Injured in a single vehicle accident in Bakersfield, CA? Contact the top Bakersfield single vehicle accident lawyer to seek compensation.
A single vehicle crash in Bakersfield does not automatically mean you are at fault. Dangerous road conditions on Kern County highways, defective vehicle components, construction zones on the 58 Freeway, and phantom drivers who cause you to swerve on Highway 99 and then leave the scene all create valid liability claims, even when only your vehicle was involved.Â
The challenge is that evidence disappears fast, skid marks fade, construction crews move on, and the at-fault party’s insurance company faces no pressure to investigate unless someone demands it.
At Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our attorneys have served Bakersfield and Kern County injury victims since 1971. We investigate every angle of a single vehicle crash, road defects, product liability, government entity responsibility, and third-party negligence, to identify who is actually at fault.Â
With more than 100,000 clients served and over $1 billion recovered, we prepare every case as if it may go to trial. From our Bakersfield office at 5300 California Ave, Suite 220g, we represent clients throughout Kern County with no upfront fees and no cost unless we win.
Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how our single vehicle accident attorneys in Bakersfield can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
Do You Have a Case After a Single Vehicle Crash in Bakersfield?
Being the only driver involved does not make you automatically at fault. California law allows you to recover compensation when another party contributed to your crash, even if your car never struck another vehicle.
Single vehicle accidents happen for many reasons that have nothing to do with driver error. A driver who cut you off and fled the scene, a pothole that blew out your tire on Highway 99, or a brake system that failed without warning can all give you a valid legal claim.
At Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we have decades of experience representing injured Californians and obtaining compensation on their behalf. We handle every part of your case so you can focus on getting better.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Single Vehicle Accident?
Liability in a single vehicle accident often extends well beyond the driver. We investigate every angle of your crash to identify all responsible parties.
A phantom driver: A phantom driver is someone who forces you off the road or causes you to swerve and then leaves the scene without stopping. Your own uninsured motorist coverage often applies in these situations, and we build the evidence needed to prove the other driver existed.
A government agency: Cities, counties, and Caltrans are responsible for keeping California roads safe. When a missing guardrail, an unmarked construction zone, or a severely deteriorated road surface causes your crash, the government agency responsible for that road can be held liable.
A vehicle or parts manufacturer: Product liability law holds manufacturers accountable when a defect in your car causes a crash. Tire blowouts, brake failures, steering malfunctions, and faulty airbag systems are all examples of defects that can trigger a product liability claim.
An employer or contractor: If you were driving for work when the crash happened, you may have a third party claim in addition to a workers’ compensation claim. Negligent construction contractors who leave unsafe work zones without proper barriers or signage can also be held responsible.
One pattern we see in Bakersfield single vehicle cases is that Caltrans and Kern County road agency liability surfaces frequently on the SR-99 and 58 Freeway corridors where construction zone signage, lane shifts, and missing guardrails are a recurring cause of crashes.Â
Government entity claims require a tort claim notice filed within six months of the incident, well before the standard two-year personal injury deadline.Â
Missing that six-month window eliminates a potentially significant source of compensation. We identify all potentially liable government entities in the first days of every case to make sure that deadline is protected.
What Evidence Proves Fault in a One Car Crash?
Physical evidence disappears fast after a single vehicle accident. We move quickly to preserve everything needed to build a strong case on your behalf.
We gather and analyze the following types of evidence:
- Police reports and 911 call logs that document road conditions and witness accounts at the time of the crash
- Event data recorder information, which is the black box in your vehicle that captures your speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds before impact
- Photographs of the crash scene, road surface, signage, skid marks, and vehicle damage
- Maintenance logs and manufacturer recall records that reveal known defects
- Statements from witnesses who saw the road hazard or the phantom driver
We send preservation letters immediately to tow yards, government agencies, and manufacturers to prevent the destruction of evidence before your case is resolved.
What we see consistently in the single vehicle cases we handle in Kern County is that dashcam footage from nearby commercial vehicles and event data recorder information from the client’s own vehicle are the two most important evidence sources.Â
On Highway 99 near Bakersfield, freight corridor truck traffic means commercial dashcam footage is often available from nearby vehicles that captured the conditions leading up to the crash.Â
We send preservation demands quickly because that footage is overwritten within days, and once it is gone, proving a road defect or phantom driver was involved becomes substantially harder.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
California law allows single vehicle accident victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover your direct financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate for the physical and emotional impact of your injuries.
Medical Expenses and Future Treatment
We pursue compensation for your emergency room bills, surgeries, imaging, physical therapy, and any ongoing care your injuries require. If you cannot afford treatment while your case is pending, we can arrange care on a lien basis, meaning your medical providers agree to wait for payment until your case settles.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
You can recover the income you already missed while recovering, as well as future earnings you will lose if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job. We work with financial experts to document these losses accurately, including for clients who are self-employed.
Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages cover the physical pain, disrupted sleep, anxiety, and limitations on daily activities that your injuries caused. We document these losses through medical records, personal journals, and statements from people who know you well.
