Intersections are busy places with many cars traveling in many different directions. Traffic signals should always be properly timed to control traffic flow through intersections and avoid collisions. Unfortunately, traffic signals only work if people obey them and all too often, someone ignores a traffic light or stop sign, and a “T-bone” accident – also called a broadside collision – commonly occurs.
A T-bone accident refers to a crash in which one car crashes into the side of another – forming a “T” shape. This type of accident can be particularly dangerous for many reasons and the occupants of the car that gets hit in the side are particularly at risk for severe and life-threatening injuries.
If a driver suddenly T-boned your car, you can face significant losses and a long road to recovery. Contact the T-bone accident lawyers at Rice Law today at (410) 694-7291.
What is a “T-Bone” Car Accident?
T-bone accidents happen when one car strikes another at a right angle, forming a T. Most T-bone accidents happen because drivers run a red light or stop sign. If another driver is lawfully passing through an intersection, they will be in the direct path of the driver who recklessly runs the traffic signal, and a T-bone can result. Sometimes in these accidents, the at-fault driver is in the intersection first, and a driver passing through a green light might actually hit the offending driver, potentially making it look like their fault.
Whenever two cars crash in an intersection, it is usually the fault of the driver who was in the intersection illegally. So whether your car is the one that was T-boned or you were the one who T-boned the other car, fault comes down to who was there illegally, not who was there first or second.
These accidents are also called “broadside” accidents, in that the car strikes the broadside of your car (as opposed to the front or rear). No matter what you call the accident, though, the results can be devastating.
T-bone or broadside accidents can also occur when a driver tries to turn left when oncoming traffic is coming too fast and cannot stop in time to avoid a crash. In this kind of case, the driver turning left is usually at fault.
What Injuries Can Be Sustained in a T-Bone Car Accident?
The front and back of passenger vehicles have bumpers, crumple zones, and other protections in the event of a crash. However, the side of a car only has a thin door between the occupant and the outside world. When a car crashes into the side of another vehicle, anyone sitting on that side of the vehicle can be gravely injured.
Motorists who are directly hit in a T-bone accident can suffer external and internal traumatic injuries. Seat belts and airbags often provide little protection in this type of crash, and the resulting injuries can completely change a victim’s life.
Cars struck on the side also commonly roll over or flip, potentially causing additional injuries to the occupants. This can result in severe injuries, especially if you are thrown around the inside of your car. Even when properly wearing a seatbelt, a rollover accident can cause quite severe injuries.
Our T-bone accident lawyers can help you collect compensation for broken bones, head injuries, cuts and scrapes, lacerations, internal injuries, and other injuries from a T-bone crash.
Many injuries are not physical. You can also seek compensation for mental and emotional distress after an accident, along with PTSD symptoms and other harm you suffered because of the crash.
What Constitutes Negligence in a Broadside Collision Car Accident in Baltimore?
As mentioned, these T-bone accidents often happen when one driver broadsides another because someone was in the intersection illegally. Drivers with the “right of way” usually have permission to enter the intersection and drive normally, while other cars are legally required to yield to them. Red lights and stop signs are some of the most common ways that someone is made to have to yield (and even stop moving entirely).
In a car accident, “negligence” is a breach of some legal duty that ends up causing a crash and injuries to the victim. Breaching one’s legal duty to stop at a stop sign and yield to other drivers is a pretty clear-cut example of negligence.
When a driver is negligent and causes an accident through their bad actions, they can be held accountable and made to compensate the other driver for the injuries they caused them.
In order to prove this negligence, we will need as much evidence as we can get. This can come in the form of photos of the accident scene, testimony from yourself and witnesses to the crash, video of the crash (if you have any), and records of the repairs. Your medical records, hospital bills, pay stubs, financial statements, and bank records will also be important evidence, not of the fault itself, but of the damages you suffered because of the other driver’s negligence. Having this information will be vital when it comes time to prove damages in court.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Receive for a Broadside Collision Car Accident in Baltimore, MD?
If another driver caused your T-bone accident and injuries, they should be held fully liable for all your accident-related losses. Such losses can include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages from missing work
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Permanent injuries
Our law firm has many tools to prove liability in T-bone crashes so that our clients can recover the full amount of compensation they deserve after this type of life-changing event.
Often, drivers think that insurance policies will cover them after an accident. In many cases, your insurance will have some level of coverage that can help you get medical bills paid for, but the bulk of your damages will come from the at-fault driver’s insurance. However, getting them to pay up is not always easy.
In many cases, victims will need to go to court and file a lawsuit to get full compensation for their injuries. Our attorneys can help you do that. We can also work to collect evidence and present it to the insurance company to try to push them to settle for a fair value. If they refuse, then we can use that evidence in court to convince a jury to award you damages.
In some cases, you might be entitled to additional “punitive damages” if the defendant’s actions were especially egregious. This money is paid not to compensate you but to punish the driver for what they did. This can come on top of compensatory damages for both the economic expenses related to your injury and other financial consequences of the accident as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering and other intangible harms.
When Should I Consult with a Baltimore, MD T-Bone Collision Attorney?
Never wait to call a lawyer after an accident. In the time after a crash, the scene of the accident will be cleared up, the cars will be repaired, witnesses will forget what happened, and your injuries will heal up. It is important to work with a lawyer quickly to secure evidence, get witness statements, and file claims. The longer you wait to file, the harder it will be to collect evidence, and the harder it will be to prove your damages.
It is also important to act quickly because serious injuries need compensation now. Waiting to get compensation by waiting to call a lawyer will mean delaying your award.
There is also a statute of limitations in Maryland that puts an absolute cap on your right to file a lawsuit for a car accident. If you wait more than 3 years from the date of the accident, then your case will be thrown out. When considering when to call a lawyer, it is also important to make sure you leave your attorneys enough time to build a case and file it in court. This can take months to prepare, so it is vital that you call a lawyer as soon as you can after an accident.
As far as what kinds of cases need a lawyer, you technically never need to use a lawyer for an injury case. However, that would then mean you would act as your own lawyer and would be responsible for all deadlines and following all legal rules in the case. Our attorneys can help you if you were injured through no fault of your own, and we can put our experience to use for you so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Consult With a Baltimore T-Bone Accident Attorney for Free Today
Rice Law knows how devastating a T-bone crash can be, and we’re here to assist you with the aftermath of your accident. We ensure you can focus on your medical treatment and recovery while we handle the legal process for you.
If you have sustained serious injuries, call (410) 694-7291 for a free case review with Rice Law’ T-bone accident lawyers.