T-bone accidents are sudden and catastrophic wrecks that can leave victims with injuries that are life-altering and, in many cases, irreversible. Negligence on the part of one or more parties is nearly always to blame for these crashes.
Victims need experienced and dedicated legal counsel to recover the compensation they deserve to get their lives back to normal. Were you or a loved one injured in a T-bone accident in Greenville? If so, it’s time to explore your legal options with our auto accident attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A.
What Are T-Bone Accidents and How Do They Happen?
T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle crashes directly into the side of another, forming what looks like a capital T.
These collisions usually happen at intersections when one driver runs a stop sign or red light and drives directly into traffic. In other cases, drivers turn at intersections directly into the path of oncoming vehicles, causing someone else to crash into them. A T-bone wreck can also happen when a motorist pulls into the flow of traffic from a side street or parking lot, either crashing into another vehicle or causing another driver to crash.
Negligent conduct is almost always the underlying cause. Speeding, disobeying traffic signals and signs, and not paying attention are some examples of negligence.
Why Are T-Bone Accidents So Dangerous?
T-bone collisions are likely to result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. The front and rear end of a vehicle offers a fair amount of protection to the occupants, especially when airbags are deployed.
These safety features are largely useless when a vehicle is struck on the side because the steel frame provides much less of a buffer between the oncoming vehicle and the driver and passengers.
If you’re the person sitting at the exact spot where the oncoming automobile hits, there’s an especially high risk that you will be severely injured. There are even crashes in which the striking vehicle can intrude into the driver or passenger compartment of the vehicle, causing serious harm to the victim.
Additional factors like speed can aggravate the injuries, examples of which include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck and back injury
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Bone fractures
- Amputation
How Is Fault Determined in a T-Bone Accident?
Determining who is liable for a T-bone accident can be complicated. Simply examining which vehicle was the most damaged will not always resolve the matter.
Two examples of T-bone wrecks illustrate this:
- A driver illegally drives through a red light and strikes the side of another vehicle. In this case, the driver of the more seriously damaged vehicle is likely not to blame, while the one who ran the red light is.
- A driver negligently fails to check both ways before crossing an intersection and drives into traffic. An oncoming motorist crashes into the car. Here, the driver of the most damaged vehicle is probably at fault.
However, a slight change in the facts can shift liability. In some cases, the driver in the second example actually did check both ways before entering the intersection while the oncoming driver was speeding.
Third parties can also share blame. The brake systems may have been defective, so one or both drivers were unable to slow down and avoid a crash. A T-bone accident like this could point to automobile manufacturer liability.
Establishing fault in complex scenarios such as these will heavily depend on the underlying facts, which is why it’s critical for a victim to hire a skilled T-bone collision attorney.
What Is a T-Bone Accident Settlement Potentially Worth?
One of the most important aspects of a T-bone accident case is determining what the victim’s damages are worth. South Carolina law allows victims to claim both non-economic damages (which are subjective and unrelated to financial loss) and economic losses (which are measured by monetary loss).
These are some examples of the types of compensation victims can seek:
- Medical bills, including for hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and much more
- Lost wages due to time recovering from injuries
- Lost earning capacity if the victim is unable to return to the same job as before the wreck
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain
- Mental anguish
In cases where the at-fault party was especially negligent or malicious, punitive damages may be available. Eligible survivors of victims who die from their injuries can also seek wrongful death damages.
How Our Firm Can Help
When you hire us as your attorneys after a T-bone accident, we immediately get to work investigating how the accident happened and the party, or parties, who were at fault. To calculate the value of your damages, including losses you may be reasonably expected to incur in the future, we may rely on expert witness testimony. We handle all settlement negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company while you focus on recovering.
If an out-of-court settlement can be reached with the insurance company, it can save the need for a trial. But if the insurer refuses to negotiate in good faith, our car accident lawyers will take your case to trial. At each step of our representation, we will treat you with the dignity, respect, and professionalism you deserve.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a T-Bone Accident Lawyer in Greenville, SC
We understand the stress you are likely experiencing after being in a T-bone accident. As medical bills start piling up and you find yourself unable to work, all you want is to get your life back on track. Let our T-bone accident attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A. in Greenville stand up for you. Give us a call to get started today.
