T-Bone Accidents

If you are injured in a T-bone collision, hiring a South Carolina car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you need to cover your expenses. T-bone accidents may result in serious injuries and thousands of dollars in damages. An experienced attorney from HawkLaw can handle your claim while you focus on recovery.

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

A T-bone accident is a type of car wreck that involves a collision that forms the letter “T,” hence the name. For this type of accident, one vehicle will strike the side of another. Side-impact crashes can quickly total cars and result in serious injuries for drivers and passengers in the vehicle that was hit.

Side-strike accidents are particularly dangerous due to the lack of protection the driver and passengers have between their bodies and the vehicle that creates the impact.  The rear bumper and trunk provide some protection to the passengers inside in a rear-end crash, for example. In a side-strike crash, the only protection is the thin door panel and/or a side-impact airbag, if one is available.

T-bone accidents can be deadly, and they frequently happen in specific, high-travel areas. In 2022, 3,551 side-impact crashes resulted in fatalities.

Where Do Most T-Bone Accidents Happen in SC?

Most T-bone accidents in South Carolina happen:

• At Intersections. Intersections represent the most common place where a T-bone accident may occur. Broadside collisions occur when one driver fails to yield. For instance, if one driver fails to yield at a red light and strikes a vehicle passing through the intersection traveling in the opposite direction.
• During Turns. A T-bone accident may occur when one vehicle attempts to make a left-hand turn and fails to yield to oncoming traffic, striking a traveling vehicle.
• On Dangerous Roadways. Some roadways are more dangerous than others. In South Carolina, Interstate 95 and Highway 9 top the list. These roadways are responsible for numerous types of accidents, including T-bone collisions.
• At On-Ramps. When one vehicle is attempting to merge into traffic from an on-ramp, failure to yield to the oncoming traffic can cause a T-bone collision. This particular type of collision may be particularly dangerous because the vehicle that is already traveling on the road is likely traveling at a much higher speed than the vehicle attempting to merge.

What Kinds of Injuries Result from Side-Impact Crashes?

Injuries from T-bone car wrecks can result in long-term recovery and a complete change in how a person can live their life. Some of the most frequently sustained injuries include scarring, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries, or “TBIs,” are caused by a strike or blow to the head, or the penetration of an object into the skull. TBIs can also occur from whiplash, when the neck whips with such force that the brain strikes the skull, causing an injury. TBIs may leave a person permanently impaired.

Spinal and Cervical Vertebrae Fractures

The force with which a vehicle hits another in a T-bone collision can cause the spine to contort violently, resulting in breaks and herniations. Broken necks and backs can be common in a T-bone accident. These types of injuries can take months or years for complete recovery.

Broken Bones

Broken bones can happen with any type of vehicular accident. Bones that commonly break during a side-impact collision include the collar bone and hip. These bones are compressed and broken due to the force of impact when the two vehicles collide. It is also common for T-bone accident victims to have broken legs and arms.

Organ Damage

Internal organ damage may occur during a T-bone accident. Even if you are not visibly injured after a side-strike car accident, you may have internal bleeding or organ damage from the impact. Internal organ damage may not result in immediate symptoms but can become life-threatening in some situations.

Paralysis

In some cases, spinal and/or brain injuries may be so severe that they result in partial or total paralysis. Spinal cord injuries may be temporary or permanent and require lengthy treatment and rehabilitation. Paralysis may result in the need for 24/7 care for the injured person.

Facial Scarring and Disfigurement

Cuts, lacerations, and burns may also occur during a T-bone accident. Scars can lead to permanent disfigurement that can also result in psychological trauma. Non-economic damages may include compensation for these types of injuries.

Loss of Limb/Traumatic Amputation

In some side-impact crashes, a limb is damaged due to crushing or cutting by vehicle parts. In severe cases, limbs may be traumatically amputated during the crash or may need to be surgically amputated after the crash. Rehabilitation and/or prosthetics will be needed in these scenarios.

Psychological Injuries

Being in an accident is a traumatic event. Whether or not you sustain physical injuries in your T-bone accident, you may sustain psychological trauma. Psychological trauma may cause a person to have depression, anxiety, or paralyzing fear about riding in or driving a vehicle. Psychological trauma is real and can be utterly debilitating.

It’s incredibly important to have a head-to-toe medical assessment performed after an accident as some injuries may not be visible. Internal injuries have the potential to become fatal, and early detection of these injuries can save lives.

