T-Bone Accident Attorney in Michigan

After a T-bone car accident, it’s important to establish who is at fault for the accident. Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This rule prohibits any at-fault parties from collecting compensation if they are more than 50% to blame for the accident. No matter who is to blame, you deserve compensation for the injuries you suffered. In order to determine who is at fault in a T-bone accident, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

At Lipton Law, our Michigan personal injury lawyers are here to fight for full and fair compensation on your behalf. T-bone car accidents have the potential to produce severe injuries and even result in a  wrongful death lawsuit. If you suffered serious injuries from a T-bone crash, contact our law firm today. To schedule your free consultation with a car accident lawyer, please call 248-557-1688 today.

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

Car accidents are considered T-bone accidents when the front of one car collides with the side of another car. They get their name from the T-shape that the two cars form after colliding. Other terms for this type of accident include side-impact collisions and broadside collision. So, where do broadside collisions most commonly occur? Many T-bone accidents occur at intersections where two roads cross.

However, a T-bone accident can also happen on highways and interstates. This is possible when one driver loses control of their vehicle, resulting in a T-bone collision. Another possible location for T-bone accidents is a parking lot. For example, one driver could be backing out of their parking spot while the other driver continues forward without letting them out. If the first driver backs into the side of the other driver’s vehicle, this is a T-bone accident.

Statistics About T-Bone Crashes

Exactly how dangerous are T-bone car accidents compared to other collisions? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 8,000 people die in T-bone accidents each year. Around 13% of all car accident cases in the United States are T-bone vehicle crashes. Additionally, 18% of all fatal car crashes are T-bone accident cases.

Notably, a side-impact collision is deadlier than head-on collisions and rear-end collisions. This is because of the lack of a significant barrier between the victim and the approaching vehicle. Rather than having the entire front or back of the car as a buffer, they only have the thin car door. Car doors don’t have the same level of framing and reinforcement as the front and back portions of the vehicle. This is part of what makes a T-bone accident case so deadly.

Types of T-Bone Car Accident Injuries

Certain T-bone accident injuries are more common than others due to the nature of the accident. After a side-impact accident, injury victims are likely to suffer from the following injuries.

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Concussions
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Whiplash
• Other neck injuries
• Bone fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage
• Internal injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Paralysis
• Chronic or acute pain

What Happens to Your Body in a T-Bone Accident?

A T-bone car crash is one of the most deadly in terms of potential injuries. Some of the most common injuries in T-bone collisions are head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and pelvic, chest, and abdominal injuries.

In terms of head injuries, you could experience concussions, cuts, bruises, lacerations, brain trauma, memory problems, and other issues from a serious car accident. When the other vehicle collides with yours, you might hit your head against the window or another hard surface or even get little pieces of glass in your skin and eyes.

During a T-bone collision, you may also suffer a serious injury to your back. When this happens, you could experience herniated discs, chronic pain, spinal cord injuries, and even paralysis. Neck injuries can produce similar results to whiplash. Whiplash occurs when the neck is rapidly forced back and forth in one quick motion.

You may even see injuries sustained to your chest, pelvis, and abdomen during a T-bone collision. These injuries are also common in Michigan motorcycle accidents. It is possible for accident victims to suffer from organ damage, pelvic fractures, and other serious complications.

How Do T-Bone Accidents Happen?

It’s important to understand what causes this type of car accident case. Different circumstances can increase the chances of a traffic accident. Below, we outline the most common causes of T-bone car accidents.

