Side impact or t-bone accidents are some of the most common, but serious types of car accidents to occur on Texas roadways. T-bone accidents happen when one vehicle is hit on the side by the front or rear of another motor vehicle, creating an accident in the shape of a “T.” These accidents often happen in intersections, and depending on the area of impact, they can result in serious injuries. Our Austin, Texas automobile accident lawyers discuss t-bone accidents and your rights if you are injured in such a crash below.
Causes of T-Bone Accidents
The most common cause of t-bone accidents is driver error. Side impact crashes can occur when one driver fails to stop at a stop light or stop sign, or fails to yield the right of way. Rushing to make a yellow light can lead to a side impact crash. Common reasons that a driver could cause a side impact accident include distraction, poor judgment, excessive speed, intoxication, and much more.
Fault in a T-Bone Crash
Assessing fault in a t-bone crash will require an in-depth analysis of the facts of that specific accident. With a side impact crash, you cannot just look at the angles of the cars to determine fault, as both the colliding vehicle and the one hit on the side could be at fault, depending on the nature of the crash. Fault will be assigned to the driver that acted negligently, which will often be the driver that failed to adhere to the stop light or stop sign, or the driver that failed to look for oncoming vehicles before proceeding through an intersection.
Texas follows a law of modified comparative negligence, meaning that even if you were partly at fault in the accident, you may still be able to recover. Anyone injured in a t-bone accident in Texas should contact an automobile accident attorney right away. Your lawyer will investigate the crash to gather evidence in support of your claim. T-bone accident victims may be able to seek compensation from the at-fault driver, including coverage for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
