Table of contents
- Why side-impact collisions often cause serious injuries
- What causes most T-bone accidents?
- Common injuries after a T-bone collision
- Who can be held liable for a T-bone crash?
- Compensation that can be recovered after a T-bone crash
- Evidence that can help prove liability in a T-bone accident
- Does McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP have a local T-bone accident lawyer?
Why side-impact collisions often cause serious injuries
The severity of a T-bone crash comes down to physics and vehicle design. Unlike front- and rear-end collisions, side impacts strike where a vehicle is least equipped to protect the people inside. The sides of a vehicle simply cannot absorb force the way the front and rear can. A head-on or rear-end collision has a hood, a trunk, and engineered crumple zones to soak up energy before it reaches the occupants.
A side impact has less buffer, with just the door panel and window separating the occupant from the oncoming vehicle. This makes catastrophic injuries much more likely, sometimes resulting in fatalities.
What causes most T-bone accidents?
Many T-bone collisions trace back to a driver failing to yield the right of way, most often at an intersection. A handful of specific errors account for the majority of these car accidents.
Running red lights and stop signs
Drivers who speed through a red light or roll past a stop sign enter an intersection when they don’t have the right of way. A vehicle crossing legally on a green light has little chance to avoid being struck in the side.
Failing to yield while turning left
Left turns are a frequent source of side-impact crashes. A driver turning left across oncoming traffic who misjudges an approaching vehicle's speed or simply doesn't see it drives straight into its path.
Distracted driving
A driver looking down at a phone can drift into an intersection without ever registering a red light or a stop sign. By the time they look up, the crossing vehicle is already in front of them.
Impaired driving
Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time and impair judgment, making it far more likely that a driver misreads a signal, ignores the right of way, or fails to stop in time at an intersection.
Speeding
A driver traveling too fast or in a reckless manner has less time to react to a changing light or crossing traffic, and often cannot stop before entering an intersection. Speed also multiplies the force of the resulting impact.
Many T-bone accidents come down to a driver who failed to yield, ran a signal, or wasn't paying attention when it mattered most. When that negligence leaves someone seriously injured, the driver responsible can be held accountable for the harm they caused.
Common injuries after a T-bone collision
Because side impacts strike where the body is least protected, the injuries they cause tend to be serious and, in many cases, permanent. The specific harm depends on the force of the crash and where the occupant was seated, but the following injuries are among the most common:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken ribs
- Pelvic fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken arms, legs, and collarbones
- Facial and dental injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputations
Injuries this severe often demand extensive treatment, long recoveries, and significant time away from work. Documenting them fully and promptly is essential to recovering the compensation needed to move forward.
Who can be held liable for a T-bone crash?
In a T-bone accident, it may not be as cut-and-dry as blaming the other driver. Depending on the cause and nature of the crash, one or more parties may be liable. The most common are:
The other driver
In most T-bone incidents, the driver who was at fault was the one who failed to yield, ran a red light, or otherwise entered the intersection when they did not have the right of way. When a collision is caused by a driver’s negligence (e.g., distraction, speeding, or impairment), they are typically accountable for the other driver’s damages (generally through their insurance coverage).
A government entity
Sometimes the road itself contributes to a crash. A malfunctioning traffic signal, a missing stop sign, or an intersection with obscured sightlines can cause or worsen a T-bone collision. When a government agency responsible for maintaining that roadway creates a dangerous condition or has actual or constructive notice of one in time to protect against it, it may share liability. These claims are subject to strict deadlines and special procedural rules, which makes prompt legal action especially important.
A vehicle or parts manufacturer
In some cases, a defect turns a survivable crash into a catastrophic one. If side airbags fail to deploy, a door crumples far more than it should, or faulty brakes prevent a driver from stopping in time, the manufacturer of the vehicle or the defective component may be held responsible. Proving this kind of claim requires technical investigation and expert analysis to establish that the defect was a substantial factor in causing or worsening the harm.
A third party
Liability occasionally extends beyond the drivers involved. An employer may be responsible when the at-fault driver was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the crash, and a business that over-served an obviously intoxicated minor may bear responsibility under California's dram shop principles in limited circumstances.
Finding these other parties can be crucial, especially if the primary at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover all of your losses. Knowing all the potential sources of liability is essential to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Compensation that can be recovered after a T-bone crash
Victims of a T-bone collision may be able to claim a variety of damages to compensate for the economic and noneconomic impact of the crash. This typically includes economic losses such as current and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. It also includes noneconomic losses, such as compensation for physical suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life that commonly follows a major injury.
In cases where the at-fault driver's conduct amounted to malice, such as in some cases involving driving while intoxicated, punitive damages may also be available to punish that behavior and deter others.
The amount of a claim depends largely on the seriousness of your injuries and the lasting effects they have on you. It's important to have an attorney examine the full extent of your losses so you can collect the full amount you deserve. McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP is here to help.
Evidence that can help prove liability in a T-bone accident
Because these crashes happen in seconds and often come down to one driver's word against the other's, the right evidence is what settles the dispute. The following sources are especially valuable in proving fault at an intersection.
Traffic camera footage
Some Los Angeles intersections may have traffic cameras that capture vehicles as they approach and cross. This footage can show exactly which driver had the green light and which one entered against it, often resolving the central question of fault.
Surveillance videos
Apart from municipal cameras, nearby businesses, gas stations, and even residential security systems often keep track of the intersection as well. A gas station camera across the street could capture a driver running a red light, which a traffic camera missed.
Dashcam video
If the driver or a passing motorist had a dashcam running, that footage can be a clear, time-stamped record of what happened and who caused the crash.
Event data recorder
Most vehicles today have an event data recorder, sometimes called a black box, that can record the vehicle speed, braking, throttle position, and steering input in seconds before the crash. It can confirm whether the driver was going too fast into the intersection or failed to brake, for example, which can show liability.
Witness statements
Independent witnesses who saw the crash are important because they have nothing to gain or lose in the result. They may have seen if or when the light was green, and which driver violated the traffic rules. Witnesses tend to scatter fast, and memories fade, so it is important to identify and interview them as soon as possible.
Accident report
A responding officer may create an accident report outlining the details of the scene, the individuals involved, and the officer's observations. The report will frequently contain an evaluation of who they believe was at fault. It is not the last word on liability, but it is an important piece of your case and can help determine that another party caused the accident. However, the traffic collision report itself generally is not admissible as evidence at trial in California.
Cell phone records
If distraction is suspected, a motorist’s cell phone records can disclose if the driver was texting, calling someone, or using an app at the time of the collision. These records may need to be subpoenaed, and they can be very difficult to get on your own without legal help.
No single piece of evidence proves an intersection crash on its own, but together these records build a clear and compelling picture of what happened and who was responsible.
Does McNicholas & McNicholas have a T-bone accident lawyer?
If you were harmed in a side-impact collision, McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP has attorneys prepared to help, representing clients throughout California. We represent T-bone accident victims in Los Angeles, Orange County, the Bay Area, and nearby areas. You can find us at any of our three offices:
Los Angeles: 10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Santa Ana: 217 N Main St., 2nd Fl, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Point Richmond: 1160 Brickyard Cove Rd., Suite 106, Richmond, CA 94801
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