What You Need to Know About T-bone Car Accident Lawyers

Hiring a Car Accident Attorney in Your Area

You may have many questions when you are involved in a car wreck, we are here to help! We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding T-bone accidents and personal injury cases.

Were you or a loved one hurt in a T-bone car accident? You may have legal options. Injuries like broken bones, head injuries, and traumatic brain injuries can lead to high medical bills and other disruptions to your life. You shouldn’t have to pay for expenses caused by a car accident that wasn’t your fault. When you work with LegalFinders, you can find a top car accident attorney in your area who can help you understand your best options for getting compensated. A free consultation can give you more insight on how to get started.

LegalFinders: Find the Best T-Bone Car Accident Attorney Near You

T-bone collisions, also known as broadside or side-impact collisions, can lead to serious injuries for accident victims. Depending on where the other car struck your vehicle, you may sustain injuries that range from whiplash to such blunt force trauma as head, neck, or chest injuries.

And you should never have to pay for an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. That is why personal injury claims exist: to allow accident victims to seek recourse for the harm they’ve suffered.

When you file a car accident injury claim, you may be able to receive compensation for expenses you incurred due to the accident. Examples of these damages include medical expenses, motor vehicle damage, lost wages, and in-home care costs, among others.

But how do you get started on filing your claim? That’s where LegalFinders can help. Through our extensive network of T-bone car accident lawyers, you can find a lawyer with experience — and the case results to prove it — in handling cases like yours.

A reputable attorney will be able to help determine a number of crucial details related to your case, such as: who was likely at fault, whether the at-fault driver was being negligent, whether negligence resulted in your injuries, and an estimate for how much you may stand to claim in damages.

 

Common Causes of T-Bone Collisions

T-bone car accidents are so-called because they result when one car strikes the side of another car, forming a “T.” In theory, this should not occur, since motor vehicles are supposed to travel alongside each other or in opposing directions. Yet t-bone collisions are a common occurrence on the roadway and can happen when a driver gets too near another vehicle and is unable to stop in time. Here are some common ways that broadside car crashes may occur:

• A driver fails to stop at an intersection
• A driver runs a red light
• A driver is speeding
• A driver fails to yield the right-of-way to another motor vehicle
• A driver has road rage, or is driving aggressively in another way

Other factors may also contribute to t-bone accidents, such as:

• Driver error, such as failure to brake in time or brake properly
• Driver distraction, i.e. texting while driving, messing with the radio, or making phone calls
• Poor road conditions, which make a driver unable to stop in time
• Dangerous weather conditions, like slippery roads
• Faulty brakes or other unknown manufacturing errors within the vehicle
• Lack of driver training, or driver inexperience
• Driver fatigue
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (drunk driving)

 

Where Do T-Bone Car Accidents Happen

Because T-bone accidents are typically the result of driver inattention or error, they can happen nearly anywhere that two or more motor vehicles are traveling. As with other types of car accidents, T-bone collisions may happen more frequently on busy roadways (like freeways or highways), simply because those roads see the most traffic overall. In general, a broadside auto accident may occur at:

• Popular intersections: The high occurrence of motorists at busy intersections makes crashes more likely to occur, particularly those caused by driver distraction or error.
• Stop lights: Deciding not to wait for the green light may cause a person to crash into the side of another vehicle that had the right-of-way.
• Bad roads: If the roadways are not properly maintained, this can lead to an accident. For example, an unmarked bump in the road could lead a person to lose control and cause a side-impact accident.
• Places with unpredictable weather: Some states have weather that can change in an instant, leading to dangerous driving conditions, like slippery roads or impossible vision challenges.
• Parking lots: If a driver is cruising through a parking lot and not paying attention to designated lines, for instance, or backing up without looking, this could cause them to T-bone another vehicle.

 

Injuries That May Be Caused by T-Bone Crashes

Depending on where you were located in the vehicle when the crash occurred, or where the vehicle struck your vehicle, you could sustain injuries that range in severity.

