Broadside, side impact, “T” bones – whatever you call them, these types of collisions are dangerous, and can leave you with serious injuries. T-bone collisions are auto accidents involving the side of a vehicle hitting the back or front of another vehicle, thus creating the “T.” Accounting for factors such as the impacted vehicle portion(s), safety measures, vehicle speed, and vehicle weight, the vehicle damage and accident victims’ injuries often are more serious than the damage and injuries from other types of collisions, and under certain conditions can lead to a multi-vehicle accident.
Common causes of broadside crashes
Like most auto accident, broadside accidents are usually the result of driver error, but outside factors can also lead to this kind of crash. The most common causes include:
- Failure to completely stop at four-way intersections
- Failure to yield the right of way to vehicles on the left and allow them to advance first
- Failure to stop when the traffic light turns red
- Failure to wait before crossing turn lanes
- Driving recklessly and aggressively
- Driving while talking and texting on cellphones
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Mechanical problems such as faulty brakes
- Poor or extreme weather conditions
Why are side-impact crashes so dangerous?
When your car is hit in the side, it takes the full impact of the car at whatever speed the other driver was traveling. Even with side airbags, some collisions happen at too fast a speed (and therefore, with too much force) for those airbags to really protect you or your passenger. The injuries you might sustain in a T-bone crash may include:
- Being crushed by the other car
- Being impaled by the steering column
- Suffering lacerations from breaking glass
- Being permanently deafened by the noise if the impact
- Suffering broken ribs, collarbones or shoulders, or sustaining whiplash, as the seatbelt pulls you back
Traumatic brain injuries, spinal paralysis, internal bleeding and even death are all too common results of a serious broadside auto accident.
In all legal cases, proof determines the success of your claim for compensation. At Banks and Jones, we strive to prove that the other party was negligent and is responsible for causing the crash and your injuries. We collect witness accounts and statement, police records, photos and medical records to document the extent of your injuries. Medical records are particularly important because healthcare professionals must clarify that the collision(s) alone directly caused the injuries in order to prevent insurance providers from claiming the collision(s) merely aggravated preexisting injuries.
If you were in a T-bone auto accident and injured as a result, you may have grounds for a legal claim. For more information, contact the Knoxville auto accident attorneys at Banks & Jones and schedule your free consultation today. You can also call us at 865-546-2141. Let our team fight 2 win for you.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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