North Dakota T-Bone Accidents - Sand Law PLLC
A T-bone accident is called that because the vehicles involved typically form the shape of a T. This kind of accident, which will usually occur at an intersection, can lead to devastating injuries. In a lot of instances, a T-bone accident takes place because of negligence on the part of the driver whose vehicle plows into the side of the victim.
The attorneys with Sand Law have built a reputation on successfully representing car accident victims with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism. We provide personalized service, and will always be here when you need us. In addition, our attorneys are skilled negotiators who know how to maximize our clients’ compensation.
Learn more about us by contacting us online or calling 701-609-1510 for a free consultation.
What Causes T-Bone Accidents?
A T-bone accident isn’t really that different from any other collision in that it can occur due to several different reasons. Here’s a small sample of the potential reasons T-bone accidents take place.
- Running a stop sign or a red light
- Snowy roads
- Black ice that causes a driver to lose control
- Distracted drivers
- Drivers who are drunk or on illegal drugs
- Speeding
- Fatigue
- Reckless driving
It will be important to contact an attorney as soon as possible if you’ve been involved in this kind of car wreck. Your attorney will work to help you compensate for the injuries and property damage you’ve incurred.
Places Where T-Bone Accidents Occur
There are some instances where a T-bone accident is fairly minor, such as when the two cars are traveling slowly through a parking lot. It could even happen while someone is backing out of their driveway.
Most of the time, though, the vehicles involved are moving at much higher speeds. An intersection is a particularly dangerous location for a T-bone accident, because someone was trying to speed up to avoid a red light and caused a violent collision in the process.
Common Injuries Associated with T-Bone Accidents
Like any car accident, a T-bone collision can result in severe injuries or deaths. These are some of the injuries that will typically occur.
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Damage to internal organs
- Severe burns
Who’s Liable for a T-Bone Accident?
You might think that it would be easy to prove the other driver was at fault for your T-bone accident, but it’s actually anything but. In order to build the strongest case possible, you’re going to need hard evidence. That evidence will go a long way toward determining who was to blame. Sometimes both drivers are partially to blame, other times a manufacturer defect leads to a collision. This is a brief explanation of each scenario.
- Both drivers share responsibility – North Dakota is a “comparative negligence” state. This means that, in some accidents, both drivers share blame. One driver may claim to have had the right of way, and the other was to blame for entering the intersection. Most people assume that the driver of the car that was hit on the side isn’t to blame. However, that might not be the case. That driver could actually be at fault for running a red light or stop sign, and causing the accident to take place.
- A manufacturer’s defect – Neither driver could be at fault if it can be proven that something happened with one of the vehicles to cause the accident. It could have been due to brakes that failed, an accelerator that suddenly stuck, or something else. If this is the case, you may be able to obtain compensation through a product liability lawsuit.
- Another driver – While this rarely happens, there are cases where a driver who completely avoided the accident was the cause of the wreck. They may have made an illegal turn or sudden lane change that causes a driver to hit someone else’s vehicle. In this instance, both drivers can file a claim against the at-fault motorist.
The Serious Impact of a Side Impact Crash
Recovering Compensation for a T-Bone Accident
As stated earlier, you’re going to have to produce strong evidence in order to have the best possible chance of winning your case. If you don’t, that’s going to make it almost impossible for you to ever recover financially. You won’t be able to pay for medical bills, medications, and anything else you may need in terms of treatment, and you’ll never make up the lost wages – both now and in the future – that you may incur.
Your best chance of producing that evidence will be to hire a skilled attorney. Your legal representative will fight to help you get the money you deserve. Keep all documentation of your medical bills, as well as proof of your salary. If you were able to take photographs or videos at the accident scene, those would be incredibly powerful. But if you couldn’t (which would obviously be understandable if you were seriously hurt), an attorney may be able to find footage from any nearby security cameras that captured the accident.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney As Soon As Possible
There are other reasons to hire an attorney as soon as you can. You’re already going through a lot of pain and stress – adding to that stress by trying to handle your case on your simply won’t be healthy. Maximizing your compensation will very likely involve negotiating with insurance company adjusters and having to produce mountains of documentation. Attorneys know how to do both, taking the burden off of your shoulders so you can focus on your physical recovery.
Please get in touch with Sand Law and let one of our skilled attorneys fight for your legal rights. Use our online form or call 701-609-1510 to schedule a free case review.