T Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents are often violent, life-altering collisions. Because drivers and passengers have less protection in a side-impact crash, they are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries like brain damage, paralysis, and amputations. And between the cost of medical treatment, lost income, and repairing a damaged vehicle, T-bone crash victims often incur significant financial losses, too.
If a driver in Arizona T-boned you, the team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer can help you fight for maximum compensation. Attorney Alex Silkman is an experienced T-bone car accident lawyer committed to helping injured Arizonans get the justice and financial security they need during their most challenging times. Our team knows how to investigate an accident thoroughly, build a rock-solid case for compensation, and hold at-fault drivers and their insurers liable.
Call us today or visit our contact page for a free consultation with an Arizona T-bone car accident lawyer.
What Is a T-Bone Accident?
A T-bone accident, sometimes called a side-impact accident, occurs when the front of one car hits the side of a second car traveling perpendicularly to it. T-bone accidents are hazardous because drivers and passengers have less protection from the side of a car than from the front or rear, which have force-absorbing crumple zones. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says about 23 percent of all passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic accidents in one recent year died from side-impact collisions.
How Do T-Bone Car Accidents Happen?
There are two main ways T-bone accidents happen. The first is when a driver runs a stop sign or red light, bringing them into the path of traffic. The second is when a driver makes a left turn and exposes the side of their vehicle to oncoming traffic.
While these ways account for how side-impact crashes happen, they do not account for why they happen. Some of the most common contributing factors to Arizona T-bone accidents include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Not yielding the right of way
- Mechanical defects
- Bad weather
- Missing signage
- Malfunctioning traffic signals
Common Injuries Suffered in T-Bone Crashes
T-bone accidents in Arizona frequently cause severe injuries to drivers and passengers, such as:
- External injuries to the head and face
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Severe burns
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Crushed or severed limbs
- Broken bones
- Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries
- Lacerations and bruises
- Emotional distress
Legally Reviewed By:
Alex Silkman
Alex Silkman is the founder and managing member of Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. He focuses exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases, with the goal of getting truly just results for accident victims and their families...
Who Is At Fault in a T-Bone Car Accident?
When insurance adjusters or the courts determine fault for a T-bone accident, they look at which driver acted negligently. In many cases, the driver who hit the side of the other vehicle is liable for the collision because it is their responsibility to watch out for cars in their path. However, the driver of a struck vehicle could be responsible if they made an unsafe turn into traffic that had the right of way. A T-bone accident attorney can examine your case and determine who is at fault and liable for any injuries.
If someone else caused the accident, they could owe you compensation for a range of losses, including:
- Any medical bills related to the crash
- Lost wages and reduced future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Lower quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Damaged personal property
The more you do to protect your rights after a T-bone accident in Arizona, the better your odds of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries. You can improve the strength of your case by taking as many of the following steps as possible:
- Call the police – You want the police at the scene so they can file an accident report, which could be helpful later to support a personal injury claim.
- Document the crash – Use your phone to take pictures of your injuries, the crash scene, and the damage to any vehicles involved in the collision. You should also look for eyewitnesses and nearby surveillance cameras that may have seen or recorded the crash.
- Talk to the other driver – If you do not need immediate medical treatment, ask the other driver for their name, address, vehicle registration number, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
- Seek medical attention – See a doctor as soon as possible so they can check you for injuries. Some severe injuries may not be immediately obvious but can become life-threatening if not treated promptly. Seeing a doctor will also create medical records that can become valuable evidence establishing the severity and cost of your injuries and linking them to the T-bone accident. Save these medical records for future use.
- Do not talk to insurance companies – Insurance adjusters are trained to poke holes in stories and minimize their employer’s liability. Let your lawyer handle all communication with the insurance companies so you do not say anything that could jeopardize your case.
- Hire a T-bone accident lawyer – State law gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. You should act quickly to avoid issues with this statute of limitations. Hiring a car accident lawyer immediately after a T-bone accident means they can preserve critical evidence so it does not disappear.
Silkman Law Firm
1617 East Pinchot Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85016
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