A T-bone accident can be one of the most jarring, painful car accidents that one can experience. If you have been in a T-bone collision, you understand just how traumatizing they can be and how deeply they can affect your life.
Understandably, dealing with the aftermath of such an accident can be overwhelming, especially if you are trying to heal from serious injuries—injuries that are unfortunately common in T-bone accidents. If this describes your situation, working with an experienced car accident lawyer can help you better understand and fight for your rights.
At Patrick Daniel Law, we are Strategic. Meticulous. Merciless. when pursuing compensation for victims injured in a T-bone accident. We believe those responsible for accidents should be held accountable for their actions. To discuss your situation over a FREE consultation, call our Houston car accident attorney today at (713) 999-6666.
T-bone accidents, also called side-impact collisions, occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another. They most commonly occur at intersections when one driver runs a red light or fails to stop at a stop sign.
The causes of T-bone collisions are not dissimilar to the causes of other types of accidents:
Ultimately, most of these accidents happen because of someone’s negligence. If we all followed the rules of the road and took the proper precautions when driving, accidents would be extremely rare. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
T-bone accidents often happen at high speeds, and the drivers—especially the ones who are hit—are often wholly unprepared to brace themselves for a collision. As a result, the injuries caused can be very severe, including:
These injuries often require immediate, extensive treatment, which can be very painful and expensive. This is why anyone injured in a T-bone accident due to the fault of another should understand what compensation they may be able to recover for the damages they have experienced.
Compensatory damages refer to losses suffered by accident victims. These losses can be financial or emotional, broadly falling into two categories:
When a case goes to trial, punitive damages are also a possibility, though they are rare. These damages are intended to punish the negligent party for malicious or extremely negligent behavior while discouraging others from doing the same.
It’s critical when calculating damages to consider both short- and long-term effects of the accident. For example, while an accident can lead to short-term wage loss if you are unable to work immediately after, it can also result in a long-term impact on your earning capacity.
Working with an experienced and proven attorney will help to ensure you fully consider all of these damages so that you do not leave deserved compensation on the table.
Either driver in a T-bone accident may be at fault for the collision. Let’s look at two separate scenarios to demonstrate:
In some cases, both drivers may share responsibility for the accident according to Texas’ modified comparative negligence law (also known as proportionate responsibility). For example, in the second scenario above, if Driver A was speeding when Driver B pulled out in front of them, it may be determined that Driver A was partially responsible for the accident.
In these situations, you can only pursue compensation if you are deemed to be less than 50% at fault for the accident, and any compensation you win will be reduced by the percentage you are deemed to be at fault.
For example, if Driver A would have been able to recover $100,000 in compensation but their speeding made them 20% at fault for the accident, then they would only be able to recover $80,000 in compensation.
T-bone collisions can be difficult to avoid. Much of the time, the person whose vehicle is hit in the side does not see the other vehicle coming, such as when the other vehicle runs a red light.
That said, practicing good defensive driving techniques and obeying the rules of the road can help drivers avoid a T-bone accident. Some of these techniques and rules include:
You can never expect another driver to follow these rules or be as cautious as they should be. Staying alert and avoiding distractions at all times is so important—not only for preventing accidents but for avoiding any degree of responsibility if an accident does occur.
No matter how safely you drive, you may still find yourself on the receiving end of a traumatic T-bone accident with serious injuries and uncertainty about how to protect your rights. We’re here to help. Patrick Daniel Law has helped many injured accident victims throughout Texas recover the compensation they need and deserve.
To get started, contact our Houston car accident lawyer today for a FREE consultation.