Passenger Killed In Broward County T-Bone Collision
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. on August 17, 2021 at approximately 9:30 p.m., two vehicles approached the intersection of West Oakland Park Boulevard and Powerline Road in Oakland Park, The first vehicle, a Chevy Cavalier, was heading west; the second vehicle was a Kia Forte heading east. Both vehicles had a green light through the intersection.
When the Kia reached the intersection, the driver attempted to make a U-turn and head back west on West Oakland Park Boulevard. Unfortunately, the Chevrolet entered the intersection at the same moment and hit the side of the Kia. There were five people involved in the accident altogether. One of them, a passenger in the Kia, died as a result of their injuries. The sheriff’s office said the driver of the Kia also sustained “life-threatening injuries.”
Who Is Legally Responsible for a T-Bone Accident?
This type of accident is commonly referred to as a “T-bone collision.” The vehicle hit from the side–in this case the Kia–usually sustains the brunt of the impact. The passengers in the side-swiped vehicle are also more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries, as they have nothing but the side doors to protect them from the brunt of the collision.
It remains to be seen who will be held legally responsible for this fatal accident. You might assume the Kia driver is automatically at-fault for initiating a U-turn at an intersection. And that may turn out to be the case–although again, it is crucial to emphasize the sheriff’s investigation is ongoing and no lawsuits have yet been filed.
Speaking in general terms, Florida law only permits U-turns when the driver is able to do so safely and without interfering with traffic–and of course, if there are no signs expressly prohibiting such maneuvers.
At the same time, Florida also follows a comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. This means that in theory, the driver of the Kia could respond to a lawsuit by alleging the driver of the Chevy somehow contributed to the accident through their own negligent act. Of course, what that contribution would be remains speculative at this point.
In many T-bone accidents, the determination of fault is much more cut-and-dry. Consider a scenario where two vehicles enter the same intersection from perpendicular directions. One vehicle has a green light, the other has a red light. If the vehicle at the red light ignores the signal and proceeds into the intersection anyway, they are more likely to be found responsible for causing (or sustaining) a T-bone collision.
Contact the Accident Trial Lawyers at Lyons & Snyder Today
A T-bone accident can leave drivers and passengers with serious, life-threatening injuries. And as the accident above illustrates, such accidents are often fatal. If you are the victim–or the family member of a deceased victim–you have the right to demand answers. An experienced Parkland car accident lawyer can review your case and help you decide what legal steps to take. Contact the trial attorneys at Lyons & Snyder today to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
sheriff.org/PIO/BSONews/Pages/WOMAN-KILLED-IN-OAKLAND-PARK-CRASH.aspx