Serious injuries can result from all types of accidents, but T-bone accidents often lead to blunt force trauma, or blunt contact of an object with a body. And the majority of serious injuries in motor vehicle crashes are caused by blunt force trauma, according to StatPearls. Blunt force trauma caused by side-impact accidents can lead to the following injuries:

• Whiplash: The T-bone impact may cause your neck and head to whip forward, then back, very quickly, which can result in whiplash.
• Head injuries: These include skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Car accidents are the second-leading cause of TBI, which can result in permanent damage.
• Chest injuries: The force of the side impact may lead to broken ribs, bruising, muscle strain, soft tissue damage, or even internal organ damage, which may be life-threatening.
• Abdomen injuries: These types of injuries may not show up right away, but could include internal bleeding, damage to blood vessels in your organs, or organ damage.
• Spinal cord injuries: While spinal injuries affect the neck and back, spinal cord injuries can be severely damaging and may lead to such vast effects as paralysis or even death.

Less serious injuries caused in broadside car accidents can include broken bones, bruising, burns, or emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Regardless of the severity of your injuries, you may be able to file a personal injury claim if they were caused by another driver in a T-bone accident. Speak with a personal injury lawyer today to find out more.

 

T-Bone Accident Statistics in the U.S.

Side-impact crashes were the second-leading cause of fatalities of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in motor vehicle crashes in 2019, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Other statistics for side-impact accidents in the U.S. in 2019:

What To Do After a Broadside Collision

If a driver blew through a stop sign and struck your vehicle, there are several steps you can take to ensure your safety and begin your legal recourse.

First, it’s important that you seek medical attention. Even if you have side airbags and feel that you are unharmed, it’s crucial to take this necessary first step. Remember, your body may be in shock due to the adrenaline from the impact. You could have internal injuries, or your pain may be masked.

Once everyone has had proper medical care, be sure to report the accident to local authorities. Most states have laws requiring you to report all accidents, so you don’t want to skip this step. Besides, the police report can serve as critical evidence, should you decide to begin a personal injury case.

After ensuring these two steps are addressed, you can call T-bone accident attorneys. It may help to look specifically for personal injury attorneys with experience in accident cases involving broadside collisions.

They will know the laws that apply to your case, the common injuries that are cited for these cases, how much financial compensation you may stand to receive, and more. When you’re ready, you can contact LegalFinders to be connected with top-rated personal injury lawyers who can offer a free case evaluation.

 

Legal Options for T-Bone Accident Victims

Florida is a no-fault state for car accidents, which means you must first file a claim with your own insurance company after an auto accident. However, when accidents lead to severe injuries that exceed the limits of your insurance policy, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver.

A lawsuit is different from an insurance claim. Where an insurance claim makes a claim for compensation that is generally owed — such as from an insurance policy — a lawsuit is a civil suit brought against someone for a negligent action, like careless driving that results in injury.

The lawsuit will generally take on the negligent driver’s insurance company for damages brought by the accident. This is why it helps to have quality legal representation when starting a car accident lawsuit.

A qualified lawyer can help you understand your legal options, provide sound legal advice throughout your case, and explain the possible verdicts (outcomes) for your case. They know the laws that apply, such as the statute of limitations, and will do everything in their power to help you secure maximum compensation for the harm you’ve endured.

If you lost a loved one in a T-bone car accident, an attorney can also help you start a wrongful death lawsuit, which could compensate you for the pain and suffering, loss of consortium (companionship and financial support), and other trauma caused by the unexpected loss.

 

LegalFinders Can Connect You to the Top Car Accident Attorneys in Your Area

Ready to start your injury claim for your or a loved one’s injuries? LegalFinders can be your one-stop solution to finding high-quality, experienced law firms.

We can put you in touch with the right lawyer for your case — and we only work with attorneys who are backed by spotless reputations and superb track records. Find out more by reaching out to us for a free case evaluation today.