laws. Suddenly, a truck swerves directly into your lane. To save your own life, you jerk the steering wheel and crash into a large light pole.
The truck never stops and drives away. Even though your car was the only one that crashed, the driver of that truck is at fault. Their reckless driving caused your severe injuries. Proving this can be tough if the driver left, which is why eyewitnesses and nearby camera footage are so important.
Scenario 2: The Dangerous Road Causes Your Crash
Imagine you are driving the speed limit on a city street. You hit a massive, deep pothole that the city knew about but never fixed. The impact blows out your front tire, causing your car to spin out and flip over.
In this situation, the government agency or the construction company in charge of keeping that road safe might be to blame. They failed to do their job, and you ended up in the hospital because of it.
Scenario 3: A Defective Car Part Causes Your Crash
Imagine you just had your brakes completely replaced at a mechanic shop. Two days later, you try to stop at a stop sign, but the brakes completely fail. You crash into a brick wall and break your leg.
The mechanic who did the bad repair job, or the company that manufactured the faulty brakes, can be held legally responsible for the medical treatment you now need.
Understanding Missouri Car Insurance Rules
Paying for hospital bills after a crash usually comes down to insurance. Missouri insurance law requires all drivers to carry specific types of auto insurance. According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, the minimum liability limits required by law are:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
Missouri also requires drivers to carry Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. This is incredibly important. If another driver runs you off the road and they do not have insurance (or if it was a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene), your own Uninsured Motorist coverage can step in to help pay for your hospital visits and bodily injuries.
Additionally, you might have other coverages on your policy:
- Collision Coverage: This helps pay to fix or replace your car if you hit an object (like a tree or guardrail) or if your car rolls over, regardless of who is at fault.
- Comprehensive Coverage: This helps pay for damage caused by things outside of your control, such as hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your car, or bad weather.
Keep in mind, if you only have the basic “liability” insurance required by the state, it will not pay for the damage to your own car if you are the one at fault. Insurance can be incredibly confusing, but knowing your coverage is the key to protecting your finances.
Important Steps to Take After a Crash
If you are involved in a serious crash, your health and safety are the top priorities. The steps you take immediately after the crash can make or break your chances of recovering your losses.
1. Never Leave the Scene
No matter how scared you are, do not leave. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident where someone is hurt or property is damaged is a crime. Under Missouri Revised Statute 577.060, leaving the scene can be a Class A misdemeanor, or even a felony if someone was injured or property damage is serious. Stay put, call the authorities, and wait for help.
2. Call 911 and Get Medical Treatment
Call the police immediately so they can make an official report. A police report is vital evidence. In fact, Missouri Revised Statute 303.040 states that you must report an accident to the state within 30 days if there is an uninsured motorist involved and the crash caused injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage.
More importantly, get in the ambulance and go to the hospital. Do not try to tough it out. Adrenaline hides pain. Going to the emergency room proves that your injuries are real and that they were caused by the crash.
3. Take Pictures
If you are physically able to move without hurting yourself further, take pictures of everything. Take pictures of the damage to your car, the skid marks on the road, the weather conditions, and whatever caused the crash (like a giant pothole or debris in the road).
4. Keep Your Mouth Shut with the Insurance Company
You must report the crash to your insurance company, but do not give them a recorded statement right away. Do not apologize, and do not say the crash was your fault. Insurance companies try to pay victims as little as possible. They will use your own words against you to deny your claim.
5. Speak to an Attorney
Don’t leave your chance of securing a settlement up to chance. Speak to a single-car accident lawyer in Missouri to learn about your legal rights. Your attorney can work with an accident reconstructionist and other industry and medical experts to help prove the circumstances of your case.
How DM Injury Law Can Help You Fight Back
At DM Injury Law, we know that surviving a single-car crash in Missouri is traumatizing. As you focus on your physical and emotional recovery, we will focus on the recovery of your financial losses.
We help injured victims maximize their financial recovery. Insurance companies will try to push you around, but we seek to get you the maximum compensation you deserve. You do not have to fight this battle alone.
We have a strong history of standing up for injury victims and getting results that change lives. Our car accident lawyers have secured over $1 billion for our clients.
- $11 Million: Our client’s son was killed in a work zone.
- $8.8 Million: Our client suffered a TBI after an accident.
- $4.6 Million: Our client sustained a TBI and broke multiple bones after an accident.
DM Injury Law has offices all over Missouri. Contact our Missouri rear-end car accident lawyers for help today:
While you focus on healing, we’ll focus on your case and future. Contact us online today or call us at 816-888-7500 to schedule your free consultation.
Remember, Mike’s Got This!