It can happen in an instant: you are driving through an intersection, looking straight ahead, when a speeding car slams into the side of your vehicle. This is a T-bone accident, also known as a side-impact collision. The accident gets its name “T-bone” from the fact the cars form a letter T at the moment of impact.
At Quinn Law Group, we have helped many people injured in T-bone car accidents. They present unique injuries and complicated legal questions, but we can clear up the confusion to show you are not at fault.
T-Bone Accident Injuries
Side impact collisions are serious. Many cars aren’t as equipped to handle a T-bone crash compared to a rear-end or even a head-on collision. For example, many vehicles lack side airbags, so there is no cushion for the occupant in the vehicle which is struck.
Many people suffer:
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Fracture
- Chest contusion
- Head injury
A real risk is that passengers will hit each other, maybe even knock their skulls against each other as they rebound around the car.
Determining Fault for T-Bone Accidents
You might assume the driver of the car which strikes the other vehicle is always to blame. That’s not quite true. Instead, we need to fully review all facts to determine what happened. In some cases, the car which is struck is to blame because the driver was not acting carefully.
Consider the following examples:
- You proceed through an intersection because you have a green light, but a car runs a red light and hits you. In this example, the driver who struck you is at fault because they ran a red light.
- You decide to sneak through a red light at an intersection because you are late for work. A driver whose light is green can’t brake in time and hits you. Here, you are at fault, because you drove through a red light. True, the other driver hit you. But it’s your negligence which is to blame for the accident, so you are at fault.
- You drive through an intersection on a green light when a driver plows through a red light and hits you. However, his brakes failed due to a design defect, even though he was trying to stop. In this example, the brake or car manufacturer is probably liable for the crash.
- In a parking lot, two cars collide in a T-bone because both drivers are looking at their cell phones. Here, both drivers share fault for the crash.
As the above examples show, fault is sometimes shared. If so, your proportion of fault can impact whether you can sue and how much you receive in compensation.
Legal Help for T-Bone Accidents
Quinn Law Group can start a claim for compensation to cover medical care, lost income, car damage, property damage, and pain and suffering. Let us review your case to determine your odds of success. T-bone accidents are rarely as straightforward as many victims hope, so legal assistance is desirable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.