Side-Impact (T-Bone) Accident Attorney

Side-impact accidents are when two vehicles traveling parallel to each other collide, such as when drivers change lanes without seeing the car next to them or when they drift out of their lane. The danger is largely due to the location of the accident, as side-impact collisions most commonly occur on highways and freeways. High-speed limits and being surrounded by other vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed, coupled with the fact that it can be harder to check your blind spots in this environment, exponentially elevates the risk of a severe collision with a car in your blind spot.

As a result, side-impact accidents are one of the most dangerous types of accidents, falling just under head-on collisions in terms of fatalities – especially for occupants younger than 12. Even a minor collision can have a substantial impact on children, who are more likely to sustain a lifelong injury.

If you or a loved one has been severely or critically injured in a side-impact collision due to another driver’s negligence, the aggressive car crash lawyers at Kanner & Pintaluga will zealously pursue maximum compensation so you and your family can recover from the accident with peace of mind.

What Should You Do If You’ve Been in a Side-Impact Accident?

It can be hard to think in the immediate aftermath of an accident, but what you do next can be crucial to fortifying the validity of your claim and protecting it against baseless assertions. After moving your car out of the way of traffic, if possible, you should seek medical attention right away.

The best thing you can do for your claim is to see a doctor, even if you don’t think you need it. This serves two purposes:

1. Car crash injuries, especially internal injuries, aren’t always immediately obvious, especially when your body is filled with pain-nullifying adrenaline
2. Medical professionals can provide you with records and certified documentation of your injuries that you can use to bolster your personal injury claim

Contact law enforcement to ensure that a detailed accident report is filed. Not only will this give you valuable evidence to bolster your claim, but it can also protect you from legal penalties.

In most states, you are legally required to report any accident that involves injuries, deaths or property damage exceeding $500 or else risk fines and even jail time if it’s a major accident. Even if you call and the police don’t come to the scene, you’ll still need to file a written accident report in no less than ten days after the accident.

You should also consult with an experienced car crash injury lawyer as soon as possible. The experienced auto accident attorneys at our personal injury law firm can help you through the legal process, liaising with insurance companies while we work to maximize your possible compensation.

Who Is at Fault in a Side-Impact Collision?

Determining fault in a side-impact collision often comes down to identifying which driver failed to follow traffic laws. These crashes typically happen at intersections, where one vehicle strikes the side of another after running a red light, ignoring a stop sign, or failing to yield the right of way.

Fault is usually determined by:

• Police reports that document violations of traffic signals.
• Eyewitness accounts of the moments before impact.
• Surveillance or dashcam footage showing how the crash occurred.
• Accident reconstruction experts, when liability is unclear.

Clear evidence is key in building a strong claim.