• Distracted driving: Any distraction from driving can cause an accident, and there are many ways for drivers to get distracted these days. Texting and driving, fiddling with the radio, and looking up directions all take your eyes off the road. When a driver’s negligence and distraction cause an accident, they could be held liable for the damages.
• Reckless or aggressive driving: Failing to yield, ignoring a stop sign, ignoring a red light, and making sudden lane changes are all examples of reckless driving. Any one of these actions could result in a serious collision after which someone needs medical attention.
• Loss of vehicle control: Sometimes, due to unforeseen events or weather conditions, people can lose control of their vehicles. In some cases, this happens to even the safest of drivers. In other cases, the loss of control results partly from aggressive driving behaviors.
• Running a stop sign or traffic light: When other drivers are in a hurry or late for something, they tend to drive more recklessly. This could lead them to cross into the path of another vehicle or oncoming traffic.
• Defective vehicle parts: Even defective parts may be responsible for your accident. Maybe your brakes are bad, or your steering wheel is defective. In this case, there may be no at-fault driver. Instead, the blame is assigned to the manufacturer of those defective parts.

Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone Accident?

This depends largely on the facts of the case. In general, either driver could be held liable for the accident. To find out who is at fault in a t-bone accident, we will assert who had the right of way in your situation. If the other driver failed to yield to you when you had the right of way, they would most likely be responsible for your damages. We will gather the following evidence when determining fault in your personal injury lawsuit.

• Pictures and videos of the accident scene
• The official police report
• Witness testimonies
• Black box information from all vehicles involved
• Camera footage from traffic lights

How Vehicle Damage Shows Fault in an Accident

Another important piece of evidence is the damage done to your vehicle. This damage shows critical information, such as which car struck the other, how fast the other driver was going, and more. Expert accident investigators will be able to reconstruct the accident from the information at the scene. Your personal injury attorney will almost certainly gather this information to use to your case’s advantage.

What Should I Do After a T-Bone Accident?

After any kind of motor vehicle accident, we recommend taking the following steps to prioritize your safety and the safety of others.

• If possible, the drivers involved should move their vehicles out of the road and find a safe place to wait for help.
• Check yourself and others for injuries. Seek medical attention immediately for serious injuries.
• Gather contact and insurance information from the other driver, and refrain from admitting fault. Then, gather contact information from any witnesses at the scene.
• Take pictures and videos of the scene in great detail. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be in court.
• File a police report and obtain a copy of it. This can greatly help when you deal with the insurance company of the other driver.
• Work with an attorney and speak with your own insurance company. Our law firm will ensure that you take all necessary steps to strengthen your personal injury case.

Types of T-Bone Car Accident Damages

Generally, you can file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident to restore your finances to what they were before the accident. If the driver of the other car is found liable for the accident, you may be able to seek the following compensation.

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

In cases where someone loses their life, you can file a wrongful death claim. This type of claim will allow you to also get compensation for burial and funeral expenses for your loved one.

What Percentage of T-Bone Accidents Are Fatal?

T-bone accidents make up approximately 13% of all accidents in the United States. However, they make up around 18% of all fatal car accidents. This is partially due to the fact that broadside collisions are more dangerous than front-end or rear-end collisions. These accidents are also far more dangerous for children. If you lost a loved one in a T-bone accident, you deserve compensation for your losses in the form of a wrongful death lawsuit. A lawsuit can ease your financial burdens by compensating for your loved one’s medical bills and lost wages after the accident. Speak with a wrongful death attorney for a free legal consultation about your case.

How Can an Attorney Help Me Prove Liability?

Working with a law firm is extremely beneficial in any personal injury matter, especially when it comes to accident cases. Our car accident lawyers will help you prove liability in the following ways.

• Gathering evidence such as police reports, videos, photographs, surveillance footage, black box data, eyewitness statements, and any other relevant information.
• Using that evidence to prove the other driver’s liability and your own damages suffered from the accident.
• Gathering and organizing your medical expenses and losses.
• Negotiating with both your insurer and the other driver’s insurer.
• Representing you in court and ensuring that we protect your best interests.

Contact a T-Bone Accident Lawyer in Michigan Today

If you suffered injuries from a T-bone accident, a left turn accident, a rear-ended collision, or another type of car crash, the attorneys at Lipton Law are here for you. Our Southfield personal injury lawyers will use their years of experience to your advantage in court. We can help you fight for your right to full and fair compensation after a devastating accident. To schedule your free consultation with us, please call our office at 248-557-1688 today.