My Car Was T-Boned: What Should I Do?

With nearly a quarter of all accident fatalities occurring by side impact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these types of accidents – also known as T-bone accidents – are among some of the deadliest. If you are involved in a T-bone accident, here are some things you may need to know.

What Are the Common Causes of Side-Impact Accidents?

A T-bone accident occurs when the front end of one vehicle comes in contact with another vehicle’s driver or passenger side. The manner in which this occurs is of the utmost importance in determining exactly who is at fault. In New Jersey, one must be negligent in their duty of care to be considered liable. In other words, an individual will have to prove the other driver was careless or negligent in how they drove their vehicle and that it resulted in a broadside mishap to pursue legal action.

There are several ways vehicles can come into contact in this manner, such as:

• Failure to yield occurs when a driver does not give the right of way to another vehicle at a stop sign, traffic light, or intersection and pulls into the path of the vehicle.
• Speeding. If a motorist is driving too fast and can’t control their vehicle, they may collide with another vehicle.
• Distracted driving. Those who are not entirely focused on the road ahead of them and instead concentrate on a secondary task, such as eating, texting, talking to passengers, or scanning stations on the radio, may create a dangerous situation that could result in a T-bone collision.
• Mechanical failure. Brake failure could spur a collision where the driver cannot stop before coming into contact with another vehicle.
• Intoxication. Using drugs or alcohol before operating a motor vehicle could slow reaction times and result in a side-impact situation.
• Weather conditions. Snow, sleet, rain, and even wind can make conditions less than ideal for drivers to maintain their distance from other vehicles.

It’s important to note that not all of the above incidents automatically assign blame to one driver or another. For instance, if the brakes in one vehicle fail and the driver T-bones a vehicle that spins out of control and strikes another, not only could there be more than one at-fault driver, but a lawsuit that holds the brake manufacturer responsible could also be in order.

What Should I Do After a T-Bone Accident?

When an incident occurs, it’s essential to remain calm and take steps to ensure the accident is documented properly. Begin by ensuring everyone is okay and determining whether anyone needs medical attention. When it comes to T-bone accidents, some injuries are considered common, such as muscle strains, back and neck trauma, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, internal bleeding, and even death. Because the front of a vehicle impacts the side of another where there is less reinforcement, the injuries that result from these collisions tend to be more severe and more complex to walk away from unscathed. Even those who don’t believe they are in need of immediate medical treatment may want to consider being evaluated by a physician for safety’s sake.

While waiting for authorities to arrive, take pictures of the vehicles as well as any injuries anyone may have sustained. Exchange contact information with others involved, but refrain from admitting to or trying to assign fault, as this could work against you at a later time. Look for any witnesses and make note of any cameras that may be recording nearby that may prove useful later. When practical, contact your insurance company to report the incident.

When it comes to awarding damages, compensation can be given for medical expenses, vehicle damages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, and, in some cases, punitive damages, which seek to punish an individual who has acted with malicious intent; however, this is difficult to prove and is not as common as the others in personal injury cases.

Legal Advice Is Available From the Atlantic City Car Accident Lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm

You’re not expected to know all the ins and outs of determining who is liable when someone T-bones your vehicle. If you have questions, call the Atlantic City car accident lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm at 609-926-3300 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, we serve clients in Atlantic City, Linwood, Galloway Township, Cape May, Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Ocean City, Woodbury, and South Jersey.