The Impact of T-Bone Crashes on Back Seat Passengers

T-bone crashes can leave back-seat passengers with the same type and severity of injuries as drivers and front-seat passengers. These injuries may also be complicated when considering that children are often the passengers sitting in the back seat of vehicles. Wearing safety belts and using appropriate child car seats can reduce the risk of injuries to back-seat passengers and children.

Pets may also occupy space in the back seat of vehicles. While transporting your pet in your car, you can give them better protection by keeping them in a protective crate and/or using a pet-safe harness. If your car does have side-impact airbags, make sure they are in good repair and that your back-seat passengers are riding in a safe position so that the deployment of the airbag is efficient.

T-Bone Accidents Involving Motorcycles

The sheer lack of protection a rider has makes motorcycle accidents more dangerous and more likely to result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. T-bone accidents can occur when car drivers do not see motorcycles in their peripheral vision and cut them off, resulting in the motorcycle crashing into the vehicle.

It is almost always the operators of the motorcycles who suffer the extent of the injuries, even though they may be the ones who are responsible for the collision.

Why Do T-Bone Accidents Happen in South Carolina?

The most common causes of T-bone accident in South Carolina include:

• Distraction. Smartphone use, talking to other passengers, looking away from the road, and driving with loud music all contribute to distracted driving.
• Not obeying speed limits. Speeding is a prominent factor in car accidents.
• Driving while under the influence. Drugs and alcohol severely impair reaction time, and driving under their influence can lead to accidents.
• Reckless driving. Driving significantly over the speed limit, not obeying posted traffic laws, and driving aggressively are all forms of reckless driving.
• Weather. Accidents are more likely to occur when it is raining or when it is more difficult to see.
• Vehicle malfunctions. Accidents may occur when a car has engine trouble, a tire blowout, or other mechanical issue.
• Driving while fatigued. Fatigued drivers are impaired drivers. Driving when you are tired can lead to accidents.

Side-impact crashes are most frequently the result of someone not paying close attention to surroundings. Because these accidents tend to occur because a car fails to yield, it is usually an issue of distraction, impairment, or simply not being able to see another vehicle in a person’s line of vision.

How Does a South Carolina T-Bone Accident Lawyer Prove Fault?

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule in car accident cases. This means that if a plaintiff is less than 50% responsible for an accident, they may be able to collect compensation for their damages and injuries. If, however, they are 50% or more at fault for the accident, they may not be able to collect any compensation. For this reason, it is essential to hire a reputable South Carolina T-bone accident lawyer to help establish liability and protect your right to recover the money you need for your injuries.

Hiring a lawyer at the time of your accident allows them to have the best vantage point of your claim. Your lawyer can:

• Collect evidence like CCTV and traffic cam footage, eyewitness statements, and police reports.
• Determine the monetary amount for your damages and injuries.
• File a claim with third parties and insurance carriers.
• Negotiate a fair settlement with insurers and protect you from lowball settlement offers.
• File a court case on your behalf if a settlement cannot be reached.
• Build and present your case in court.
• Distribute settlement funds after your case is settled.

At HawkLaw, our personal injury lawyers understand South Carolina laws as they apply to T-bone accidents and ensuing liability. While you recover from your injuries your lawyer can go head-to-head with the insurance company to fight for your ability to receive compensation.

What Damages Can I Seek After Being Injured in a Side-Impact Accident?

Victims of side-impact accidents can seek both economic damages and non-economic damages.

• Economic damages. Economic damages are those that can be quantified with a dollar amount. These include property damage, medical bills and therapies, missed pay, prosthetics, and medications. You should keep the receipts and invoices for all of your repairs and medical visits; we can use them when we calculate your economic losses.
• Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages can’t be quantified as easily. These damages include pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of consortium, and loss of ability to work.

We can review your case and help you determine a fair amount for your claim, including proper compensation for non-economic damages. Policy limits and statutes can also affect your total award. We can help make sure you understand how much you are entitled to collect for your T-bone accident.

Do You Have a Car Accident Lawyer Near Me?

HawkLaw is proud to serve injury clients throughout South Carolina. We maintain offices in Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg for your convenience. Can’t travel because of your injuries? Do not worry: we can schedule a phone or video consultation instead.

Call HawkLaw If You Sustained Injuries in a T-Bone Accident

T-bone accidents may be devastating. Finding an attorney to represent you is a job you should take very seriously. At HawkLaw, we understand that an accident can change your entire life. We  work tirelessly to protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you need to move forward. Contact our office today to schedule a compensation and learn how our team can help.