Consequences Of Car Accidents With a Pole: Are YOU Always the ONE to Blame?

You may not realize this, but single-vehicle car accidents account for more than half of all fatal car crashes in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

In fact, a car driver is more likely to die in a single-car accident than in a collision involving at least one other car, as the number of car accident fatalities per a single-vehicle car crash exceeds that of multiple-vehicle collision deaths.

One of the most common things that come in contact with cars in single-vehicle crashes is electric poles and fire hydrants.

And while the consequences of hitting a fire hydrant are rarely deadly, a car crash with a pole often results in fatalities of all occupants in a car. It’s not just the blow itself that causes life-threatening injuries but also the risk of getting electrocuted or the car bursting into flames due to high voltage.

Let’s discuss the consequences of car accidents with a pole and whether you are always to blame for them.

Consequences of car accidents with a pole

Earlier this week, a woman was killed and a man hospitalized with severe injuries after their car slammed into an electrical pole and caught on fire in Los Angeles.

Our car crash attorney Los Angeles Howard Craig Kornberg notes, however, that this was no ordinary single-vehicle collision involve a pole, as the deadly crash occurred during a police chase.

But that’s not the point. The point is that it took fire only six seconds to fully engulf the vehicle and make it impossible for the police officers involved in the chase to rescue the woman.

While the surviving man will most likely not be able to recover damages or file a wrongful death lawsuit – given that he refused to comply with police’s orders to pull over and assaulted one of the officers with the vehicle – what about all other Los Angeles residents out there who get into car accidents involving poles?

If you get into a single-vehicle car crash after hitting a pole, are you ALWAYS the one responsible for your injuries and damages, or can other parties be held liable?

First of all, you’re lucky to survive one, as head-on collisions involving poles and other obstacles on the road can result in death or devastating injuries such as brain injuries, broken bones, and fractures, back and neck injuries, internal organ bleeding, concussion, contusions, and others.

All these injuries may amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills to seek full recovery. Not to mention that in many cases, fully recover from these injuries is unlikely.

Our best car accident attorney in Los Angeles explains that whether or not you can pursue monetary damages in single-vehicle crashes depends on the circumstances of the accident. But seeking compensation in a single-vehicle crash with a pole is possible.

Can you obtain compensation for single-car accidents?

Our car accident lawyers at Law Offices of Howard C. Kornberg outline three scenarios in which someone other than you could be held liable for your injuries and damages sustained in a single-vehicle crash:

1. The single-car accident was caused by your car’s malfunction or you lost control of the vehicle due to its manufacturing defects (faulty brakes, failure in operation, etc.). In these cases, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the car’s manufacturer, distributor, and seller.
2. Inadequate road conditions, road design or improper signage. In these cases, you may be entitled to seek damages for the single-car crash by filing a lawsuit against Los Angeles, county or other entities responsible for inspection of maintenance of the area.
3. Other motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians causing the single-car accident by doing something negligent that forces you to abruptly react and change the direction of your vehicle (which results in crashing into a pole).

In any of these cases, seek the legal advice of a Los Angeles car accident attorney to determine liability in your particular case, find evidence of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, and obtain compensation for your injuries and damages.

Hitting a pole on your own doesn’t necessarily mean you’re the only one to blame. Consult our experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg today. Call 310-997-0904 or complete this contact form to get a free initial consultation.