How Insurance Works in a Single Vehicle Accident
When no other driver is clearly identified, your own auto insurance policy becomes the primary source of compensation. There are three types of coverage that commonly apply:
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Pays for your injuries when a phantom driver caused the crash but cannot be identified or located
- Underinsured motorist coverage: Applies when a driver is identified but their insurance policy does not fully cover your losses
- Medical payments coverage: Covers your immediate medical bills regardless of who was at fault
Insurance companies are not on your side, even when you are filing a claim on your own policy. We handle all communication with adjusters so you do not say something that gives them a reason to reduce or deny your claim.
How Comparative Fault Affects Your Single Vehicle Accident Claim
California follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for the crash.
Here is how it works in practice: if a jury finds you 25 percent at fault for a crash that caused $80,000 in damages, you can still recover $60,000. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated entirely.
Insurance companies frequently try to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured driver to reduce what they pay. We counter those arguments with evidence and fight to keep your fault percentage as low as the facts allow.
In our experience handling single vehicle accident cases in Bakersfield, the insurer’s first argument is usually that the driver is entirely responsible for losing control. Under California’s pure comparative fault rule, even partial driver error does not bar recovery, but it does reduce the damages proportionally.Â
When a Caltrans road defect on the 58 Freeway or a tire defect contributed to the crash alongside a driver’s misjudgment, the fault is shared among all contributing parties. We document every contributing factor before the insurer’s investigation concludes so the fault picture reflects the actual cause, not just the simplest narrative.
What to Do After a Single Vehicle Accident in Bakersfield?
The actions you take in the first few days after a crash have a direct impact on your health and your legal claim. Follow these steps to protect both.
Step 1: Get medical attention right away. Injuries like concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage do not always cause immediate pain. A prompt medical evaluation creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash, which is critical for your claim.
Step 2: Do not release or repair the vehicle. Your car is evidence. Do not authorize repairs or sign a salvage release until an attorney has had a chance to inspect it for mechanical defects. Once the vehicle is scrapped or repaired, that evidence is gone.
Step 3: Document the scene. If you are physically able, take photos of the road surface, any missing or damaged signage, skid marks, and all visible damage to your vehicle. Note the location of any nearby surveillance cameras.
Step 4: Decline recorded statements. An insurance adjuster may call you within hours of the crash asking for a recorded statement. You can tell them directly that you are not prepared to give a statement and that they should contact your attorney. These recordings are used to find inconsistencies that reduce your payout.
Step 5: Call Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we offer free consultations in English and Spanish. If you cannot travel to our Bakersfield office, we will come to your home or hospital room.
Filing Deadlines for a Single Vehicle Accident Claim in California
Claim Type | Deadline |
Personal injury against a private party | 2 years from the date of the crash |
Property damage | 3 years from the date of the crash |
Claim against a government entity | 6 months from the date of the crash |
Product liability against a manufacturer | 2 years from the date of injury |
The six month deadline for government claims is the most important one to know. If a dangerous road condition caused your crash and you miss that window, you lose the right to sue the responsible agency entirely. Contact us as soon as possible so we can file the correct notices on time.
Why Choose Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers?
Single vehicle accident cases are genuinely harder to prove than standard two car collisions. The depth of experience your legal team brings to the table makes a real difference in the outcome.
Here is what you get when you work with Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers:
- Over 100,000 clients represented: More than five decades of handling complex personal injury and car accident cases across California gives our team strategic insight that newer firms simply do not have.
- $1 billion+ recovered: Our record reflects consistent results for injured clients in Bakersfield, Kern County, and throughout the state.
- Trial-ready preparation: We build every file as though it is headed to a jury. Insurance companies know we will not accept a lowball offer, and that changes how they negotiate.
- No fee unless we win: You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid when we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I File a Claim if I Received a Traffic Ticket After My Single Vehicle Crash?
Yes. A traffic citation does not prevent you from filing a civil claim because California’s pure comparative fault rule allows you to recover compensation even if you were partly at fault. We investigate the full picture to show how other factors contributed to the crash.
Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Apply When No Other Car Was Involved?
It can, specifically when a phantom driver forced you off the road or caused you to crash without making contact. We use 911 logs, witness statements, and dashcam footage to establish that another driver was present and responsible.
Can a Passenger Injured in a Single Vehicle Crash File a Claim?
Yes. Injured passengers can pursue claims against the driver, a government road authority, or a vehicle manufacturer depending on the cause of the crash. We identify the correct liable party and the applicable insurance coverage for your specific situation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bakersfield Single Vehicle Accident Lawyer?
There are no upfront costs when you work with Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee comes out of the compensation we recover for you, and you owe nothing if we do not win.
Contact Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Kuzyk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers serves injured clients throughout Bakersfield and Kern County from our office at 5300 California Avenue. We are available around the clock, offer free consultations with no obligation, and will visit your home or hospital if you are unable to come to us. Bring whatever you have, including photos, medical records, insurance documents, and any citations received, and we will take it from there.