Illinois T-Bone Accident Lawyers

What is a Side Impact Collision?

A side impact accident – also called a broadside crash – is any collision in which one vehicle strikes another at an angle between 90 and 180 degrees. A T-bone accident occurs when one car hits another at a 90-degree angle, forming a capital “T.”

How Common are Side Impact Crashes?

Side impact crashes are common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,493,000 angle collisions in the U.S. in 2019, and 18% of them were fatal. The only other collision that happens more often is rear-ended accidents. Angle crashes accounted for 22% of all accidents in 2019, while rear-end accidents were 32%.

How Much is a Side Impact Case Worth?

Every car accident case is different in terms of what happened, injuries, and possible settlement amounts. Unfortunately, you can’t determine the value of your based on what you read online. The only way to get a good idea of a potential settlement amount is to talk with an experienced lawyer.

Car accident compensation may cover:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Reduced earning potential
• Loss of personal relationships

Staver Accident Injury Lawyers P.C. has decades of experience handling car crash claims in Illinois. We know how to calculate the potential value of a collision based on your personal experience.

Who is Liable for a Side Impact Accident?

You may know the other car was at fault for the crash. But to win compensation, you have to prove it. It’s best to work with a lawyer who can help you gather evidence and show an insurer or a court what happened.

Unfortunately, it’s common for people to argue about who was at fault and liable for damages. The vehicle that strikes another car in the side isn’t always the one at fault.

Liability Example

For example, vehicle A had a green light and the right of way through an intersection. Vehicle B runs a red light and moves directly in front of vehicle A, which doesn’t have time to stop. So even though vehicle A collides with vehicle B, it isn’t at fault for the crash.

Because of accidents like this, you need to work with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney. We immediately start gathering evidence, including the police report, photos or video footage of the crash, and eyewitness statements.

We may hire an accident reconstruction expert. This professional creates a 2D or 3D model of the collision.

Other Liability Issues

Even after we can prove who was at fault, you may run into other issues with liability. All sorts of situations can make a side impact accident claim more complicated:

• The at-fault driver may have been working at the time and in a commercial vehicle
• They may have been an Uber or Lyft driver with a passenger
• They may have been in a rental or borrowed car
• They may not have auto insurance

Our car accident lawyers identify all liable parties and file a claim with their respective insurance carriers.

Intersections Attract Side Impact Crashes

Most T-bone and other side-impact crashes happen at intersections. At controlled intersections, these collisions can happen when someone ignores a stop sign or red light. In this scenario, the vehicle that violates the traffic control signal may hit the side of another car, or the car with the right of way might hit them.

At uncontrolled intersections, side-impact accidents happen when a driver isn’t paying attention, is distracted, or fails to yield to the right of way. There are many possibilities regarding the underlying cause of the crash, including intoxication, speeding, and reckless driving.

Side impact accidents also happen at exits, on-ramps, and in parking lots. Wherever your accident occurred, call our T-bone accident lawyers in Chicago. These accidents can lead to severe injuries, and who was at fault isn’t always obvious. We may need to investigate to find out what went wrong and why.

Common Side Impact and T-Bone Accident Injuries

As T-bone and side-impact collision attorneys, the most common injuries we see are:

• Broken bones
• Dislocated joints
• Face and dental injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis

Several factors affect the severity of your injuries: The size and height of the vehicles, speed at impact, vehicle safety features, and seat belt usage. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Call a Chicago T-Bone Accident Lawyer Today

After a car accident, your focus should be on getting better and spending time with loved ones. You may not have the energy or experience to deal with insurance adjusters and questions of fault and liability.

We gather as much evidence as possible and present a compelling case to the insurer. Then, we demand the maximum compensation possible for your injuries. We work for your best interests, while the insurance companies will try to limit their costs. If it’s in your best interests to go to court, we won’t hesitate to take a car accident claim to trial.

Call today for a free consultation with a Chicago car accident lawyer. Call (312) 236-2900 or use our online form. We are not paid until and unless you are paid.