Of the many types of car accidents in which a person can be involved, side-impact, or t-bone collisions are some of the worst. This is partly due to how vehicles are built, with the sides of cars not designed to absorb the kind of blunt force involved in many collisions. Unfortunately, this means that both the property damage and the physical injuries suffered by victims tend to be significant in t-bone accidents. It is, however, possible for injured parties to recover compensation for these losses if they can prove that someone else’s negligence was the cause of their crash.
What are T-Bone Accidents?
Side impact collisions, which are often referred to as t-bone accidents, occur when the front end of one vehicle strikes another car on its side, creating the shape of the letter “T.” T-bone accidents can occur in a variety of situations, but most happen when one driver fails to yield the right-of-way to another, often in an intersection. These kinds of crashes often occur at relatively high speeds and sometimes lead to multi-car pile-ups.
What are the Most Common T-Bone Accident Injuries?
T-bone accidents often result in significant vehicle damage and severe injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that these kinds of collisions account for almost one-quarter of fatal car accidents in the U.S. This is largely because unlike a car’s hood or trunk, which crumples and absorbs some of the force of a crash upon impact, the sides of vehicles are relatively thin, providing very little protection to occupants. This leaves occupants more vulnerable to blunt force injuries, such as:
- Head trauma, such as concussions, hemorrhaging in the brain, and even hearing and vision damage, can occur when a person’s head strikes a window or door;
- Neck and back injuries, including ligament strains and compression fractures, are often the result of the whiplashing effect of hitting the door or window upon impact;
- Shoulder injuries, like broken and dislocated bones, ligament tears, and rotator cuff injuries, happen when a vehicle’s door crushes inward;
- Hip and pelvic injuries, including fractures and dislocations, can happen when the majority of the force of impact is concentrated at the occupant’s waist level;
- Chest trauma, such as broken ribs and punctured lungs, can occur if the door crumples inward at chest level;
- Injuries to the knees, including ligament tears, dislocated kneecaps, and broken bones, which occur when the bottom portion of the door caves in upon impact; and
- Lacerations to the face, neck, and arms from shattered glass.
These kinds of injuries are not only painful but also costly to diagnose and treat. This can be especially frustrating for accident victims who weren’t at fault for their crash but were injured because of someone else’s inattention or carelessness.
Who Was At-Fault for Your T-Bone Crash?
Most t-bone accidents can be attributed to a driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way, often at an intersection because he or she:
- Miscalculated the speed of oncoming traffic;
- Misjudged the size of a gap in traffic;
- Tried to speed through an intersection or beat a red light;
- Wasn’t paying attention; or
- Was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
This type of carelessness can have devastating consequences for others on the road, who, if they can provide proof of that negligence through video footage, eyewitness testimony, and accident reconstruction could be entitled to damages for their losses. This could include reimbursement for the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged vehicle, compensation for injury-related medical bills and rehabilitation costs, and even repayment of lost wages. If a person’s injuries are so severe that he or she is permanently disabled as a result, then he or she could also be entitled to compensation for disability, future loss of income and benefits, and pain and suffering.
Contact Our Experienced Miami Car Accident Lawyers for Help
From our law office in Miami, we represent accident victims from all over the state of Florida. If you were hurt in a car crash through no fault of your own, please call Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein at 786-756-7537 and set up a meeting with one of our dedicated and compassionate Miami car accident lawyers. We are available to answer your questions and concerns 24 hours a day, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or online message.