T-bone collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents—and the deadliest. Also known as angle collisions or side-impact accidents, these crashes happen most often in intersections, when the front end of one vehicle collides head-on into the side of another. According to the most recent data from the National Safety Council, about 44.9% of two-car collisions are T-bone accidents, resulting in 8,800 deaths in a single recent year. T-bone accidents don’t always end in death, but injuries in this type of accident may be severe, and impact backseat passengers—often children—more than any other accident type.
What Are the Most Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents?
T-bone collisions usually occur in intersections, but may also happen as one vehicle exits a parking lot or driveway and crashes into the side of a car already on the roadway. The most common causes of T-bone accidents include the following:
- A driver fails to yield the right of way by running a red light or driving through a stop sign, intentionally or otherwise
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failing to accurately judge the speed of approaching traffic when exiting a parking lot or entering an intersection
- Poor visibility due to obstructions in the line of sight, inclement weather, or inadequate lighting
- Intoxicated driving
- Drowsy driving
Drivers have a legal obligation to follow traffic rules at intersections and avoid distractions. Unfortunately, distraction, driver error, and negligence lead to high numbers of T-bone car accidents and serious injuries and fatalities every year.
Common Injuries in T-Bone Collisions
Since two vehicles are involved in a T-bone collision, motorists in both cars may suffer serious injuries, but typically the most severe injuries in this type of collision happen to those in the vehicle hit on its side. The front and back ends of cars and trucks have buffer zones to absorb impacts through the hood and engine in the front and the trunk or truckbed in the back. In contrast, the side of a car is the thinnest portion of the vehicle with no buffer zone. Motorists seated on the side of the vehicle that’s struck in a T-bone collision are very close to the point of impact. T-bone accidents commonly result in injuries such as the following:
- Single or multiple fractures
- Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Injuries to the shoulder, clavicle, knees, hips, and wrists
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Severe abrasions
- Contusions
Depending on the speed at which both vehicles were traveling and the strength of the impact, a T-bone collision can result in a rollover, causing further trauma and increasing the risk of fatalities.
Who Is Liable for Damages In a T-Bone Accident?
Under a modified comparison negligence insurance state, injury victims must file compensation claims against the insurance party of the person who caused a car accident. Even if an injury victim is partly at fault, they may recover compensation minus their percentage of fault as long as they are not more than 50% to blame for the accident. Determining fault in a T-bone accident requires an investigation. Although the driver who collided with the side of a vehicle already in an intersection is often 100% at fault, some cases have different circumstances. For instance, what if the vehicle was present in the intersection because that driver ran the red light, was speeding, or didn’t have their headlights on in the rain or at dusk? Documenting evidence of how an accident happened and who was at fault or mostly at fault is a critical component of a successful claim for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer in South Carolina Help?
No one should have to take on the often overwhelming task of investigating an accident, documenting evidence, and making a compelling claim to an insurance company without experienced guidance—especially while trying to recover from painful injuries. Call Marc Brown Law Firm to speak to a Columbia motor vehicle injury attorney who is ready to fight for your financial recovery so you can focus on your physical recovery.