If you've recently just been t-boned by another car, you'll want to hire a personal injury lawyer in Toronto right away. Sometimes people put off hiring a lawyer because they want to try and save some money. No one wants to be trying to navigate the field of personal injury law alone when they are seriously injured.
T-bone Accidents
T-bone accidents occur all of the time. These are accidents that involve someone that hits the side of your vehicle head-on. T-bone collisions are very serious accidents that can result in death to whoever is involved in them. If you've been in an accident like this, there is a good chance that you could be compensated for your injuries.
T-bone accidents are referred to in that way because of how they make the vehicle look after the impact occurs. These types of accidents are also commonly referred to as broadside collisions.
The severity of T-Bone Accidents
These accidents are very serious because of how the impact can hit someone. The brunt of the impact is directly on the side of the vehicle, and there isn't as much protection there in comparison to other areas of the vehicle. The impact can instantly cause a sideways jerking motion for people, and this can result in them hitting their bodies and heads on the side of the window or door.
T-bone collisions can occur to either side of the vehicle, and they can result in a variety of different injuries that are extremely serious:
- Paralysis
- Whiplash
- Spine injuries
- Neck injuries
- Concussion
- Fractured bones
- Cuts
The first thing you'll want to do following a t-bone collision is head to the emergency room. Even if there are no visible injuries right away, you'll want to get examined. Sometimes concussion-related injuries don't show up right away, and it's always best to get fully assessed. Getting assessed with away is also beneficial later down the road when evidence is required for your injuries. You'll want to keep a record of all of your appointments and ensure to document everything throughout the entire process.
What Causes T-Bone Collisions?
The majority of t-bone collisions occur because a driver doesn't yield to the person who has the right of way. These accidents can commonly occur in busy intersections where people might be running through red lights while the other person has a green light. T-bone collisions can also occur if someone loses attention on the road due to something like looking at their map application on their phone or texting someone.
Distractions While Driving
A huge cause of t-bone collisions is a direct result of the driver being distracted. A driver might be eating or reaching for something in their vehicle and suddenly end up broadsiding someone that is driving sideways through an intersection.
Driving While Sleepy
If you're operating a vehicle after a night shift and are completely exhausted, your attention on the road might be reduced. Driving while sleepy can also lower your reaction time, and that's something that can increase the chances of a car accident occurring.
Driving While Intoxicated
Another reason why a t-bone accident might occur is if someone is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Brake Malfunction
Sometimes vehicles are simply dealing with manufacturing issues associated with their brakes. If you're traveling at high speeds through an intersection and someone zooms through it and your brakes aren't working properly, that can easily lead to a t-bone collision.
I've Been In A T-Bone Collision - What's Next?
If you've recently been the subject of a t-bone collision, you'll want to consult with a personal injury lawyer in Toronto as soon as you can. Right after your accident, you'll want to try moving out of the way from any traffic in the area. Once you're in a safe place, analyze your body for injuries. If you have a passenger in the vehicle, make sure you assess their injuries, as well.
After that, head to a hospital as soon as you can. Get the details from the driver that hit you and whatever you do, don't admit that you were at fault. If you can, take as many photos and videos of the area as you can. You'll also want to contact the police and make a police report.
Get your lawyer to contact your insurance company. Your lawyer will know all of the applicable legal jargon that's involved with your insurance agency, and they will be able to navigate the process for you.
Fault
In a t-bone accident, the person that is at fault is the one that wasn't paying attention to the road or was dealing with any of the issues above. If you accidentally made a left turn when you shouldn't have, then you would be at fault. If you're unsure who is at fault, contact your personal injury lawyer in Toronto.
Sometimes figuring out who is at fault can be a little more complicated than just one person. If there were a number of other vehicles involved, an investigation will need to be done to figure out the liability surrounding it.
Trucks And T-bone Accidents
There are also complications when trucks are involved in t-bone accidents. In these cases, liability might be on the shoulders of:
- The owner of the trucking company
- The person that is responsible for maintaining the truck
- The manufacturer of the truck
- A municipality if there wasn't appropriate signage on the road
No matter what type of t-bone collision you’ve been through, you’ll want to hire a personal injury lawyer in Toronto to help you navigate the process. The team at GSK Personal Injury Law has over 15 years of experience in helping people through their personal injury cases. When you’ve just been injured, the last thing you want is to start learning about all of the legalities of your personal injury.
You won’t want to be sitting on the phone arguing with your insurance provider for hours just to get the compensation that you’re entitled to. Allowing your personal injury lawyer to do that for you will make sure that you’ll be spending more time and energy on rehab.
