How Single-Vehicle Collisions Cause Severe Injuries in Cleveland

Single-vehicle collisions may result in severe and life-altering injuries. These injuries can vary and could happen if drivers are distracted or attempt to avoid an obstacle while driving.

If you sustained severe injuries during a single-vehicle collision, you may have the right to pursue compensation. At Friedman, Domiano & Smith, our knowledgeable Cleveland car accident lawyers have been helping injured victims for over 50 years and have a history of proven results. We charge no upfront fees for our services, which means there is no risk in you contacting our firm to learn if you may have a case.

What Types of Injuries Can Occur in Single-Vehicle Collisions?

Single-vehicle collisions often occur at high speed, hitting stationary objects with an intense force. The high impact of these crashes is why the resulting injuries and damages are so severe.

Here are some of the serious injuries that may often result from crashes involving single vehicles:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Traumatic brain injuries are among the most concerning outcomes of single-vehicle collisions. They occur when the victim’s head either strikes a hard surface or experiences a violent jolt.

Other types of traumatic brain injuries include:

• Contusions: Bruises on the brain caused by the impact of the brain hitting the skull.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): Occurs when the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers are sheared due to rapid movement.
• Coup-Contrecoup Injuries: These injuries happen when the brain hits both sides of the skull.
• Penetrating Injuries: When an object penetrates the skull and damages the brain.
• Secondary Brain Injuries: These could develop after the initial injury causes swelling, increased intracranial pressure and further damage to brain tissue.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord is another critical concern in single-vehicle collisions, though the severity of these injuries varies widely, including:

• Paralysis: Injuries to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis, affecting movement and sensation at and below the injury site.
• Herniated discs: The impact can cause the soft inner material of a spinal disc to push through the tough outer layer, compressing nearby nerves.
• Spinal fractures: Ranges from minor cracks to severe breaks in the vertebrae, resulting in intense pain, limited mobility and potential nerve damage.
• Soft tissue injuries: Injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the spine could cause significant pain and restriction, especially if not treated.
• Spondylolisthesis: This condition occurs when a vertebra is fractured and then shifts, placing pressure on the spinal column.

Internal Injuries

Blunt-force trauma from a collision can cause severe, life-threatening damage to internal organs. These injuries may include:

• Internal bleeding: Internal damage can occur in various parts of the body but it is not immediately apparent without a diagnostic test.
• Organ damage: Damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys and spleen.
• Broken ribs: Puncture or damage to internal organs like the lungs
• Abdominal rupture: A life-threatening condition where the abdominal aorta is compressed and ruptures, which could lead to death.

What Factors May Influence the Severity of a Victim’s Injuries?

There is no single answer to this question. Multiple factors contribute to the severity of a victim’s injuries in a single-vehicle collision. For example, if a driver is speeding and hits a stationary object, like a utility pole or tree, the resulting injuries could be catastrophic. In some incidents, the driver’s vehicle could deploy airbags due to the speed, causing crash victims to experience chemical burns or eye injuries.

Not Wearing Seatbelt

Any drivers or passengers who are not wearing seatbelts risk being ejected from the vehicle. They also have an increased risk of puncture wounds from hitting an object inside the car at impact.

Rollover Crash Impact

If a car rolls over during a single-vehicle crash, the extreme force of the impact could cause drivers and any passengers to sustain severe head injuries, crush injuries, multiple fractures or other internal injuries.

What Are the Primary Causes of Single-Vehicle Collisions?

Single-vehicle collisions may occur without involvement from other cars. These accidents can be catastrophic and are often result from a combination of driver behaviors, road conditions and vehicle issues.

Other vehicles can sometimes cause a single-vehicle crash without ever hitting another vehicle. For instance, if a driver suddenly drifts into someone else’s traffic lane without warning. Drivers reacting to that unexpected hazard may suddenly lose control while swerving to avoid being hit.

The primary causes of single-vehicle crashes, however, include:

• Driver fatigue or falling asleep
• Distracted driving
• Drunk or impaired driving 
• Driving at excessive speeds
• Not adjusting driving to poor weather conditions
• Vehicle mechanical failures
• Sudden obstacles (animals, debris)
• Medical emergencies

Who May Be Liable for a Single-Vehicle Collision?

In a single-vehicle collision, the driver is typically considered the primary liable party. Drivers are responsible for maintaining control of their vehicles. This means properly adjusting their speed, following distance and other factors according to road, traffic and weather conditions. However, that does not mean other parties may not be liable. If someone in the adjacent lane swerved into your lane, causing you to take evasive actions, that individual could be liable if it caused you to lose control of your vehicle.

Under certain circumstances, these parties could be fully or partially liable as well:

• An employer if the driver was operating a company vehicle or driving for work purposes
• Vehicle manufacturers if a mechanical defect contributed to the accident
• Government entities if poor road design or maintenance contributed to the crash
• Construction companies that created a hazard, such as insufficient warning about a detour
• Property owners if hazards on their land contributed to the crash

Can I Still File a Claim for a Single-Vehicle Collision?

Depending on the circumstances leading up to the crash, you may still be eligible to recover at least some compensation.

If you were at fault for the crash, you may still be able to file a claim with your insurance. However, Ohio is an “at fault” state, which means you will still be responsible for your percentage of fault.

Were You in a Single-Car Collision in Ohio? Contact Our Legal Team

Injured in a single-vehicle car crash in Cleveland? 

At Friedman, Domiano, and Smith, we are prepared to help you. Our firm has a proven history of results, and we are prepared to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.