New Orleans
Just because only one car was involved doesn’t mean no one else is responsible.
A pothole, a defective tire, or a driver who ran you off the road and kept going can all mean someone besides you is on the hook.
The Voorhies Law Firm knows where to look.
A single-vehicle accident involves only one car, but that doesn’t mean the driver was necessarily at fault.
Common causes with a third party behind them include:
Common examples include:
Insurers often treat single-vehicle crashes as an automatic admission of driver error.
A thorough investigation can reveal a very different picture, one where a defective product, a hazardous road, or another driver entirely is actually responsible.
Louisiana law recognizes several paths to third-party liability even when only one vehicle was involved in the crash itself.
If a dangerous road condition, a pothole, inadequate drainage, missing signage, contributed to your crash, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development or a local government may bear responsibility.
Claims against a public entity generally carry additional notice requirements beyond an ordinary lawsuit, so acting quickly matters even more here.
If a tire blowout, brake failure, or steering defect caused you to lose control, a product liability claim against the manufacturer may be available under the Louisiana Products Liability Act.
If another driver forced you off the road and fled without making contact, that phantom vehicle may still be a legally responsible party, and your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply, similarly to a hit-and-run situation.
The general rules in these cases do still apply: a two-year filing deadline under Civil Code article 3493.1 for crashes on or after July 1, 2024, and a 51% comparative fault bar under article 2323 for crashes on or after January 1, 2026, in cases where your own conduct is also at issue.
STEP 1
Free consultation.
Tell us what happened. We’ll give you an honest, no-cost assessment of whether a third party may be responsible.
STEP 2
Scene investigation.
We examine the road condition, any physical evidence, and whether debris, obstacles, or a defect contributed to the crash.
STEP 3
Vehicle inspection.
If a mechanical failure is suspected, we work with experts to determine whether a defect was involved.
STEP 4
Government notice, if applicable.
If a road defect is involved, we move quickly to satisfy any required notice procedure for a claim against a public entity.
STEP 5
Medical documentation.
We make sure your treatment record is tied clearly to the crash.
STEP 6
Damage calculation.
We tally medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any lasting impact.
STEP 7
Filing suit, if needed.
We file within the deadline that applies to your specific claim.
STEP 8
Resolution.
Your claim is resolved, either by settlement or by verdict.
We handle single-vehicle accident claims involving:
Behind every single-vehicle case worth pursuing is a story that insurers would rather you not investigate too closely.
That could look like a road that should have been fixed, a part that should have been recalled, or a driver who ran and never looked back.
We do the digging anyway.
The Voorhies Law Firm‘s client recoveries now exceed $100 million across all our practice areas.
Results may vary, and every single-vehicle case depends on whether a third party can be shown to bear responsibility or not.
Most firms take one look at a single-vehicle crash and assume there’s no case or claim to be made.
Richard P. Voorhies III and the team at The Voorhies Law Firm look harder before making that call.
We’re recognized by Super Lawyers and other legal organizations, but what matters here is a willingness to investigate before writing off your case, plus direct access to your attorney, not a call center.
We handle these cases on contingency, so you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Possibly, yes. A dangerous road condition, a defective vehicle part, or a phantom driver who ran you off the road can all mean someone besides you bears responsibility. It’s worth having the crash investigated before assuming there’s no claim.
Photos of the road condition, maintenance records, and evidence of prior complaints about the same hazard can all help. This kind of claim also typically requires prompt notice to the responsible government entity, so time matters.
Possibly, if the tire was defective rather than simply worn out or improperly maintained. Preserving the tire itself, rather than discarding it, is one of the most important things you can do for this kind of claim.
Generally two years from the date of the crash for incidents on or after July 1, 2024, under Civil Code article 3493.1, though claims against a government entity may carry shorter, separate notice deadlines.
Nothing out of pocket. Your consultation is free and we work on contingency.
