The capable car accident attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy have handled a good number of T-bone accidents in our decades in practice in Philadelphia. We have a long history of providing excellent client services and a well-earned reputation for successful settlements and courtroom verdicts, which include cases that involve t-bone accident victims.
T-bone accidents, so named for the angle at which the two vehicles collide, are also known as side-impact collisions, i.e. crashes in which the front of one car impacts the side of another. In addition to causing serious injuries or even fatalities, depending on whether the driver or a passenger is directly hit, T-bone accidents can result in secondary crashes with other vehicles, pedestrians, and/or trees or poles.
If you have been seriously injured in a T-bone accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, Pennsylvania law entitles you to meaningful compensation. Contact us now for a free consultation to discuss your options. If you become our client, we will charge you no attorney fees until we recover damages.
Causes of T-bone Accidents
The majority of T-bone accidents happen at intersections. Typically, one driver fails to yield the right-of-way by going through a stop sign or red light. Other kinds of T-bone accidents when someone pulls out of a driveway or parking lot without seeing an approaching car or a driver makes an illegal turn or u-turn. Like other kinds of collisions, T-bones can also result from adverse road or weather conditions.
Serious Injuries Caused by T-bone Accidents
How badly a driver or passenger is injured in a T-bone accident has a great deal to do with where the person is sitting relative to the point of impact. At times, a T-bone can be a fender bender if no one is seated on the side hit by the other car, particularly if traffic is light and the impacted car is not pushed into other vehicles or an inanimate object.
In too many situations, however, a person bears the brunt of the T-bone accident, or the impact results in the car spinning out of control, hitting another vehicle or guardrail, or rolling over. As in all types of traffic accidents, a T-bone collision can result in more severe injuries if one car hits the other at high speed. Even though most recently manufactured vehicles have side-impact airbags, it should be remembered that there is no hood or trunk to absorb the blow from a side-impact collision. In worst-case scenarios, a T-bone accident can result in a fatality.
The following injuries commonly occur in T-bone crashes:
- Bone fractures
- Back injuries like disc herniation or whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries that resulted in partial or complete paralysis
- Internal bleeding, damage to or loss of an organ, amputations
- Lacerations or burns to the face, head, or body
- Penetrating injuries, like a punctured lung
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Determining Fault in a T-bone Accident
In most cases, the negligence or recklessness of one or both drivers is the cause of a T-bone accident. Following is a list of possible primary or contributory factors:
- Sudden lane change
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Distracted driving
- Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Making an illegal turn
- Turning from the opposite lane
In some cases, a third party is responsible for the accident. This may occur if one car has defective brakes, lights, or steering, the roadway is poorly maintained or damaged, or there are missing train signs or out-of-order traffic signals. You can be sure that our T-bone accident attorneys will defend your right to compensation no matter who is responsible for the collision.
Comparative Negligence in Pennsylvania
State laws differ when fault for an accident is shared between parties. In Pennsylvania, if you bear partial responsibility for the accident in which you were injured, you can still collect damages, as long as you don’t bear more than half the blame.
The court will assign you and the other driver a percentage of fault and, if you win the case, the amount the court awards you will have your percentage of fault deducted from it. So, if you are found to be 10 percent at fault and you are awarded $100,000 in damages, you will receive $90,000.
Our T-Bone Accident Lawyers Will Fight Hard to Recover Damages
We are compassionate as well as capable and will leverage our knowledge and skill to bring you the funds your need to cover:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage
- Lost income, present and future
- Replacement services
- Alterations to make your home accessible
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you have gone through the awful experience of losing a loved one to wrongful death in a T-bone accident, we will pull out all the stops to bring you the resources you need to cover final medical costs, funeral/cremation/burial expenses, and loss of financial and emotional support.
Contact Our Experienced T-Bone Accident Attorneys Today
Our goal, like yours, is to restabilize your life. We will work hard in your best interests by thoroughly investigating your case, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, examining medical and police reports, and consulting with medical and technical experts who can bolster your case. Most of all, we will create a customized strategy that will provide you with the very best chance of winning the resources you need to get back on track. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
