Why T-Bone Accidents Are So Dangerous

Side-impact car crashes, or T-bone accidents, are among the most dangerous car accidents to be involved in because a motor vehicle offers less protection for its occupants along its sides compared to its front or rear. A study for the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine says that T-bone accidents frequently cause life-threatening head, chest, and abdominal organ injuries, particularly among vehicle occupants seated nearest the point of impact.

Injuries suffered in a T-bone accident will likely lead to costly medical bills, loss of income during your recovery, and other expenses. If you have been injured in a T-bone car accident, Alabama law says the party responsible for the crash may be required to pay your costs and losses resulting from the accident. A T-bone accident lawyer from Stokes Stemle, LLC, can help you seek the compensation you deserve after a crash.

Contact our firm in Montgomery, AL, for the advantage of working with personal injury lawyers who focus solely on injury claims like yours. We have the knowledge, resources, and experience to fight for the results you deserve. Call or contact us online today for a free consultation about how we can help you.

What Is a Side-Impact or T-Bone Collision?

A side-impact car crash is sometimes called a “T-bone” collision because of the angle at which vehicles collide. In a T-bone collision, the front of one car hits the side of a second car at approximately a 90-degree angle.

T-bone accidents are also called right-angle accidents, broadside accidents, and side and side-impact accidents.

T-bone crashes often happen because a driver went through an intersection without stopping or yielding to traffic that has the right-of-way. T-bone accidents also occur when drivers make unsafe left turns in front of oncoming traffic.

Why Side-Impact Collisions Are So Dangerous

Side-impact collisions often lead to serious injuries and fatalities because the sides of a vehicle provide less structural protection than is available at the front and rear of the vehicle. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries like broken bones are common in T-bone accidents.

The fronts and rears of motor vehicles have built-in crumple zones to absorb the force of impact in a collision. Because of the limited space to absorb the impact of a collision along the sides of a vehicle, occupants on the side that is struck are vulnerable to serious blunt-force trauma.

Vehicle occupants sitting on the impacted side in a T-bone crash may also suffer secondary injuries as the force of impact presses them against seat belts, airbags, or the vehicle’s interior structure. Unrestrained occupants may be slammed against each other as well as the vehicle structure and/or ejected from the vehicle.

The vehicle that has been hit in a T-bone crash may be pushed into the path of another vehicle to be hit again or crushed against structures such as guardrails, utility poles, or bridge abutments.

Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents in Alabama

T-bone crashes typically occur when a driver proceeds through an intersection without stopping or yielding to traffic that has the right-of-way. T-bone accidents also occur when drivers make unsafe left turns in front of oncoming traffic.

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 96 percent of intersection-related accidents are caused by driver error. The most common mistakes are:

• Not adequately looking before turning
• Incorrectly assuming another driver’s action or intention
• Turning with an obstructed view
• Illegal maneuvers (e.g., running a red light or stop sign, illegal passing, etc.)
• Distracted driving (i.e., internal distraction or inattention) DISTRACTED DRIVING
• Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle and/or the distance between vehicles.

Some intersection accidents are caused by environmental factors (i.e., inclement weather) or vehicle failure, the NHTSA says.

Who Is At Fault in a Car Accident T-Bone?

Alabama’s car accident laws are based on a “fault” insurance system. You have the right to demand compensation if you have been injured in a car accident and can show that some other party was at fault for the accident.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to demand compensation from the at-fault driver for your accident-related medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost wages while you cannot work, and your pain and suffering.

In most T-bone accident cases, the driver of the vehicle that strikes the other is found to be at fault for the accident. Typically, this driver has violated the other’s right-of-way. They may also be doing something illegal that contributes to the accident, such as running a red light or stop sign, or driving while impaired.

However, in some T-bone accidents, the driver of the struck vehicle was at fault. This may be the case, for example, when a driver makes a left turn in front of an oncoming vehicle but has misjudged its speed and distance. In a case like this, Alabama’s use of the “pure contributory negligence” doctrine becomes important. Under this rule, if you contributed to the accident in any way, you could be ineligible for compensation.

Because of Alabama’s strict rules for recovering compensation after a car accident, we suggest speaking to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as you are able after suffering injuries in a T-bone crash. An attorney from Stokes Stemle, LLC, can investigate to determine where fault occurred and fight back against false allegations that you caused the accident.

What to Do After a T-Bone Collision

There are specific steps to take after a T-bone car accident to help prepare for an insurance claim. If you are able, you should:

• Call the police and request assistance.
• Check on others. If there are injuries, call to request an ambulance.
• Exchange driver’s licenses, insurance, and contact information with other drivers.
• Cooperate with the police. Ask how to get a copy of their report, and get it as soon as you can.
• Get contact information from witnesses, if possible.
• Take photos of damage to all vehicles and of the accident scene.
• If you have been injured, see a doctor within 24 hours of the accident. Afterward, follow all the doctor’s orders for medical treatment.
• Contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

How Our Alabama Car Accident Lawyers Can Help Victims of Side-Impact Collisions

A T-bone accident attorney from Stokes Stemle, LLC, can help you understand your options for recovering compensation after a car accident through a personal injury claim. An experienced T-bone car accident attorney will guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your losses, answer your questions and concerns, and design a custom legal strategy based on your accident, injuries, and recovery needs.

Contact us today for a free legal consultation with a T-bone car accident lawyer in Montgomery, AL. We’ll take the time to understand what has happened to you and give you the clear, straightforward legal advice you deserve.