What is a T-Bone Car Accident?
A T-bone accident is one in which one vehicle strikes the side of another with its front, thereby forming a “T” shape. This 90 degree angle impact often results in very serious injuries, and if you’ve been injured in a T-bone accident, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. If you end up asking, “Who’s At Fault in a T-Bone Accident?” a lawyer can help.
Unfortunately, these instances are all too common: side impact collisions make up about a quarter of all collisions in the US each year. T-Bone accidents most often occur in intersections, when vehicles involved either intentionally or accidentally disregards a red light or stop sign or negligently makes a left turn.
Drivers involved in a traffic accident who decide to speed through a yellow light can also cause a T-Bone collision like this. In fact, T-bone accidents can also happen when two cars are heading the same direction, but the driver of one vehicle loses control, causing their car to travel sideways.
A T-bone accident may also occur when a driver is pulling out of a parking spot, whether they failed to adequately check their surroundings, or the driver traveling through the lot behind them was being negligent.
Who is At Fault: One of the Drivers Involved
Like with most accidents, who is at fault in a T-bone accident depends on the specifics of the case. It may be any number of parties, and multiple parties may share responsibility.
In the case of a T-bone accident that occurs at an intersection, the driver at fault tends to be the one that is negligently passing through the intersection when they should not be. For instance, if Driver A is passing through on a green light and Driver B runs a red light and crashes into the side of Driver A, Driver B (forming the bottom of the T) is at fault for the T-Bone accident. If, however, Driver B has the green light but is cut off by Driver A who is running a red, Driver A is now at fault, even though they form the top of the T and are the one who was impacted.
Of course, it’s not always quite that clear in a T-Bone accident. Perhaps the accident occurred at an intersection with stop signs, and there is a debate over who has the right of way. Perhaps the T-bone collision took place at a stop sign intersection, and it’s unclear who truly had the right of way.
An investigation will take place to determine fault in these kind of car accidents. You may also seek out a car accident attorney who can advise you and guide you through the process of determining fault and receiving proper compensation after a T-Bone collision.
A Third Party Driver in T-Bone Accidents
When you’re asking “Who’s at fault in a T-Bone accident?” the answer in some cases is that neither of the drivers in the actual T-bone collision are responsible. One driver may swerve to avoid the other driver who is negligently driving, and because of this, end up causing a car accident with a third vehicle. In this case, the driver whose negligent driving caused the other car to swerve, resulting in an accident, is at fault and must remain at the scene until police arrive.
However, this is not a guarantee, especially if their car was not impacted. If this person does leave the scene, you should provide all relevant details to the police so they can properly determine what happened. Be sure to get a copy of the police report as well as documenting any medical attention you receive. You’re also free and encouraged to document the accident scene yourself, including taking down license plate numbers and taking pictures of the scene.
All of these details will be very helpful for your attorney should you need to build a T-Bone accident case.
Non-Driver Negligence
As mentioned previously, it’s also possible that both cars began by traveling in parallel or heading the same direction, and for whatever reason, one driver loses control of their vehicle, resulting in a T-bone accident.
In a case like this, it’s possible the real source of fault lies with the vehicle manufacturer. Perhaps the brakes stuck and prevented the driver from stopping. Or maybe the accelerator was not functioning properly. In many states, in cases like this, injured parties can legally hold vehicle manufacturers responsible.
You should speak to your experienced car accident attorney to determine if this is the best course of action for you. Based on their understanding of the case and their analysis of the investigation, your car accident lawyer may advise filing a suit against the car company.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Expect if I’ve Been Injured in a T-Bone Accident?
If you are not able to settle the matter through insurance, you may have to file a personal injury suit with your attorney. They will work with you to assess the extent of your losses as a result of this accident, and aim to win you compensation that covers any and all of the following:
- Lost wages
- Medical costs, including rehabilitation
- Anticipated future medical bills
- Emotional or psychological suffering (perhaps in the form of therapy bills)
- Property damage (potentially including damage to your vehicle and anything inside it that was destroyed and/or damaged)
Why Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Car Accident Lawyers?
T-Bone accidents happen. No one should have to navigate the legal system alone, and if you were injured in a T-bone accident, you could be left with lost wages, medical bills, and headaches from dealing with your insurance company. If you’re asking “Who’s At Fault in a T-Bone Accident?” let an experienced lawyer help.
Our law firm has been representing car crash victims for decades. Work with an experienced Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys personal injury lawyer who will work tirelessly to guide you through the process and ensure you receive justice and fair compensation. Contact us today for a free case review or free consultation.
