You’re carefully driving through an intersection. Your light is green. And then – bam! Another vehicle slams into the side of your car. This kind of accident, known as a T-bone accident, can be very dangerous. T-bone collisions can cause serious injuries that create physical, emotional, and financial costs.
What Is a T-Bone Car Accident?
A T-bone car accident — also called a side-impact, angle, or broadside collision — occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. If the cars hit at a 90-degree angle, the crashed vehicles form a “T” shape, giving the accident its common name.
T-bone collisions are dangerous and account for a disproportionate amount of injuries. According to the National Safety Council, despite being just 32 percent of all crashes in 2022, T-bone collisions were nearly 65 percent of all injury crashes and 46 percent of all fatal crashes.
The dangers of T-bone accidents can be explained, in part, by car design. Reinforced bumpers and airbags reduce the risk of bad outcomes in head-on and rear-end collisions. However, car doors — the main target of T-bone collisions – lack similar safety features.
Where and Why Do T-Bone Accidents Happen?
T-bone collisions typically happen in areas where cars going in opposite directions might run into each other. Intersections and stop signs are common locations.
T-bone accidents happen for many reasons, but because they usually involve traffic going in opposite directions, the causes typically involve failure to follow laws that promote safety at intersections. These laws include running red lights or stop signs, failing to yield at intersections, and turning without signaling. Factors such as distracted driving, speeding, and driving under the influence can also play a role.
Common Injuries Sustained in T-Bone Crashes
Because car design provides little protection from side impacts, T-bone accidents often cause devastating injuries. Common injuries include
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs),
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones (especially the ribs, pelvis, arms, and legs)
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Herniated discs
- Soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains to muscles, ligaments, and tendons)
Many of these conditions require surgery and long-term outpatient care. They may also cause you to miss time from work.
Tips For Preventing T-Bone Collisions
T-bone accidents are dangerous, but fortunately, they can be prevented. To avoid T-bone accidents, drivers should
- Obey all traffic signs and signals,
- Always yield the right of way,
- Double-check for oncoming traffic before going through an intersection,
- Use defensive driving techniques, particularly in high-traffic areas like downtown Birmingham,
- Take care when making left turns,
- Don’t speed through an intersection, and
- Never drive while distracted, intoxicated, or drowsy.
What Are My Rights After a T-Bone Accident?
To win a personal injury case regarding a T-bone accident, you and your Alabama personal injury lawyer will have to prove that the other driver was negligent. To do this, you’ll have to show that
- The other driver had a responsibility to drive in a certain way,
- The other driver failed to obey that duty,
- You suffered an injury, and
- The other driver’s actions caused your injuries.
In a T-bone accident, the other driver’s negligence could be proven by, for instance, showing that they ran a red light. The law says that everyone must stop at a red light, so failure to do so breaks a legal duty.
If you can prove negligence, you may be entitled to damages. Damages are money awarded to an injured person to compensate them for the physical injuries, emotional pain, and financial costs associated with the accident. Typical damages in a T-bone accident case include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
In Alabama, one obstacle to compensation is contributory negligence. This rule prevents injured people who contributed to their own injuries from getting damages. The rule is so strict that a person who is only one percent responsible for their accident cannot recover any damages. Though this rule is harsh, there are exceptions. An Alabama injury lawyer can help you figure out if any exceptions apply in your case.
What To Do After a T-Bone Accident in Birmingham, Alabama?
Your steps in the moments and days after your T-bone collision will affect your case. To preserve your legal rights, you should:
- Call 911,
- Take photos of the accident scene, including any vehicle damage, skid marks, and signage,
- Photograph any injuries, and
- See a doctor immediately.
You should also call a Birmingham car accident attorney. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you build a strong case by
- Investigating your accident,
- Talking to insurance adjusters on your behalf,
- Addressing arguments regarding fault,
- Handling court and legal deadlines,
- Negotiating a fair settlement, and
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary.
You Have Rights After a T-Bone Accident – Contact a Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer
T-bone crashes can cause life-changing injuries, but you have rights. If you or a loved one has been injured in a T-bone accident in Birmingham or anywhere else in Alabama, contact Collins Law, LLC. Our firm’s founder, April H. Collins, has been recognized as one of Birmingham’s best personal injury lawyers. Our team will fight tirelessly to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 205-588-1411 or use our website’s online scheduling tool to schedule a free consultation.
