What Happens When a Car Is T-Boned?

When a car is broadsided, or hit from the side, it’s what most people colloquially refer as being “T-boned.” So, what happens to the car during this type of impact? More importantly, what happens to you and passengers? We don’t need to tell you that a collision of this nature can result in significant bodily injury. If you were on the receiving end of a T-bone, then contact one of our experienced Los Angeles Personal Injury lawyers to determine whether you have grounds for legal action and filing a claim.

 

What Happens to the Car?

Like the front and rear, the side of a vehicle also has a crumple zone to absorb some of the kinetic energy from the impact. However, the crumple zone isn’t as strong on the side. If the impact is severe enough, the struck vehicle may also be at risk of a rollover, especially if it has a higher ground clearance. The impact my also send the vehicle off its path of travel and onto lanes or sidewalks where it can potentially strike other cars and pedestrians.

What Happens to the Driver and Passengers?

 A far more pressing question is the injury sustained by the driver and potentially passengers. Because crumple zones are less sturdy on the side, drivers may sustain more serious injuries. This is compounded by the fact that most older cars do not have side airbags. Due to the nature of damage to the vehicle, victims are also more likely to be trapped, requiring emergency assistance to get them out.

Just how serious are T-bone collisions? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, side collisions have increased over the last 20 years from 31% to 51% of all collisions. Side collisions also account for 29% of all traffic fatalities.

What are some of the common injuries stemming from a T-bone collision? Not surprisingly, rib injuries are common. The extent of rib injury varies and may range from a minor fracture to multiple broken ribs that puncture vital organs. Similarly, injury to the chest wall may also incur, which may subsequently end up restricting airways and/or blood flow.

Victims also commonly incur traumatic brain injury (TBI). Contrary to belief, the injury isn’t the result of a direct impact, such as your head slamming against the windshield. It’s actually the force of the impact causing the brain to collide against the skull. TBI can permanently impair cognitive ability and lead to emotional instability.

 

Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone Collision?

It’s easy to assume the driver that T-bones the other driver is at fault. However, this is not always the case. Like other collisions, multiple variables are at play that determine who is at fault. In some cases, establishing fault is difficult, and both drivers may bear responsibility. Ultimately, primary fault lies in the driver that violated traffic law or otherwise was driving recklessly. Factors that law enforcement and insurance companies look at include the speed which the parties were driving, whether one failed to yield the right of way, whether alcohol was involved, etc.

How a Lawyer Factors In

Whether you receive compensation depends on your ability to establish negligence, and ultimately fault in the other driver. The insurance company, in an effort to avoid paying (and losing out financially), will try to deflect the blame or downplay the severity of your injury. This is why you need one of the top Los Angeles car accident attorneys to argue on your behalf in court.

Call Ellis Law Corporation

Getting T-boned can adversely impact the quality of life, perhaps even for life. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer at Ellis Law Corporation. Consultation is free, and you don’t pay a penny unless the outcome is in your favor or there is a settlement. Let our Los Angeles firm represent you so you get the monetary compensation you deserve. Take the all-important first step of picking up the phone; you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.