T-Bone Car Accidents

T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle hits another vehicle on the passenger or driver’s side. Because of the nature of a car’s structure, these collisions may be more dangerous than those involving the front or back of a vehicle. Serious injuries and even fatalities are common when a fast-moving car hits another vehicle on its side. Providence car accident lawyer David Tapalian assists people who have been struck by careless drivers with pursuing the compensation that they need to aid in their recovery costs. Tapalian Law has been serving clients throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island for over 20 years, offering personalized legal guidance throughout all of the stages of litigation. If you have sustained an injury in a T-bone crash, contact our office to schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal rights and options.

T-bone accidents are more dangerous than others because there is not much separating a driver or passenger from the car engaging in the hit except for the door, as opposed to a hood, engine, trunk, and much more space involved in either a front or rear collision. Although automotive manufacturers have put efforts into improving the safety features of the side areas of a car, including reinforcement of their strength, as well as side curtain airbags, these qualities are not universal. T-bone accidents result in over 9,000 fatalities nationwide each year, making them the second-most common type of fatal traffic crash behind only head-on collisions.

T-bone accidents also account for 31 percent of all non-fatal collisions in the U.S. These crashes often result in permanent or serious injuries, such as broken bones, disfigurement, or scarring, as well as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries. Such injuries may require hospital visits, surgery, rehabilitative treatment, missed work, and sometimes around-the-clock care. Making sure that the parties responsible for causing this harm contribute to the associated costs is important to facilitate a proper recovery for victims.

Many times, insurance policy limits do not provide enough financial support for victims with significant injuries. As a result, these victims may need to pursue action against the party, or parties, responsible for a T-bone accident, usually a negligent driver. To establish negligence, a plaintiff must show that the defendant breached an owed duty of care, that breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries, and damages were incurred as a result. Drivers are required to act in a reasonable and prudent way, given the circumstances at hand. When one driver speeds through a stop sign, striking another vehicle, for example, they may be seen as engaging in unreasonable behavior.

A victim injured by a negligent driver may be entitled to damages for medical costs, loss of income, lost earning capacity, and, in some instances, pain and suffering. Unfortunately, many T-bone accidents are deadly for one or more victims. In these devastating instances, family members may be entitled to compensation for funeral and medical costs as well as loss of support in a wrongful death action. Timing is important in both personal injury and wrongful death claims, since Massachusetts and Rhode Island impose a statute of limitations of three years before lawsuits are generally barred.

Being injured in a car accident is a stressful and emotional time, filled with doctor visits, paperwork regarding insurance claims, and other tasks that interfere with focusing on your recovery. Losing a loved one in a fatal crash is devastating, and legal action is often the furthest thought from your mind. Providence attorney David Tapalian knows the impact that such a life-shattering event has on a victim, and he is dedicated to making sure that the legal aspects of a car accident’s aftermath are handled with care. Representing people throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts from offices in Providence and Seekonk, Tapalian Law offers compassionate and experienced guidance to car accident victims. Contact us online or at (401) 552-5000 to set up a free appointment with a motor vehicle collision lawyer.