Jason Stephens | July 28, 2022 | Car Accidents
Under the doctrines of negligence and strict liability, any number of parties may share responsibility for a T-bone collision. These parties might include one of the drivers engaged in the incident, the vehicle’s manufacturer, or even a mechanic who improperly serviced one of the vehicles involved.
Accident statistics show that side impacts accounted for 25% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
Regardless of how your T-Bone collision happened, the evidence on the scene will help narrow down who is partly to blame. If feasible, you should capture as much information as possible, which can involve taking photos, making movies, gathering statements from witnesses, and exchanging contact information.
How T-Bone Accidents Happen
T-bone collisions happen when the front of one car collides with the side of another, creating a “T” at the point of impact.
T-bone collisions can also occur due to poor decision-making at a green light. When a motorist disregards a stop sign or red light and enters an intersection at the same time as another vehicle, a T-bone collision may occur.
T-bone collisions don’t just happen at junctions. They can occur when motorists lose control of their car and slide sideways on a highway or expressway. Parking lots can also be the scene of T-bone collisions. For instance, a motorist may be backing out of a parking place when a side-impact collision occurs with another car.
Damages in a T-Bone Accident
The victims of an automobile accident involving a T-bone may incur high costs. You may include in your claim any expenses you can show were incurred as a result of the accident. Some of the costs that can occur as a result of a T-Bone accident are:
- Medical expenses
- Damage to property
- Lost income
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
Keep any supporting documents for your costs in a folder that is easy to access and share with your lawyer.
Who Is Liable in a T-Bone Accident?
Determining who T-boned who or who is at fault in a T-bone collision can be difficult. The automobile with the right of way generally determines which car is liable in a T-bone collision.
For example, if one car had a green light while another was supposed to be stopped at a red light, the vehicle with the green light would have the right of way. The right of way cannot be shared by both automobiles. In a T-bone collision, one car violated the other’s right of way.
T-bone accidents will generally be the responsibility of the vehicle that did not have the right of way. However, the vehicle that had the right of way may also be blamed for failing to see what the other driver was doing. Sadly, it’s unusual that the accident site has evidence to determine which car had the right of way.
The drivers’ and the witnesses’ accounts of what transpired will nearly always help determine who is to blame in this kind of side-impact collision.
Can a Third Party Be at Fault in a T-Bone Accident?
Possibly. In a T-Bone collision, culpability isn’t always limited to the drivers who were directly engaged in the collision. For instance, maybe the repair shop didn’t properly fix the car’s brakes. Sometimes a repair shop’s work on a car’s headlights may be subpar. If this occurs, the repair shop could be held partly responsible for what transpired.
Defective parts might also cause a T-Bone collision. It’s possible – though rare – that the vehicle manufacturer could be held partially liable in a T-bone accident case by way of a product liability claim.
Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth truck accident lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000