A T-bone collision is one of the most common types of car accidents in Seattle, usually occurring in intersections when one vehicle fails to yield the right of way. In a T-bone accident, the front end of one vehicle crashes into the side of a second vehicle, forming a T shape. This type of accident is also called an angle collision or broadside accident. About 44.9% of two-car accidents are T-bone collisions, resulting in an average of 8,800 deaths and hundreds of thousands of serious injuries each year.
Most T-bone accidents occur in intersections, as one vehicle enters an interaction and collides with another vehicle already in the intersection. The driver who failed to yield to the driver with the right of way is at fault for the accident. According to our Seattle car accident attorneys, the most common causes of T-bone accidents include the following:
Injuries in T-bone accidents are often severe and can affect motorists in both vehicles since one car sustains a head-on collision and the other vehicle sustains a side-impact accident.
Although occupants of both vehicles in a T-bone collision can suffer injuries, injuries to the vehicle hit on the side tend to be more severe. The side of a vehicle is the thinnest point, lacking the buffer zone of the engine in the front or the trunk in the rear. Injuries in T-bone accidents include the following:
When a T-bone accident occurs in Seattle, it takes a thorough investigation to determine who was at fault for the accident.
It may seem that the driver of a vehicle that impacts the side of another vehicle in a T-bone accident is the one at fault, but this isn’t always the case. Suppose, for instance, that vehicle number one enters an intersection during a green light and hits the side of vehicle number two, which is already in the intersection because that driver tried to speed through a yellow light and entered the intersection after the light was red. Driver number two would be at fault for the accident, not the driver that hit their car. Proving fault in a T-bone accident requires documenting evidence showing that the at-fault driver owed a duty of care to others on the road, they breached their duty through a negligent or reckless action, their breach of duty caused injuries, and the injury victim suffered damages from the accident.
A car accident causes serious consequences, including property damage to a vehicle, medical expenses, and lost income. These are the victim’s economic damages. They are tangible and easy to calculate. Non-economic damages are intangible and more difficult to assign a value, but they are often the worst aspect of the accident. Non-economic damages in a Seattle T-bone accident claim may include compensation for pain and suffering, and any other consequences such as loss of enjoyment of life due to disability, or disfigurement compensation.
After a T-bone accident in Seattle, a Seattle t-bone accident attorney will defend your rights and best interests by investigating the accident, compiling evidence of liability, and negotiating with the insurance company to obtain the maximum compensation for your damages. Contact the Fang Law Firm today to see if you have a case.