T-bone car accidents – also commonly called side-impact collisions – are responsible for more than 25 percent of all vehicular fatalities, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Those who are fortunate to walk away from a side-impact crash are often times seriously injured, which leads to costly medical bills and lost wages due to missed time at work.
What is an accident victim to do in a situation like this? If you're badly injured in a crash due to someone else's negligence, it may be in your best interests to contact a Washington car accident attorney to learn more about your legal rights. Davis Law Group has nearly 25 years of experience helping t-bone accident victims throughout the state get the best possible result for their personal injury claims.
Causes of T-Bone Collisions
A T-bone collision occurs when one vehicle collides with another from the side, resulting in the two (or more) vehicles forming the shape of a “T." These incidents are often caused by one vehicle failing to stop at a stop sign or red light and striking the side of another vehicle which is traveling in a perpendicular direction.
Of course, there are likely a number of other plausible explanations for a T-bone crash. In our experience with a variety of motor vehicle accident cases, failure to yield or running a red light is the most common reason for side-impact accidents.
The following are common causes of T-bone accidents:
- Distracted Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Drugged Driving
- Speeding
- Dangerous Roadways
- Drowsy Driving
- Teen Drivers
- Elderly Drivers
- Aggressive Drivers
- Snow or Black Ice
- Traveling Too Fast For Conditions
- Police Chase
- Roadway Debris
- Uncontrolled Intersections
- Wrong Way Drivers
Common Injuries in Side-Impact Crashes
The high-speed and violent nature of side-impact crashes typically result in serious injuries to people involved in the collision. Some of the common injuries we see in T-bone accidents include:
- Back & Neck Injuries: The sudden impact of an unexpected collision can result in a wide-range of back and neck injuries, from whiplash to a broken neck.
- Bulging Discs: Discs and vertebrae in the neck and back can become disfigured or damaged in the event of a T-bone crash.
- Head Injuries: An unsuspecting driver will typically not have the time or awareness to brace for a side-impact crash, which can result in physical trauma to the head from steering wheels and dashboards.
- Broken Bones: Fractures and broken bones are common in collisions where an occupant was struck directly by another vehicle, or when the collision causes major damage to the vehicle.
- Wrongful Death: In very serious instances, any of the above scenarios or injuries can lead to death.
The traveling speed of the vehicles involved in a T-bone crash, as well as the exact point of impact, can have a major impact on the severity and extent of a person’s injuries.
Power Outages, Broken Stoplights and Other Traffic Factors
In the event that a T-bone collision occurs due to a power outage or broken traffic signal, determining liability for the accident can be complex. A thorough investigation must be conducted to determine all possible contributing factors and collect evidence that might support a person’s claim.
Our award-winning personal injury attorneys have more than 20 years of experience investigating complex and serious-injury car accidents. We will follow every possible avenue of our investigation to support our clients’ case as well as help increase the value and chances of a successful resolution to the case.
Contact us for a Free Case Review & Legal Consultation
The personal injury attorneys at Davis Law Group will review your T-bone collision case free of charge and help you better understand your legal rights and options. If we believe we can help, we’ll schedule you for a free legal consultation with our attorneys and explain exactly how hiring an attorney will benefit you.
Call our office in Seattle at (206) 727-4000 or use the confidential contact form on this page to have your case reviewed by our legal team. Someone from our office will follow-up with you to discuss the facts of your case and explain the next steps in the process.