A t-bone accident, sometimes called a side impact collision, is just what it sounds like. One car crashes into the side of another, forming a “T” shape. These accidents can occur at high speeds and cause grievous injuries. If you were harmed in such an accident and you believe that the other driver was to blame, you may be entitled to compensation. A Monmouth County distracted driving accident lawyer is ready to help you.
Where Does a T-Bone Accident Usually Occur?
You can get into a t-bone accident just about anywhere, but they are particularly common in areas where traffic travels in multiple directions. Side-impact collisions are unfortunately common at intersections throughout Monmouth County and other Central Jersey communities as drivers misjudge timing, fail to yield to oncoming traffic, or attempt to beat traffic.
Common Locations Where T-Bone Accidents Occur
- Four-way intersections
- Parking lots
- Entrances and exits from shopping centers
- Highway entrance ramps
- Left-turn lanes
- Traffic light intersections
- Busy roads throughout the county, including Route 35, Route 36, and local intersections in Eatontown, Oakhurst, and Long Branch
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents
The usual cause of a t-bone accident is the negligence of one of the drivers involved. They may:
- Ignore a stop sign or traffic light
- Turned into traffic even though they did not have the right of way
- Speed through an intersection to beat a light
- Fail to watch for cars leaving parking spots
- Misjudge the flow of traffic
- Drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Whether a driver is distracted or just plain indifferent to the safety of the drivers around them, they can easily cause an accident and serious injuries.
What Should I Do After a T-Bone Accident in Monmouth County?
The steps you take after being involved in a T-bone accident in Monmouth County can have a considerable impact on the outcome of your claim and your physical recovery. Though you may be overwhelmed, in pain, or unsure of how to proceed, remaining calm, documenting the scene, and obtaining prompt medical care is critical.
Important Steps to Take Following a Side-Impact Collision
- Assess yourself and passengers for injuries
- If safe to do so, move your vehicle out of the roadway
- Call 911 to request police and medical assistance at the scene
- Exchange contact and insurance information with all drivers involved
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including:
- Damage to all vehicles
- Road conditions
- Traffic signals and road signs
- Your visible injuries
- Skid marks or debris on the road
- Request a copy of the police report before leaving the scene
- Seek immediate medical attention, even if you feel okay or injuries seem minor
What Should You Avoid After a T-Bone Accident?
Following a collision, you should avoid making statements that can negatively impact the outcome of your claim. Unfortunately, the primary objective of insurance companies is to save money, so they will look for any statements that can be used to reduce, if not entirely deny, your claim. As such, you should avoid:
- Admitting fault
- Speculating about the cause of the collision
- Apologizing to the other driver
- Posting about the collision on social media
- Giving the insurance company a recorded statement without legal advice
- Downplaying or minimizing the severity of your injuries
Who Can Face Liability for a Monmouth County T-Bone Crash?
Determining liability for a T-bone accident in New Jersey can be difficult. Due to the nature of these collisions, multiple individuals can share responsibility for the collision and subsequent injuries.
Parties That May Face Liability
- Drivers who run red lights or stop signs
- Drivers who fail to yield to oncoming traffic when turning
- Distracted drivers
- Drunk drivers
- Vehicle manufactures
- Parts manufacturers
- Government agencies responsible for road conditions
- Government agencies responsible for maintaining working traffic lights and other signals
Evidence Used to Determine Fault
- Police reports
- Surveillance footage from local homes or businesses
- Vehicle black box data
- Photographs from the scene
- Testimony from the drivers involved and witnesses on the scene
- Accident reconstruction analysis
What Kinds of Injuries Can a T-Bone Accident Cause?
T-bone accidents can cause all kinds of injuries, including ones that can affect victims for years or even their entire lives. These crashes can result in:
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Broken bones
- Burns
What Kinds of Compensation Can I Recover?
A compensation offer should not just cover the economic costs of your accident. It should also reimburse you for the emotional and psychic toll that this crash and your injuries have taken on you. A fair offer will compensate you for medical bills and lost wages, but it also needs to address your pain and suffering.
Potential Recoverable Damages
- Medical expenses (including incurred costs and future care)
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfiguration
Understanding How Comparative Negligence Can Impact Your Claim
New Jersey is a comparative negligence state, which means that your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault in the collision. As such, if you are determined to be 25% at fault, your compensation will be reduced by 25%.
It should be noted that victims are eligible to recover compensation so long as they are not more than 50% responsible for the accident, at which point recovery would be barred.
Meet With Our Monmouth County Legal Team
When you are ready to pursue a fair compensation offer, the team at Falcon Law Firm, LLC is ready to assist you. We can schedule a free consultation for you. We would love the chance to tell you more about your legal options and what our experienced attorneys can do to help you in this difficult time. Contact us today to discuss your circumstances with a member of our firm.
