Apparently, aggressive, drunk, and distracted driving on the roads of Los Angeles and all across California are not the only things that can get you killed or leave you injured. Debris can be just as dangerous. But who is responsible when you get injured by a piece of debris on the road?
Any piece of debris, ranging from a car tire to beams and logs, can be extremely hazardous and even deadly if it is flying in your direction. Even if it does not smash your windshield and injure you, it can cause chaotic swerving or abrupt loss of control of the vehicle, which, in turn, will most likely lead to a devastating car accident.
Car accidents caused by or involving road debris are not unheard of in California, which is why we invited our car accident attorney Howard Craig Kornberg to explain who is held liable for injuries and damages caused by debris on the road?
Who is liable for road debris and accidents caused by them?
While the circumstances of some car accidents involving road debris may be similar in nature – logs falling off of vehicles, truck tires come loose, etc. – most of the time, such collisions are unique in every case.
Determining who was responsible for road debris, which led to a motor vehicle accident, is vital in order to establish liability and determine which type of insurance coverage will apply.
Our Los Angeles car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg explains that before filing a personal injury or property damage claim, it is highly advised to consult with an experienced attorney in order to determine which type of insurance will cover it. Generally, there are four types of insurance coverage that may kick in after a collision involving road debris.
Types of insurance to cover car accidents caused by road debris
If your vehicle runs over road debris and it causes damage to your car – and the party who caused that road debris cannot be identified – you will most likely be able to recover damages through your collision coverage. That, of course, if you have one. If you do not, check out other options.
If road debris smashes your vehicle while you are driving and that debris was flying in the air – which means you cannot be certain about where that object came from – then you might be able to cover some of the damages with your homeowner’s or umbrella insurance. Generally, you will require the legal help of a car crash attorney in order to access this insurance coverage.
However, if you can identify the person who caused that road debris and can prove that this person was negligent, you will most likely be able to obtain insurance coverage from that at-fault individual’s liability insurance. If the at-fault party fled the scene of the car accident, on the other hand, and there is no way to identify that person, uninsured motorist coverage will most likely pay for most or all of the damages caused by the negligent motorist. The same insurance coverage will also apply if the at-fault motorist is uninsured.
If you have been injured in a car accident involving road debris – or worse, your loved one died in such a motor vehicle accident – do not hesitate to contact the best car accident lawyers in California. Here at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, we will provide you with a free consultation and start working on your case immediately. Call our offices at 310-997-0904 or complete this contact form.