Philadelphia T-Bone Accident Attorney

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

T-bone accidents refer to accidents in which one motorist drives their vehicle headlong into the side of another driver’s vehicle – forming the shape of a T in the process. Motorists are most likely to strike one another at this angle when their paths cross in intersections or when one vehicle enters a road from an adjacent parking structure, parking lot, alley, or driveway.

The sides of our vehicles lack the protection of the trunk at the rear and the hood at the front, which makes these side-impact accidents that much more dangerous.

Driver negligence in all the following forms can lead to a T-bone accident:

• A distracted driver who fails to ensure that it’s safe to enter an intersection
• A drunk driver whose impairment impedes their ability to navigate an intersection safely
• A driver whose excess speed increases the risk of any kind of accident happening, including a T-bone accident
• A drowsy driver whose exhaustion leads to dangerous driving practices

What Is the Proper Term for a T-Bone Accident?

While many people use the term T-bone accident, there are other – more technical – terms that apply, including:

• Broadside collisions
• Side-impact crashes
• Right-angle collisions

Regardless of what the accident is called, however, T-bone accidents can cause considerable physical, financial, and emotional losses that should not be overlooked.

Are T-Bone Accidents Common in Pennsylvania?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), T-bone accidents, which it refers to as angle collisions, accounted for 18.2 percent of all fatal traffic accidents throughout the nation, including Pennsylvania, in a recent year. This makes T-bone accidents the number one cause of traffic fatalities over rear-end, sideswipe, and head-on collisions. Additional statistics include:

• There were 6,039 fatal T-bone accidents.
• T-bone accidents led to 531,000 injury-causing accidents, which put them in second position after rear-end accidents.
• T-bone accidents accounted for nearly 28 percent of all injury-causing accidents.

What to Do after You’ve Been in a T-bone Accident

While every T-bone accident involves its own unique set of circumstances, there are specific steps every accident victim should take to help protect their health and well-being as well as their car accident claim. These include:

• Accept medical attention at the scene of the accident, and if it’s not offered, seek the medical attention you need as soon as possible.
• Don’t comment on the accident, accept blame for the accident, or make a blanket apology at the scene of the accident. Doing so can come back to harm your claim.
• Follow the medical instructions provided to you by your doctor carefully. This is not only the right path to follow in terms of your recovery but also demonstrates that your injuries are as serious as you claim.
• Consult with a seasoned car accident attorney as soon after the accident as you can, and work closely with your attorney throughout the legal process.
• Refrain from providing the insurance company with a statement and from posting on social media, such as Instagram and Facebook. Insurance companies are all too skilled at turning innocent comments into claim-damaging statements.
• Don’t accept a settlement offer from the insurance company before discussing the matter with your trusted car accident attorney – who is up to speed with the specifics of your claim.

What Damages Can I Get in a Philadelphia T-Bone Accident?

The truth is that the damages associated with a T-bone accident can be considerable, and they generally break down into several basic categories of loss.

Turn to Dedicated and Aggressive T-Bone Accident Lawyers

When you choose a lawyer at our firm to handle your accident or injury case, you can expect your auto or bicycle accident attorney to look into how and why the accident happened, thoroughly answer any questions you have, and, most importantly of all: make sure you receive just compensation. Your lawyer may also speak with other experts to make sure your case has a positive outcome.

Here at Kalikhman & Rayz, we take pride in giving each and every client the personalized attention he or she deserves. To get in touch with an automobile accident or personal injury attorney at our Philadelphia office, reach out to us today.