Who Is At Fault In A Florida Side-Impact/T-Bone Accident?
T-bone accidents, which are also known as side-impact accidents, can occur in several different traffic situations. Depending on the circumstances, either driver may be deemed responsible for the collision. A side impact or T-bone accident occurs when one car hits the other on its side with its front. The term “T-bone” comes from the perspective that the two cars colliding would form the letter “T.” Often, side-impact collisions happen at intersections or traffic lights. Still, such accidents can occur anytime a vehicle crosses a street or roadway.
Side impact collisions can be extremely dangerous. Usually, when a vehicle is hit from the front or back, several feet of steel protect vehicle occupants. But when a car is T-boned, there is often only a window or door between a vehicle occupant and the other vehicle. Accidents of “t-bone” crashes are oftentimes “whipped” from side to side. Because of this, “t-bone” crashes often lead to severe injuries.
How Do T-Bone Accidents Happen at Intersections?
As mentioned earlier, the most commonplace for side-impact collisions to happen is at intersections. A T-bone accident can occur at an intersection when one motorist disregards a red light or stop sign and drives through the intersection; thus, crashing into another vehicle crossing the intersection at the same time. Also, a side-impact accident can occur when a motorist makes a left turn at an intersection, thinking that the other motorist will stop at a yellow traffic light. Generally, side-impact collisions often occur at intersections because a driver failed to yield the right of way.
Another common cause of side-impact collisions is distracted driving. Some common distracted driving behaviors that often lead to T-bone accidents include;
- Texting while driving
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Drowsy driving
Common T-bone Accident-Related Injuries
Some of the common injuries associated with side-impact/T-bone collisions include;
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Damage to internal organs
Who Is Liable in a Florida T-bone Accident?
Several scenarios can result in a side impact accident, which means that your case’s specifics will determine who is liable for your T-bone accident. A qualified car accident attorney or personal injury attorney can help you evaluate your case and determine liability. In a side-impact collision, you cannot determine who is liable by merely looking at who was T-boned. Usually, to determine fault in a T-bone accident, insurance companies and courts depend on what drivers and witnesses say happened and what other pieces of evidence say happened. When trying to determine fault in your T-bone accident, other than eyewitness accounts, you require the use of evidence like photographs and the police report for the accident.
Speak With a Delray Beach Car Accident Attorney
If you have been in a Florida side-impact/T-bone accident, a skilled Delray Beach car accident attorney at Lyons & Snyder can help you recover damages from an at-fault party. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you.
Resource:
cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html
