Lampasas, TX — December 5, 2025, Brittany Gotberg was injured due to a single-car accident just before 10:15 p.m. along U.S. Highway 281.

According to authorities, 30-year-old Brittany Gotberg was traveling as a passenger in a northbound Ford Focus on U.S. 281 in the vicinity south of Lampasas when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the Focus allegedly took faulty evasive action. It was consequently involved in a single-vehicle collision.

Gotbert reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. It does not appear that anyone else was hurt.

Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a passenger is seriously hurt in a crash where only one vehicle is involved, the focus often lands on the driver’s decision-making. But sometimes what looks like a mistake is actually a reaction to something unexpected—or even a failure within the vehicle itself. That’s why a real investigation doesn’t stop with the surface.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
An evasive maneuver suggests the driver was reacting to something. Was there any evidence on the road to support that? Did investigators look for signs of sudden swerving, tire marks, or possible obstructions? Mapping the scene and analyzing vehicle dynamics can help determine whether the driver’s response was reasonable or if something else caused the loss of control. But not all investigations go this deep—some barely scratch the surface before writing up a report.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
Faulty steering, brake problems, or traction control failures can all cause a car to veer or spin out when trying to avoid something. If the Focus had any preexisting mechanical issues, those could have played a critical role. The only way to know is with a full mechanical inspection—but if the car was quickly towed away or written off, that opportunity might already be gone.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
If the car had to take sudden evasive action, onboard data might show exactly what happened in those final seconds—how sharply the driver turned, whether the brakes were applied, how fast they were going. That kind of information can explain more than any witness ever could. Phone records or navigation data might also show whether something inside the vehicle played a role. But unless someone stepped in early to preserve that data, it may no longer be recoverable.

There’s often more to a crash than what the damaged vehicle shows. Getting clarity—especially when a passenger is hurt—depends on how deeply someone’s willing to look.

Key Takeaways:

• Evasive maneuvers should be backed by real crash scene analysis.
• Mechanical failures can turn a controlled reaction into a serious crash.
• Electronic data helps clarify the full chain of events—but only if preserved.