Can You Still File an Accident Claim After a Single-Vehicle Crash in South Carolina?

Single-vehicle accidents are quite common in South Carolina. Within the past week, many people have lost their lives after vehicles crashed into trees, utility poles, and other barriers. Sometimes, these vehicles burst into flames after their collisions, causing additional life-threatening hazards for those inside. Survivors face disabilities, medical bills, and many other concerns. But is it possible to file a car accident lawsuit in South Carolina if you didn’t crash into another vehicle?

A Near-Miss Can Still Lead to a Car Accident Claim 

If you are recovering from a single-vehicle crash, you should consider the exact circumstances of the accident. Did you crash with no one else on the road, or were other vehicles nearby at the time? If other vehicles were nearby, you could still potentially file a claim.

A “near-miss” might lead to a valid claim in certain situations. This scenario involves a negligent driver who caused you to veer off the road, swerve, or otherwise lose control. In this case, you might be able to sue the negligent driver for causing your accident. In the eyes of the court, these “near-misses” are equivalent to crashing directly into another vehicle.

However, you will need to prove that the near-miss actually occurred – and an experienced personal injury attorney may be able to help you find the necessary evidence to achieve this goal. This step could be particularly important if the driver who caused you to swerve fled without stopping at the scene. This behavior is quite common, as drivers may feel that they cannot face consequences for hit-and-runs if they never came into contact with you.

Relevant evidence in this scenario might include dashcam footage, traffic camera footage, eyewitness accounts, police reports, and much more.

Filing a Claim For Other Types of Negligence 

If there was no one else on the road at the time of your single-vehicle crash, you may still be able to file other types of lawsuits. For example, you could sue the local county or city for failing to properly maintain the roads. Perhaps the road lacked sufficient lighting, or maybe there were too many potholes. Maybe you became confused by misleading signage or a problematic construction zone. These situations could lead to valid lawsuits.

If the road was in good condition and there were no confusing signs or construction zones, you may still have the opportunity to file a product liability claim. These lawsuits stem from situations involving defective vehicles. For example, your brakes might have failed moments before the crash. Perhaps your Autopilot system malfunctioned. Maybe your injuries were worsened by the failure of safety features, such as seat belts or airbags. In these situations, you may be able to sue auto manufacturers.

Can a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Help Me? 

A South Carolina car accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation, even after a single-vehicle crash. Although you might have crashed without coming into contact with any other vehicles, someone else might still be to blame for your injuries. The obvious way to approach this situation is by speaking with an experienced attorney. Contact Mickelsen & Dalton, LLC today for more information.

Source:

 wect.com/2025/08/03/one-dead-after-car-accident-near-carolina-beach-road/