T-bone accidents can be particularly devastating. This is because many of the safety features on our cars are designed to protect drivers and passengers from front and rear-end collisions, but not side-impact collisions. Older vehicles without side airbags have little protection for the occupants from harm on impact.
In a serious injury accident, you may have questions about your injuries and how you will pay for your medical expenses. This is especially pressing when the accident was not your fault. It is important to understand how liability is determined following a broadside accident so you can pursue appropriate compensation. To discuss the specifics of your claim, contact Cohan PLLC for help.
Either Vehicle May Be at Fault in a T-Bone Collision
The driver of either vehicle may be at fault in a T-bone collision or side-impact accident. Whether a motorist slams into the side of another car or is struck broadside, the driver who fails to yield to the other with the right of way will generally be found at fault for a T-bone accident.
Following a T-bone collision, some people wrongly believe that the driver of the vehicle that collided with the side of the other vehicle is automatically at fault. The attorneys at Cohan PLLC know that this is not always the case. It is possible that the other car violated your right-of-way, and the other driver was at fault.
Determining who is at fault in a broadside collision requires a thorough investigation of the accident. Eyewitness accounts, pictures of the scene, and the official police report can help your legal team recreate the accident and identify the party or parties responsible for the crash.
Fault will ultimately be assigned to the driver responsible. Sometimes, both drivers in a T-bone accident are considered to be partly at fault. Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule. That means if an individual is injured in an accident, they cannot recover damages from the other party if they are deemed 51 percent or more at fault. If the percentage of fault is less than that, compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault.
What is a T-Bone Accident
T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle is hit on the side by another car. This type of accident results in the vehicles forming a “T” formation. These crashes are sometimes called side-impacts or broadside collisions. They typically occur at intersections.
Depending on the location and speed of the impact, T-bone accidents can result in severe injuries or may prove fatal.
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents
There are many potential causes of T-bone accidents. Some of the most commonly reported causes include:
Ignoring a stop sign or running a traffic light
Turning across traffic lanes
Failure to look both ways when turning in an intersection
Failure to yield
Aggressive driving
Distracted driving
Driving while Impaired
Brake failure
Inclement weather
Proving Who Is at Fault
The law holds that all drivers have a “duty of care” to others on the road. This means a motorist must drive safely while looking out for other drivers and pedestrians. A failure to meet the duty of care is considered negligent behavior. The ability to prove the other driver’s negligence or recklessness requires solid evidence of the following:
The at-fault driver had a “duty of care” to drive safely.
The driver’s negligence breached this duty.
The victim suffered damages.
This breach was the cause of the accident and the other driver’s injuries.
It is important to note that you will have to prove that your specific injuries were caused by this accident and that the other driver’s negligent actions caused the accident.
What Type of Compensation Am I Owed?
If you were hurt in a T-bone accident, you might be forced to deal with severe and lasting injuries. You may find that the medical expenses are piling up, all while you cannot work to support yourself and your family.
If the accident was not your fault, you should not have to pay out of your own pocket for your expenses and the repair or replacement of your damaged property. You may be eligible to pursue compensation for:
Medical bills
Wages for time missed at work
Therapy and rehabilitation costs
Repair or replacement of property
Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
The above list is not exhaustive. There may be other expenses and damages that you are owed.
If a T-bone accident resulted in the death of a loved one, you could seek justice for them through a wrongful death claim. Your family could hold the party at fault for the fatal accident responsible for your loss of companionship, future wages and earnings, funeral expenses, and other damages.
What Should You Do If You Are in a T-Bone Accident?
You do not have to suffer alone if you have been injured in a side-impact collision. You can take action to protect yourself and your future. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Cohan PLLC are here to help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Our Las Vegas auto accident attorneys have significant experience helping clients in Nevada who have been injured in collisions, including T-bone accidents. We know that insurance companies only look out for their interests and bottom line. We are only interested in pursuing the justice and fair compensation you are owed under the law.
Don’t wait until it is too late to file a claim. Contact us for a free consultation. We are ready to review your situation and advise you about your best legal options.
Our firm will do whatever it takes to help you recover.
Call (702) 623-3579 or fill out our contact form!
Chasen Cohan, Esq. is the founder of Cohan PLLC. Mr. Cohan is a licensed attorney who also possesses FINRA Series 7 (Registered Representative) and Series 63 (Uniform State Representative) licenses, state insurance licenses, and State Securities Registrations in Nevada, Missouri, and North Carolina. Mr. Cohan is admitted to practice law before the Nevada Bar, all Nevada State and Federal Courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Cohan’s representative clients have included: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Sam’s West, Inc., MGM Grand Resorts International, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Corp., The Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, The Mirage Casino-Hotel, South Point Hotel & Casino, American Express, Barclays, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and various life insurance companies and service providers.
Mr. Cohan is a Las Vegas native who graduated with honors from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Mr. Cohan received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. During law school, Mr. Cohan served as a clerk for the Office of the Texas Attorney General and a Judicial Extern for United States District Court Judge James R. Nowlin.
Clients from global brands and middle-market companies to innovative startups and individuals trust Cohan PLLC to resolve their trickiest legal disputes. Whether that’s litigation in state or federal trial and appellate courts in Nevada; investigations and enforcement actions before government agencies; or mediation, arbitration, and regulatory agency proceedings. Cohan PLLC has litigated hundreds of millions in dollars of claims on behalf of corporate litigants. As a result of this experience, Cohan PLLC has been afforded the opportunity to selectively act as Plaintiff’s counsel on complex, personal injury matters.