If you've been involved in a T-bone accident, navigating the aftermath can be overwhelming. These types of car accidents, often occurring at intersections, can result in severe injuries due to the force of impact.
While modern vehicle safety features aim to mitigate side-impact accidents, they're not infallible, especially in high-speed collisions.
At The Ward Law Group, we understand the complexities of T-bone accidents and the challenges victims face in seeking compensation for their injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a T-bone accident, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers is here to help.
Determining fault in a T-bone motor vehicle accident can be critical in pursuing a personal injury claim. In Florida, intersections often have clear traffic rules that help establish liability. Failure to stop at a stop sign or running a red light can significantly impact fault determination.
Typically, if a car lawfully occupies the intersection and is struck by another vehicle, the striking vehicle is deemed at fault. Conversely, if a car enters the intersection illegally and is subsequently hit, the responsibility lies with the driver who violated traffic laws.
This straightforward guideline aids insurance companies and courts in assigning fault in T-bone collisions.
While these rules provide a general framework, each accident is unique, and determining fault may require a thorough investigation. Our legal team at The Ward Law Group has the expertise to analyze your T-bone accident's circumstances and build a strong case on your behalf.
If you're seeking legal guidance after a T-bone accident, don't hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Contact our Miami T-bone accident lawyer at The Ward Law Group at 855-DOLOR-55. We're here to advocate for your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
How does a T-Bone Accident Occur?
T-bone accidents, characterized by one vehicle striking another's side panel, pose significant risks to those involved. These collisions, aptly named for the resulting T-shaped configuration at the point of impact, often lead to catastrophic injuries.
Unlike frontal or rear-end collisions, where vehicles offer more protection, the sides of cars provide minimal defense, making T-bone accidents particularly perilous.
Injuries Caused by T-Bone Accidents
The injuries sustained in T-bone accidents can be severe, encompassing a range of catastrophic conditions such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, amputations, and multiple broken bones. The extent of these injuries directly influences the compensation owed to victims.
Therefore, our Miami T-bone accident lawyers at The Ward Law Group must comprehensively understand the nature and severity of your injuries. By collaborating with medical experts, we can obtain crucial insights into your condition to support your claim effectively.
Proving liability in T-bone accidents requires a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the collision. Our legal team diligently examines all available evidence to ascertain the cause of the accident and identify responsible parties.
This evidence may include eyewitness statements, traffic or dashboard camera footage, police reports, and medical records. By meticulously analyzing this evidence, we aim to establish liability and hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions.
We aim to demonstrate that the other driver bears full responsibility for the T-bone accident, ensuring that your liability remains at zero percent. By establishing the other party's complete liability, we can pursue maximum compensation on your behalf, seeking the total amount you are rightfully entitled to receive.
At The Ward Law Group, we are committed to advocating for your rights and securing the justice and compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents in Miami
T-bone or broadside accidents, occurring when one vehicle collides perpendicularly with another, present significant risks on Miami's roads.
At The Ward Law Group, our experienced injury accident lawyers have handled numerous cases involving T-bone crashes, which often involve various vehicles and scenarios, including:
- Rideshare Vehicles: Including Uber or Lyft drivers, passengers, and riders.
- Trucks: This category encompasses different types, such as 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, box trucks, and vehicles from companies like FedEx or UPS.
- Motorcycles: Including scooters, mopeds, and ATVs.
- Drunk or Impaired Drivers: Individuals operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Uninsured Motorists: Drivers without proper insurance coverage.
- Emergency Vehicles include police cars, ambulances, and fire rescue vehicles.
- Public Transportation: Involving buses, trolleys, and private vans.
Our Miami wrongful death lawyers and car accident injury attorneys have identified common causes underlying T-bone, broadside, or side impact car accidents in Miami. Here are some frequently observed factors contributing to these collisions:
- Mechanical Failures: Though less common, steering or brake malfunctions can lead to T-bone accidents. If a driver experiences unforeseeable mechanical failures, they may unintentionally enter an intersection, causing a collision with oncoming vehicles. However, if the failure was foreseeable, the driver or the mechanic responsible for vehicle maintenance may be liable.
- Adverse Weather Conditions: While Miami may not face snow or ice, rain, and occasional fog create slippery road conditions. After periods of dry weather, rain can bring oils and grease to the surface, increasing the likelihood of vehicles sliding past stop signs or red lights and causing broadside accidents.
