A T-bone accident is a collision in which the front of one vehicle slams into the side of another, forming a “T” shape. These crashes aren’t your average fender-benders — they’re the second most deadly type of collision, accounting for nearly a quarter of all car crash deaths.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a T-bone crash, understanding your legal rights is highly important to getting you all the money and benefits you’re entitled to. To assist, the experienced New York car crash attorneys of Schwartzapfel Lawyers are ready and able to walk you through your case and options during your free case evaluation.
Simply dial 516-342-2200 or contact us online to schedule today. Or, if you’d rather learn more first, please continue reading.
What Causes T-Bone Collisions?
T-bone crashes often happen when one driver fails to yield to another who has the right of way. For example, these crashes can occur at an intersection with stop lights or signs. One car could barrel through a red light or ignore a stop sign, plowing directly into the side of another vehicle that’s passing through the intersection.
That said, T-bone car accidents aren’t always so straightforward. In point of fact, a number of factors can contribute to a driver’s failure to yield, including but not limited to:
- Distracted Driving: Texting, eating, fiddling with the radio, or any other action that takes a driver’s eyes off the road can be a recipe for disaster.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol, drugs, fatigue, and illness can seriously impair a driver’s judgment and reaction time.
- Reckless Driving: Speeding, aggressive maneuvers, and blatant disregard for traffic laws are major contributors to accidents and endanger everyone on the road.
- Environmental Factors: Conditions beyond drivers’ control, such as icy roads, can make it more difficult to maintain vehicle control.
When a driver’s actions — or lack of action — fall below a reasonable standard of care, they can be held liable for the damages caused by their negligence. What’s more, this means that victims of such negligence have the right to seek damages (that is, financial compensation) for their injuries and losses.
What Injuries Can T-Bone Accidents Cause?
T-bone collisions are especially dangerous because the sides of vehicles offer fart less protection than the front or rear. There’s no crumple zone or engine block to absorb impact.
When a vehicle is struck broadside, the force of the crash is transferred directly to the occupants, often with catastrophic results. The types of injuries sustained in T-bone crashes can be severe and life-altering, including:
- Head And Neck Injuries: The sudden impact can cause traumatic brain injuries, concussions, whiplash, and other serious head and neck trauma.
- Torso Injuries: The force of the crash can damage the body’s core, resulting in back injuries, pelvic fracture, damage to internal organs, and even spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis.
- Other Injuries: Broken bones, burns, and lacerations are also common in T-bone crashes.
These injuries are not just painful — they can lead to lifelong disability and chronic pain, and in the worst cases, they can be fatal.
For more on this and related topics, speak with one of the award-winning trial attorneys at Schwartzapfel Lawyers by dialing 516-342-2200 now. While your call will be free, the advice you receive may well save you miles of headache, heartache, and financial strain down the road.
How Do You Determine Fault In A T-Bone Car Crash?
While T-bone crashes often involve one driver failing to yield, it’s not always clear who’s at fault. Depending on the specific circumstances of the crash, either driver could be responsible.
Sometimes, the answer is obvious. If a driver blows through a red light or ignores a stop sign, causing a T-bone collision, their guilt is often apparent. Other situations are more complicated.
To hold someone legally responsible for a T-bone crash, you’ll need to prove negligence. This involves presenting a case that demonstrates the following:
- Duty of Care: The other driver had the responsibility to drive safely and obey traffic laws.
- Breach of Duty: They failed to uphold that responsibility through their actions (inaction).
- Causation: Their breach of duty directly caused the T-bone crash in both fact and as a legally foreseeable result.
- Damages: You suffered actual harm as a result of the crash (i.e., physical injuries, medical bills, loss of wages, pain and suffering, etc.).
With all that in mind, if you’re unsure of who’s at fault in your T-bone crash, please don’t try to determine it on your own. The seasoned New York car crash attorneys at Schwartzapfel Lawyers can investigate the details of your case and help you determine liability. Call us now at 516-342-2200 for a free consultation and/or case evaluation.
Also, keep in mind that other parties might also share responsibility for the crash. If poorly designed roads or faulty traffic signals contributed to the crash, the government could be held liable. Similarly, if a defective vehicle component contributed to the crash, the car manufacturer could be held accountable.
What Are Your Legal Options After A T-Bone Car Crash?
In the aftermath of a T-bone collision, figuring out how to get your medical bills paid, car repaired, and life back on track can feel overwhelming — but you’re not alone. There are ways you can recover the full compensation you’re entitled to. To demonstrate, consider the following:
Health Insurance
Your health insurance may cover the medical treatment you need after a T-bone crash, regardless of who caused it. This can include emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation costs.
