T-bone car accidents occur all too frequently, especially in busy areas.
Dealing with the aftermath of a T-bone accident is never easy. Injuries can be severe, frequently resulting in time away from work and significant medical expenses.
To make matters even more complicated, determining fault in these types of accidents can be difficult.
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries or property damage in a Texas t-bone accident, you may be wondering what you can do. Fortunately, you may have a legal claim for relief.
The Texas car accident lawyers at The Zimmerman Law Firm have helped thousands of clients recover valuable compensation.
For a law firm that will fight zealously for your rights and help you maximize your recovery, contact our team online or call 254-752-9688 today.
What Is a T-Bone Accident?
T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle with its front end. These types of accidents are sometimes referred to as side-impact collisions.
As you can imagine, T-bone accidents are often high-velocity and heavy-impact collisions. Thus, they frequently result in severe injuries to the parties involved.
To get the compensation that you are rightfully owed, you must be able to prove who actually caused the accident. Unfortunately, however, determining fault in a T-bone accident can be more difficult than you might think.
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents
A wide variety of situations can lead to a T-bone accident, which sometimes makes determining fault complicated.
Car accidents occur for any number of reasons, and the same is true for T-bone accidents specifically.
Some of the most common causes of T-bone car accidents include:
- Failure to stop at a red light,
- Speeding,
- Drunk driving,
- Distracted driving, and
- Failure to stop at a stop sign.
Victims involved in T-bone accidents can suffer serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries. After involvement in a T-bone accident, contact an attorney as soon as practicable to discuss your options moving forward.
What Types of Injuries Are Common in a T-Bone Accident?
T-bone car accidents present especially dangerous consequences compared to other types of car accidents.
In a car accident that occurs on the front or rear of your vehicle, there are often several feet between the opposing vehicle and your body. This can provide a crucial cushion between you and the impact.
In a T-bone accident, however, the only thing separating your body from the opposing vehicle is a thin car door. When the door is hit with the full force of the front end of another vehicle, this can result in a devastating blow.
The injuries that are most prevalent in T-bone car accidents include:
- Broken bones;
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries;
- Back and neck injuries;
- Pelvic, abdominal, and back injuries;
- Whiplash; and
- Paralysis.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a T-bone accident, contact the experienced Texas personal injury lawyers at The Zimmerman Law Firm today.
We provide free consultations and will discuss your case with you risk-free as you decide how you’d like to move forward.
Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone Accident?
Determining fault in a T-bone accident is crucial in pursuing the compensation you need to recover. However, doing so can be complicated.
Fortunately, there are certain steps you can take that may help you in determining who is at fault in a car accident and T-bone collision.
The accident report, eyewitness testimony, photographs of the scene, and other items are all forms of evidence that can help establish who caused the accident.
What to Do After a T-Bone Car Accident
A car accident can be a traumatizing experience for occupants of the vehicles involved. Nevertheless, the moments immediately following a collision frequently provide the most valuable information.
Below are some critical actions you can and should take after your T-bone accident. Doing so might mean the difference in being able to prove fault.
Seek Medical Attention
First and foremost, victims involved in a car accident should always seek medical attention.
While this may not directly be tied to proving fault, your health, safety, and well-being are the most important things to think about. Seek immediate medical care after your accident to treat any injuries and address any serious concerns.
Additionally, prompt diagnosis and treatment from a medical professional can be helpful in proving your damages later on in the process.
Contact the Authorities
After a car accident, it is also important that you contact the police.
Police officers have to complete an accident report when dispatched to a car accident scene. This accident report will contain information vital to your case, including:
- Names of the parties involved;
- Insurance information for the drivers;
- Information about the accident and its location; and
- The officer’s initial observation regarding who appears to be at fault.
An accident report will never exist if you do not contact the authorities to respond to your collision. And the sooner the authorities arrive, the more evidence you will have available and the more comprehensive the report will be.
Talk to Eyewitnesses
One great way to determine who is at fault in a car accident or T-bone collision is to talk to eyewitnesses. While you may not have observed the series of events immediately prior to your accident, there may be others who did.
Witnesses to an accident can provide valuable factual information to fill in the gaps of what you observed and experienced.
Tip: Do Not Talk to Insurance Adjusters
After a T-bone accident, an insurance adjuster may seek you out in an attempt to settle your case prematurely for less than you may be entitled to recover.
Always remember, however, that insurance adjusters are not on your side. Insurance companies make more money by paying out as little as possible to T-bone car accident victims.
Before accepting an offer from an insurance adjuster, speak to a personal injury attorney, so you are fully aware of your rights.
Need Help Determining Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident or T-Bone Collision?
If so, we want to help.
At The Zimmerman Law Firm, we have more than eight decades of combined legal experience fighting for the rights of our clients.
We are honored to have received hundreds of five-star reviews from past clients, and we hope to have the opportunity to help you too.
We have devoted our practice to protecting the rights of injured victims in need. Our team will do all we can to help you determine fault in your T-bone accident and get you the compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us online or call call 254-752-9688 today to discuss your case and see how we can help you recover.