A T-bone accident occurs when the front end of one car collides with the side of another car. The result is the cars forming the shape of the letter “T” and that is where the T-bone accident name came from. It is just one of many different accident types, but it has also been one of the deadliest accident types. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that, in 2020, T-bone accidents caused 23% of vehicle occupant fatalities.
When not fatal, injuries sustained in T-bone accidents can still be very serious. This type of accident often occurs at higher speeds than others and the force of impact can be devastating for vehicle occupants. If you have been injured in a T-bone accident, get medical attention right away. Also, help ensure that your legal rights are being protected and enforced by reaching out to the experienced personal injury team at Pringle & Herigstad.
Causes of T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents most commonly occur at intersections when one driver fails to yield the right of way to another car. This failure to yield causes the driver to collide with the side of the other vehicle. Perhaps one of the most common T-bone accident scenarios is at an intersection with a stop sign or traffic signal. One driver may enter the intersection to make a left turn. There is an oncoming vehicle traveling in the other direction, approaching the intersection. The light turns yellow and the driver looking to make a left turn makes the assumption that the oncoming motorist will stop for the impending red light. The driver does not stop. The oncoming driver crashes into the turning car’s side or the turning car turns into the side of the oncoming vehicle.
Failure to yield the right of way to a vehicle causing a T-bone accident can be the result of bad judgment or a reckless driving decision. It can also be the result of:
- Speeding
- Running a red light
- Slippery roads
- Impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
- Eating/drinking while driving
- Texting while driving
- Distracted driving
Who’s at Fault in a T-Bone Accident?
Determining fault in a T-bone accident is the same as it is with any other car accident. It is a fact-specific analysis of the circumstances surrounding the crash. To prove that someone was at fault for causing the T-bone accident, they must be able to establish negligence. In order to establish negligence, it must be shown that:
- The other driver had a duty to exercise reasonable care while operating their vehicle.
- The other driver failed to uphold this duty of care.
- The failure in upholding their duty was the direct cause of the T-bone accident.
- The T-bone accident caused actual and compensable harm.
All of this can be difficult to prove and there may even be multiple people at fault for causing the T-bone accident. Let’s take the above example of the intersection T-bone crash. The person making the turn violated the other driver’s right of way. It may be asserted, however, that the other driver was obligated to come to slow or come to a stop for the yellow light turning red. It may even be said that the other driver ran the red light or that both drivers ran the red light. In any event, there are likely to be some serious liability issues. That is why having an experienced personal injury attorney to represent you in these cases can be so critical. The intricacies of establishing and proving liability alone can be complex and necessitate skilled legal counsel.
Common T-Bone Accident Injuries
T-bone accidents can be particularly dangerous because they often occur at higher speeds. They can also be particularly dangerous because the side of a vehicle does not, unlike the front end or the back end, absorb much force which means the car can easily crumple upon impact and send the vehicle spinning off.
Many T-bone accident injuries can impact a person for a lifetime. Sometimes, T-bone accident injuries prove fatal. Among the most commonly sustained T-bone accident injuries are:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Head trauma
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal damage
- Broken bones
- Pelvic injuries
- Abdominal injuries
- Chest injuries
- Burns
Contact Our North Dakota T-Bone Accident Injury Attorneys Today
Have you been injured in a T-bone accident? The insurance companies for the other people involved will immediately get to work building a case against you or looking for ways to undermine any claim you may try to assert to get properly compensated for the harm you have suffered in the accident. They will throw vast resources and man-hours to prevent you from the monetary recovery you need and deserve.
At Pringle & Herigstad, our attorneys do not shy away from a fight with the big insurance companies. In fact, we take great pride in working tirelessly to hold them accountable and do the right thing. We want our clients to get the compensation they deserve after an accident. You can count on us to fight for you. Contact us today.