- Driving Under the Influence: Intoxicated drivers pose significant risks to road safety, impairing their thought processes, vision, and reflexes. Their inability to perceive traffic signals or judge the speed and location of other vehicles increases the likelihood of T-bone accidents, often resulting in tragic outcomes.
- Road Rage: Reckless and aggressive driving behaviors, characteristic of road rage, can lead to collisions at intersections. Victims of such incidents should ensure they report the facts accurately to law enforcement and seek legal assistance to protect their rights.
- Distracted Driving: The pervasive issue of distracted driving, particularly due to cell phone usage and texting, contributes to many accidents in Miami. Drivers distracted by their devices may disregard stop signs or red lights, leading to devastating intersection collisions.
- Failure to Yield Right of Way: Left-turn accidents, where one driver misjudges the speed of oncoming traffic or fails to yield, are common in Miami. The driver making the left turn often receives a citation for failing to yield, resulting in T-bone collisions.
- Running Red Lights: Some drivers in Miami disregard traffic signals, accelerating through yellow lights instead of yielding. This reckless behavior frequently leads to T-bone collisions, which are exacerbated by the violating driver's increased speed.
If you've been involved in a T-bone accident due to these factors, our Miami car accident lawyers at The Ward Law Group are here to provide the legal guidance and support you need to pursue your claim effectively.
What to Do After a T-Bone Accident?
If you've been injured in a T-bone accident due to the negligence of another driver, it's crucial to take immediate steps to safeguard your rights and pursue compensation. Here's what you should do:
- Document the Scene: Capture photos and videos of the accident scene, focusing on vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and any visible injuries you sustained.
- Report to Authorities: Contact 911 or law enforcement at the accident scene to report the incident and ensure an official record is created.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you don't initially feel injured, seeking prompt medical evaluation is vital. A doctor can diagnose any hidden injuries and provide necessary treatment.
- Notify Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurance provider about the accident promptly to initiate the claims process.
- Keep Records: Maintain copies of all relevant documents, including medical bills, repair invoices, and receipts for expenses related to the accident.
- Document Your Damages: Gather medical records and income statements to substantiate your injuries and any lost earnings resulting from the accident.
- Keep a Recovery Journal: Start a diary to record your recovery journey, noting any physical pain or emotional distress you experience.
- Consult with an Attorney: Speak with a T-bone accident attorney to discuss your case and explore your options for seeking compensation. Time is of the essence in pursuing your claim, so don't delay seeking the justice and compensation you deserve.
Compensation Available in a T-Bone Accident Claim
Suppose you've been involved in a T-bone accident caused by another driver's negligence. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation for the economic and non-economic losses you've suffered due to the collision.
A successful claim or lawsuit could provide compensation for:
- Vehicle Damages: You will be reimbursed for repair costs or the value of your vehicle if it was totaled in the accident.
- Medical Expenses: Coverage for ambulance services, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation therapies needed for your recovery.
- Long-Term Care: Compensation for ongoing medical care, home health services, assistive devices, or home modifications required for permanent disabilities resulting from the accident.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to missed work during your recovery period.
- Loss of Future Earnings: Damages for the impact of permanent disabilities on your ability to earn a living and receive employment benefits.
- Pain and Suffering: Monetary compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life resulting from the accident and your injuries.
Determining Fault for a T-Bone Accident
Assigning fault in a T-bone accident requires a thorough investigation and analysis of various factors, including:
- Evidence from the accident scene includes photos, videos, and eyewitness testimony.
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage captures the events leading to the collision.
- Dashcam recordings from involved vehicles, if available.
- Police reports documenting the circumstances of the accident and any citations issued.
- Results of driver impairment tests, including breathalyzer or drug tests.
- Cell phone records to determine if distracted driving played a role in the crash.
- Vehicle data recorder (black box) data provides insights into vehicle speed, braking, and other parameters.
- Analysis and conclusions from accident reconstruction experts regarding the collision dynamics.
Contact a Miami T-Bone Accident Lawyer Now
I'm sure you're wondering what sets it apart from other firms. We bring a holistic approach to every case through our office doors. At our firm, we try to understand these types of events so that our client can understand the different aspects that will help their recovery.
In addition, at The Ward Law Group, we have worked for the past decade to reduce the gap in access to quality legal representation within the Hispanic-American community in the United States.
So, if you speak only Spanish, don't be afraid to seek the best lawyers. We will ensure that you get all the legal advice you need in your language.
We will make the bad times you are going through a reason to take strength and take forward the negative situations, turning them into reasons to grow as a person.