Side-Impact/T-Bone Car Accidents in Lubbock
If a car, truck, or bus crashes into the side of your car, you risk significant injury. Side-impact or T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle crashes into the side of another. The side panels have the least protection, and all vehicle occupants are vulnerable.
The law in Texas makes the at-fault driver financially responsible for injuries others suffer due to their negligence. An injured party could collect medical expenses, lost wages, future losses, and pain and suffering damages from a negligent driver.
If a side-impact car accident in Lubbock left you with injuries, a trustworthy car accident attorney with Chad Jones Law could help you navigate the state’s insurance claim process and build a case to take the at-fault driver to court.
Common Injuries in Side-Impact Crashes
The side panels have the least reinforcement of any part of a vehicle’s body, so a collision with a side panel could collapse the panel inward toward the occupants. Injuries could be affected by:
- Size and weight of each vehicle
- Precise location of the primary impact
- Speed of each vehicle at impact
- Safety features of the struck vehicle
- Occupant’s location in the vehicle—injuries usually will be most severe if the occupant was sitting on the side that absorbed the impact
A vehicle occupant could suffer complex fractures of the impacted limbs, crushing injuries to the torso, internal bleeding, back injuries, and neck injuries including whiplash, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord damage. T-bone and side impact car crashes can be catastrophic and even fatal, which is why it is crucial to have a Lubbock attorney willing to fight to win the compensation necessary for medical bills, funeral expenses, and general recovery.
How a T-Bone Accident Could Happen
Negligence often plays a role in side-impact accidents. Most such collisions happen at intersections, when a car runs a stop sign, tries to beat a red light, or turns in front of oncoming traffic. If either vehicle was traveling at high speed, the impact could launch the struck vehicle airborne, sometimes causing a rollover or involving other vehicles.
In this state, the negligent driver is usually found at-fault for an accident. If one of the drivers receives a ticket, their violation of the law could be considered negligence per se.
If no drivers get tickets or if the police do not respond to the scene, a Lubbock attorney must present evidence of negligence to support their claim that the T-bone or side-impact car wreck was not the fault of the injured party. Testimony of witnesses, pictures of the scene and the wrecked vehicles, dash-cam footage and surveillance video, and any other physical evidence could serve to establish negligent conduct.
Securing Damages After a Side-Impact Collision
After a crash, an injured party must file a claim for damages with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The insurance company might respond to a demand letter with an offer well below what is demanded, and negotiations ensue. With skilled representation from a Lubbock attorney, negotiations usually result in an acceptable settlement for their side-impact or T-bone car crash.
However, if the insurers do not negotiate in good faith, a claimant might need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties. The lawsuit could claim all the expenses and losses the claimant suffered due to the accident, including:
- Wages that they lost and the value of the employment benefits the injured party used during their recovery
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Cost of medical treatment
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Physical pain
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Lost enjoyment of life
An injured driver who was partially responsible for an accident cannot collect 100 percent of their damages. According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.003, a judge or jury must reduce a negligent claimant’s damages by a percentage that reflects their fault.
Rely on a Lubbock Attorney to Handle Your Side-Impact or T-Bone Accident Claim
When you get into a wreck and suffer injuries, you need to focus your time and energy on healing. Making sense of this state’s complex automobile claims process should not be a burden you have to bear.
Ask a lawyer to handle your claims resulting from a T-bone car accident in Lubbock. With the help of a seasoned legal professional from Chad Jones Law, you could obtain appropriate compensation for your injuries.