However, health insurance typically won’t cover other losses like lost wages from being unable to work or the pain and suffering you’ve endured. That’s where other options come into play.
Auto Insurance
New York State is a no-fault state, meaning your own auto insurance will typically cover your medical expenses and lost wages up to your policy limits, regardless of fault. This coverage is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Your policy might also include MedPay, which can cover additional medical costs.
If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can step in to help cover your losses.
Holding The At-Fault Driver Accountable
If another driver’s negligence caused your T-bone crash, you have the right to file a claim against their insurance company. However, things can get a bit tricky. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to minimize payouts, so it’s important to have a seasoned attorney on your side.
A skilled attorney can negotiate with the insurance company to reach a fair settlement that covers all your losses. If a settlement isn’t possible, your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and fight for your rights in court.
The Employer’s Responsibility
In some cases, the at-fault driver might have been working at the time of the crash. If so, their employer could be held liable for their injuries under a legal principle called “vicarious liability.” This means you could potentially recover compensation from the employer’s insurance, even if the employer wasn’t directly negligent.
Government Liability
Poorly designed roads, faulty traffic signals, or missing signs can also contribute to a T-bone crash. In these situations, you might be able to file a claim against the government entity responsible for maintaining the roads.
That said, these kinds of cases are often more complicated than those with more traditional plaintiffs. Accordingly, they usually require an attorney with specific experience in this area of law.
Defective Vehicles
If a defective vehicle part — like faulty brakes or a malfunctioning airbag — contributed to your T-bone crash, you might have a claim against the car manufacturer. These cases fall under product liability law and can be challenging to pursue, which is why having an experienced legal team is crucial.
No matter the circumstances of your T-bone crash, the skilled car crash attorneys at Schwartzapfel Lawyers are here to help. We understand the details of these cases and can guide you through the entire legal process, maintaining your rights while fighting for the full compensation you’re entitled to.
So, please, don’t go it alone — not when you don’t have to. Instead, call us now at 516-342-2200 for your free consultation. Remember, your financial recovery starts with one phone call. Act now to save yourself time, pain, and money later on!
How Much Money Can You Receive For Your T-Bone Crash Losses?
Physical pain, emotional trauma, financial strain, and the ripple effects that negatively impact your life and the lives of your loved ones can all stem from a single T-bone collision. Fortunately, the law provides a way to seek financial compensation for these losses.
To illustrate, you may be eligible to recover for losses including but not limited to:
- Medical Bills: This covers everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room visit to ongoing treatments, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation. Even future medical expenses you may incur can be factored in.
- Lost Wages and Benefits: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can seek reimbursement for lost wages, bonuses, and employment benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions.
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and discomfort caused by your injuries are real and deserve attention. Note: This includes the initial pain as well as any chronic pain or limitations you may experience in the future.
- Emotional Distress: T-bone crashes can leave lasting emotional scars. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all too common after a traumatic event like this. You have the right to seek compensation for this emotional toll.
- Property Damage: If your vehicle was damaged or totaled in the crash, you can seek compensation for its repair and/or replacement value.
- Wrongful Death: In the tragic event that a loved one lost their life in a T-bone crash due to another’s negligence or a violation of safety regulations, surviving family members may be entitled to financial compensation for their loss.
Note: It’s critically important to understand that you have a limited time to file a claim after a T-bone crash. This deadline, known as the statute of limitations (SOL), generally ranges from two (2) to four (4) years, depending on the state. In New York State, for instance, the statute of limitations for T-bone crashes is typically three (3) years from the date of the accident.
That said, the sooner you act, the stronger your case will be. Moreover, if you wait too long, your window to file a claim and recover financially may soon close forever.
Call Schwartzapfel Lawyers Now!
Don’t let the aftermath of a T-bone crash overwhelm you. The skilled legal team at Schwartzapfel Lawyers is standing by to fight for your rights in order to get you all the money and benefits you’re entitled to.
Simply dial 516-342-2200 or schedule with us online today. No matter your situation, it will be our honor and privilege to help you get your life back on track.
But you shouldn’t wait, as your window to file a claim and recover may soon close forever. To keep this from happening, act now and call Schwartzapfel Lawyers to start recovering today.
Your financial future is worth fighting for. Have Schwartzapfel Lawyers join the fight by calling now!
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 516-342-2200 now!
Sources
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You
Crumple Zone – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay): Overview and Examples | Investopedia
no fault | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Criminal Division | United States v. Tanaka et al. (Takata Corporation) Justice.gov
