There are many types of car crashes where you may need the help of your experienced auto accident lawyer. One type of accident where you may have major damages, injuries, and associated expenses as a car accident victim is a T-bone accident. Also known as side impact crashes, these accidents can be incredibly extreme and complicated. In this article, we’ll discuss some things you should know about T-bone accidents and why you may need a lawyer to help you fight for compensation.
Why Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer After a T-Bone Accident?
After a T-bone accident, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Seeking compensation from the at fault driver and dealing with your injuries and property damage can be overwhelming and difficult to keep up with. That’s where your accident attorney comes in. They are your source for pursuing legal action against the at fault driver so that you can recover as soon as possible from the accident.
Your auto accident lawyer helps in many ways, including assisting with paperwork, gathering evidence, and negotiating your claim on your behalf. Here are some other ways your attorney can help you after a T-bone accident:
Your Auto Accident Lawyer Can Help Determine Fault After a Side Impact Crash
One important way that your auto accident lawyer can assist after a T-bone accident is helping you determine who is at fault. It’s a common myth that whichever driver hits the side of the other car in a side impact collision is at fault. However, in most cases, fault isn’t so cut and dry.
For instance, many times T-bone accidents are due to someone running a red light or stop sign. The car that had the right of way might then hit the side of their vehicle if they can’t stop in time. Typically, the driver that didn’t obey the light or stop sign would be at fault. By contrast, sometimes a T-bone accident is due to someone turning without looking, which can lead to them hitting the side of an oncoming vehicle. In this case, typically the driver that hit the side of the vehicle would be at fault.
Keep in mind that there may be other parties that are liable for your damages, even if they weren’t physically involved in the crash. While this is less common, there are situations where a company or another driver may share fault. We’ll discuss this in a later section of this article.
Whatever the details of your case, your accident attorney is here to help you determine who is liable for your T-Bone accident and related expenses and also gather evidence to prove fault.
Your Accident Attorney Helps You Calculate the Value of Your Case
Another important thing to think about is how much to ask for in compensation. Many car accident victims every year settle for much less than their accident case is worth. Your Houston car accident lawyer is here to help you calculate all your damages to help make sure you receive fair compensation. This includes totaling up all your medical expenses, vehicle damage, and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents happen from a wide variety of causes. Typically T-bone accidents occur at intersections, since this is where several different traffic directions meet.
Some common causes of T-bone car crashes include:
- Ran Red Light or Stop Sign: If someone runs a red light or stop sign, then the drivers with the right of way may hit them as they pull their illegal move.
- Improper Left Turns: Left turns are another common cause of side impact crashes. This may happen if the turning driver doesn’t look closely before turning or if they try to turn despite another car being too close for them to do so safely.
- Lost Control of Car: If another driver loses control of their vehicle, it may turn sideways and cause a T-bone collision with another car. Losing control of a car may also mean the driver can’t stop in time to prevent a side impact collision.
There may be a number of reasons these may happen, including distracted driving, driving under the influence, and reckless driving.
T-Bone Accidents May Cause Severe Injuries – Work with Your Auto Accident Lawyer to Get Compensation
Another reason it’s often helpful to hire an auto accident lawyer for your T-bone accident case is because they frequently cause serious injuries.
In a rear or front end collision, there are typically several feet between the edge of your car and your body to help reduce the amount of force that hits you. In a T-bone accident, there is just the door panel, which offers only typically a few inches of protection.
What’s more, many vehicles don’t have side airbags. They aren’t technically required by law, even though they can help save your life in the event of a T-bone crash. If you’re in a car with no side airbags, then you might find yourself with major injuries.
Therefore, side impact crashes often cause severe injuries or even death. Some common injuries you may suffer after a T-bone accident include:
- Head injuries
- Cuts from shattered glass
- Neck and back injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
These types of injuries can leave you with high medical bills and lost wages from recovery times. Your accident attorney is here to help you fight for maximum compensation to cover your accident-related expenses.
Talk to Your Auto Accident Lawyer About Non-Driver Liability for Your T-Bone Crash
As we mentioned, fault in T-bone cases can often be incredibly complicated. We mentioned that drivers are frequently liable for your accident, but keep in mind there may be other parties that share fault, such as:
Cars That Avoid the Collision
It may be that another driver actually caused your collision and managed to skate by unscathed. This is less common, but sometimes another car can make the driver who hit you swerve or otherwise be unable to prevent the crash with you. In these cases, they are frequently to blame. The tough part is that oftentimes the driver who caused a crash but didn’t experience damage won’t stop. So, you may need to do some digging to find them.
Car Manufacturers or Auto Shops
If a car manufacturer or auto shop provides faulty services, it may cause a T-bone collision. One of the most common examples of this is if the car’s brakes fail. In these cases, whoever is responsible for the faulty brakes may be liable for your accident.
Agencies Responsible for Traffic Lights & Signs
In much rarer situations, it may be that the agency responsible for the traffic lights or signage may be to blame. For instance, if the light malfunctions and shows both sides as green, then the city might be responsible for your accident. This is pretty uncommon, as traffic lights are designed to fail in red.
Another issue would be if a stop sign is hidden or missing. This would lead both drivers to believe that they have the right of way, which may cause a T-bone accident. In this case, then it may be that you can file a claim with the municipality responsible for the traffic signs.
Choose an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer in Houston from Maida Law Firm
Our team at Maida Law Firm is here to help you after an accident. We work hard on your behalf for your insurance claim or car accident lawsuit. Trust our team to handle your case and provide experienced legal advice for your personal injury claim. We offer years of experience and have helped countless car accident victims get maximum compensation for their case. Contact us now to get a free case evaluation from our seasoned professionals.