What Type of Injury Is Commonly Associated with T-Bone Accidents?

Intersections are one of the most dangerous areas on roadways for drivers because of the amount of traffic crisscrossing in one place. Motorists are generally cautious in these zones, but all it takes is one driver being distracted or not paying attention to cause a serious accident. The result is often a T-bone crash where the front of one vehicle impacts the side of another vehicle in a T-shaped pattern. Drivers and passengers are highly vulnerable to injury.

In 2020, 23% of occupants died in passenger vehicle accidents due to side impacts. Reaction time by negligent drivers is usually delayed causing considerable damage to property and persons on impact. Our team at Mike Morse Law Firm is ready to take on your case and represent you in a caring and competent manner. You deserve to get compensation for your injuries and have legal counsel you can trust by your side through it all.

Where Do Most T-Bone Accidents Happen?

Urban spaces require significant traffic control measures, so busy intersections are a fact of life in cities and towns across the U.S. The majority of side-impact crashes happen at municipal crossways. However, there are numerous crossing spots on rural and frontage roads, county and state highways and interstates where collisions occur. Some minor accidents take place in parking areas where people back out or move throughout lots without carefully checking their surroundings.

What Are the Major Causes of Side-Impact Crashes?

Most broadside collisions result when vehicles turn into oncoming traffic. Left turns present the greatest risk because of sight issues when a driver doesn’t take proper care before entering an intersection. These are common reasons these accidents take place:

• Driving distracted
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Failing to obey traffic safety laws

While a T-bone crash is technically a failure to yield violation, there are many occasions where negligent drivers are unaware of what is occurring or that yielding is necessary. Drivers have a duty to know what is happening around their vehicles at all times. Talk with an attorney if you get hit by an inattentive driver to learn about your right to a damage recovery.

What Type of Injury Occurs Most Often?

The most common injury in a T-bone accident is blunt-force trauma. The mid-to-upper part of the body bears the brunt of the damage. These are injuries associated with sudden force.

Internal Injuries

A driver crashing into the side of your vehicle crushes metal and shatters glass leaving you susceptible to severe harm. Even in newer models with side-airbag protections, your chances of being seriously injured are elevated due to the nature of these crashes. Internal injuries, such as chest cavity and lower abdomen punctures, contusions and bleeding, can be life-threatening or lead to permanent internal damage.

Traumatic Head Injuries

Traumatic head injuries are life-altering for victims of T-bone collisions. Many individuals suffer these two types of traumas:

• Open brain injury: This occurs when an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain. Dislodged metal in a car accident often pierces through flesh and bone.
• Closed brain injury: This happens when the brain is shaken severely inside the skull, causing bruising and bleeding without penetration by an external object.

You could also be subjected to intracranial hematomas, hemorrhages, contusions and concussions from head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are categorized as catastrophic accident outcomes because of the tragic and lasting effects on personal well-being.

Spinal Injuries

When your car is hit in a lateral position, your spinal column can be whipped, jarred and snapped from the tremendous force. You may experience whiplash, vertebrae displacements and fractures that lead to chronic cervical instability and all of its associated problems. There is a chance of paralysis if your spinal cord is damaged or permanently severed.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences?

Resultant injuries from blunt force traumas are often debilitating. The psychological and emotional trauma that follows can be equally incapacitating. In addition, your livelihood could be unstable due to your condition. These are issues you may be dealing with:

• Loss of mobility
• Permanent disability
• Chronic pain and suffering (physical, mental and emotional anguish)
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of income
• Reduced earning potential

There could be other significant losses from your accident. Don’t try to handle the weight of this on your own. A short amount of time speaking with a car accident lawyer could bring the support you want and need.

How Is Fault Determined in These Accidents?

T-bone accidents can be problematic in determining who is at fault. Accidents where roads intersect have a significant potential for shared driver error. Insurance companies don’t want their client to take all the blame, so they cover every scenario attempting to show how you are at least partially responsible. As car accident attorneys, we know the tactics insurers use and how to handle these matters.

Michigan follows the modified comparative negligence system for determining fault in personal injury cases. With comparative negligence, a percentage of fault is assigned to all parties in an accident. Damages are based on the percentages of fault. However, Michigan modifies its comparative negligence system by using a 51% rule. A plaintiff must be less than 51% at fault in an accident to be eligible to recover damages.

Having an attorney overseeing damage determinations in a T-bone accident is crucial. It takes careful legal research and in-depth investigation to ensure the correct party is held responsible.

Why Does the Statute of Limitations Matter in a T-Bone Accident?

Any complex car accident claim requires ample time to investigate and negotiate. The Michigan statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is three years. Except for rare exceptions, the lock starts clicking from the date of your accident.

Your attorney gets busy immediately building your case. Time is of the essence to preserve evidence and record witness testimonies. Talk with us about questions and concerns, so we can inform you about the process.

How Can a Michigan Car Accident Attorney Help?

There is no way to know how an accident claim will go until the first communication with an insurance company. The advantage of having a skilled lawyer is that accumulated legal knowledge and practice go a long way to resolving cases in reasonable timeframes.

Compensation for your injuries is a critical aspect of hiring a personal injury firm. Waiting and worrying will not help your already overwhelmed state. A conversation with our team is a simple, proactive step that puts you in control at the time you need it most.

Hire a Michigan Law Firm With a Proven Record of Handling Car Accident Cases

Mike Morse Law Firm has built a reputation on skilled legal representation and attention to our clients. Lives are changed every day by accidents that could have been prevented. A negligent driver causes much more damage than physical pain and suffering. The mental and emotional anguish of issues from a car crash is equally devastating.

A personal injury claim can solve not every concern. However, having peace of mind as you face the future is a step in the right direction. You don’t need to worry about assuming additional expenses in this trying time because there are no fees unless we win your case. Call us to set up a free case review, and let’s discuss what happens from here.