Professionals in the legal and emergency medical fields know that T-bone collisions, also called broadside accidents or side collisions, lead to some of the most devastating injuries. When two vehicles collide in this way, the force of impact is tremendous, even when the accident occurs at low speed. The driver and passengers in the impacted vehicle are in an extremely vulnerable position and at risk of serious injury or death.
Victims of T-bone collisions or a family member working on their behalf should seek legal advice as soon as possible. Insurance companies are likely to start asking questions and pressuring for acceptance of settlement offers. They often try to trick victims into making statements that can be used against them to deny liability. A Decatur car accident lawyer can insulate victims and their families from this pressure and start investigating right away to preserve evidence to build the strongest case for recovery.
The team at Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC understands the trauma that the entire family suffers after a devastating accident. We work to help victims find the medical assistance they need, protect their families from harassment and exploitation by insurance companies, and recover the maximum compensation available to offset suffering and provide for future needs.
The Mechanics of a T-Bone Collision
When the front of one vehicle impacts the side of another vehicle, the collision forms a shape similar to the letter “T.” Car crashes of this type have been referred to as T-bone collisions since the 1930s.
In many T-bone collisions, the force of the impact is absorbed almost completely by the vehicles. This often occurs when a car traveling forward hits a vehicle oriented at a right angle squarely in the middle. When both vehicles remain essentially stuck together, the collision is said to be inelastic.
In other, more elastic T-bone collisions, the force of the impact knocks the vehicles some distance away, often into other cars or obstacles. This tends to occur when the vehicles are not at right angles or a blow occurs toward either end of the vehicle that is hit broadside. The injuries and damage in each type of situation can be very different but usually quite serious either way. Evidence from the accident scene, such as skid marks, can often indicate what each driver did and who was at fault for causing the crash, so an experienced Decatur car accident lawyer will want to collect this type of evidence as soon as possible after the collision.
What Leads to T-Bone Collisions?
Very often, T-bone accidents result when the driver who is supposed to yield the right of way in an intersection fails to do so. For instance, if a driver fails to stop at a stop sign or red light and proceeds into the intersection, that driver is likely to hit a vehicle traveling through the intersection broadside.
In many cases, the driver of the impacting vehicle is at fault in this type of accident for failing to stop or yield. However, sometimes, the driver of the car that was hit broadside is the one who acted wrongfully and who should not have been in the intersection. A car running a red light can be the one receiving the impact or the one creating the impact.
T-bone collisions are also common when a vehicle is making a left turn. The driver of the turning vehicle may assume that oncoming traffic will stop at a yellow light and turn despite the risk. Sometimes turning drivers don’t even look at oncoming traffic. However, a turning driver might assume they have a safe interval in traffic to make a turn, but an oncoming driver starts to speed, or another driver unexpectedly pulls into the road from the side.
Overall, there are many reasons why drivers can operate in a way that causes a T-bone accident. Some reasons relate to conditions out of the driver’s control, such as slick pavement that prevents a driver from stopping. Even in these cases, however, if the condition leads to foreseeable effects, such as slick pavement due to rain, drivers should anticipate the problem and reduce their speed to account for driving conditions. Some outside conditions are not foreseeable, such as slick pavement caused by an oil spill, in which case the party that caused the spill would probably share in the liability for the accident.
Causes Related to Driver Error
In our extensive experience assisting the victims of T-bone collisions, the team at Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC has seen numerous causes related to mistakes by drivers, such as:
- Looking at GPS instead of the road
- Speeding to get through a yellow light before it turns red
- Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Texting or making a call while driving
- Driving while in a tired or sleepy state that reduces awareness
- Driving while judgment is impaired by drugs or alcohol (including legal medications)
- Reckless driving, such as speeding
Sometimes, the actions of more than one person combine to create the conditions for an accident. If a driver is partially to blame for causing an accident in which that driver is injured, the driver may still be able to recover compensation from others involved in the accident if the injured driver’s share of fault was less than half. This is the modified comparative fault rule used In Georgia.
After all the facts have been presented, a share of fault is attributed to each person involved. For instance, one driver might be 90% at fault for making an unsafe left turn, and the other driver might be 10% at fault for driving too slowly while crossing the intersection. The driver who is 10% at fault can recover compensation from the driver who is 90% at fault, but the final damage award would be reduced by 10% to account for that driver’s share of fault.
Injuries in T-Bone Collisions
In a rear-end collision or even a head-on collision, the portions in the front and back of the vehicle can absorb a great deal of the force and prevent some injuries to the driver and passengers. When a vehicle is hit broadside, however, those inside have much less protection. Particularly in an older or smaller vehicle, the drivers and passengers often suffer serious injuries that can lead to death.
Some injuries that are more prevalent in T-bone collisions include:
- Crush fractures to the pelvis, neck, skull, and clavicle
- Tears or shears to the aorta
- Damage to the liver, kidneys, spleen, and other internal organs
- Traumatic brain injuries
Victims also commonly experience soft-tissue injuries that may not be noticed immediately. When the human body is subjected to sudden force and motion, even without a direct impact, the organs and tissues of the body suffer damage that is not always immediately apparent. While improvements in the structure of vehicles and the prevalence of side airbags have reduced some of the damage caused when an impacting vehicle invades the passenger compartment of the impacted vehicle, the force and energy of the collision itself can still cause tremendous harm.
The Two Critical Steps After a T-Bone Collision
Accident victims may feel “fine,” but the rush of adrenaline can mask symptoms. It is vitally important for anyone involved in a T-bone collision to receive a thorough medical exam as soon as possible after the accident and to be watchful in case symptoms develop hours or days later. Brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal cord injuries are all extremely serious conditions that may not cause symptoms for days or even weeks.
For instance, dizziness or weakness after an accident may be written off as nerves when in fact, they are a sign that an accident victim is suffering from internal bleeding in the abdomen that has caused them to lose significant amounts of blood. Or someone who suffers a cut or tear to the spinal cord might not notice reduced sensation and might do additional damage if they don’t take action to get the condition diagnosed and treated.
After seeking medical treatment, the next critical step is to obtain trustworthy legal advice and assistance. For the best opportunities to obtain full and fair compensation for your losses in a collision, there are certain steps and protective measures that need to be taken right after the accident. A knowledgeable Decatur car accident lawyer can take care of these steps for you, so it is a good idea to find an attorney who is willing to help you throughout the process—not just when it’s time to file a lawsuit—and to take advantage of the assistance that attorney can provide.
At Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC, we don’t try to process as many car accident cases as possible like the big firms. Instead, we work individually with each client to help them get the care and help they need to rebuild their lives. We know how to fight effectively for full compensation, but recovery involves more than just money.
Work with the Legal Team Dedicated to Your Full Recovery
T-bone collisions have the potential to wreck not just your body, but also your life. Working with a dedicated Decatur car accident lawyer can prevent that from happening. The team at Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC treats you with respect and care as we work to ensure your maximum physical, emotional, and mental recovery. At the same time, we work behind the scenes to build the best case for your financial recovery so that you have the resources you need for the future and amounts to provide a sense of justice for the pain, suffering, and other losses you’ve incurred.
After a T-bone collision or other car accident, contact our team online or call 404-480-4284 for a free consultation and case evaluation to get started on your recovery.