Intersections are the most common locations for car accidents, including dangerous T-bone collisions. A T-bone collision or broadside accident occurs when the front end of one car collides with the side of another vehicle, forming a T shape, or angle collision. Injuries in T-bone accidents are dangerous for motorists in both vehicles, but particularly devastating to those hit broadside because there is far less of a buffer in the thinner car door and side of the vehicle. T-bone collisions made up 23.6% of all traffic collisions in 2021 and caused about 9,000 fatalities.
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents
Most T-bone accidents occur in intersections when one vehicle fails to yield the right of way to another vehicle already in the intersection. Common causes of T-bone accidents include the following:
- Drivers purposely running red lights
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign
- Intoxicated driving
T-bone collisions most commonly result from driver negligence, but sometimes slippery roads, faulty signal lights, or defective auto parts cause T-bone accidents.
What Injuries Result from T-Bone Accidents
T-bone collisions sometimes happen at full speed with tremendous crash force, resulting in serious highway accidents with catastrophic injuries. Even when they occur at lower speeds, they can cause injuries that interfere with the injury victim’s ability to earn a living and accomplish daily routines. Common injuries from T-bone accidents include the following:
- Fractures, including of the hips, ribs, and pelvis
- Head injuries/traumatic brain injury
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injury
- Soft tissue injuries
Compared to other car accidents, victims of T-bone accidents in the vehicle hit broadside tend to suffer from crush injuries as the side of the car collapses inward. Newer vehicles with side-impact airbags help decrease the risk of fatalities.
Determining Liability in T-Bone Accidents
It’s easy to assume that the driver of the car that hit the second vehicle broadside is the one at fault for the accident and liable for damages, but determining liability in a T-bone accident isn’t always that simple, especially when they occur in intersections without traffic signals. It often takes an in-depth investigation to learn the cause of the accident and which driver is responsible. Even in no-fault insurance states like New Jersey and Florida, the at-fault driver may be liable for damages under some circumstances.
Proving liability in a T-bone accident requires demonstrating the following points of legal liability:
- The at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road to take reasonable measures to prevent causing harm
- They breached this duty of care by acting negligently
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The injury victim suffered economic and non-economic damages from the accident
For example, having clearly documented evidence of liability in a T-bone accident maximizes the whiplash victim’s chances of recovering full compensation for their damages.
How Can a T-Bone Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
After a car accident, an attorney represents their client’s best interests throughout the process of recovering compensation for damages. An attorney on your side as a legal advocate allows you to focus on recovering physically while your attorney navigates your claim for the best possible financial recovery. Call the Cherry Hill car accident attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti today so we can begin prompt action in your case.