A T-bone accident happens when the front of a vehicle collides with the side of another. This type of accident can be one of the most dangerous kinds of collisions because there is less protection on the side of the vehicle compared to the front or rear.
Bert McDowell Injury Law has been working with the Bridgeport community for years, aiding countless auto accident claimants through their journey to a fresh chapter in their finances. The process can be unnerving to tackle alone, but a claimant can settle their claim with confidence, knowing that they are fighting for the highest value possible when they utilize the resources of a lawyer.
Your initial consultation with an attorney from Bert McDowell Injury Law is completely free and will cost you $0 in upfront fees. Our firm serves clients on contingency for auto accident claim representation, meaning that we don’t get paid until your claim settles.
Book an initial appointment with a Bridgeport car accident attorney to chart a strong course of action for damage recovery and review any concerns that are worrying you about litigation. To schedule your free case review, call (203) 590-9169 or contact us online today.
What Common Mistakes Can a Bridgeport T-Bone Accident Attorney Help Me Avoid?
A car crash will happen in the blink of an eye, and the immediate moments that follow will have an outsized effect on a victim’s claim.
An accident victim can make a variety of mistakes when preparing to file for a damage recovery settlement after a T-Bone collision, but having an experienced attorney on hand to guide you through the complexities can help you prevent falling into any common traps.
When a claimant is at the beginning of the process of recovering a T-Bone car accident settlement, some of the most common mistakes they can make include:
- Admitting fault or even apologizing for the accident: It can almost be an instinct for some people to apologize after a traumatic incident like a car accident. Even if you personally believe you hold no responsibility for the accident, apologizing can still be damaging to the full value of your claim.
- Trusting the liable party’s insurer: When a claimant initially files an auto accident claim, they’ll be assigned an insurance adjuster who is responsible for settling the damages for which the company’s insured driver is liable. These representatives may seem like they have the best intentions, but they have no obligation to help you maximize the benefits of your claim. In fact, they are encouraged to settle for as little as possible — or to deny the claim entirely for any reasons available.
- Waiting too long in between steps: The process of settling an insurance claim can be lengthy, and managing each individual task can be time-consuming for an accident victim. Every state puts a statute of limitations on filing an insurance claim, and waiting too long in between each step of the process can jeopardize the claim’s validity.
How Do T-Bone Accidents Happen?
A T-bone accident, otherwise known as a broadside or side-impact crash, happens when one motorist collides head-on with the side of another vehicle. These accidents can have a dangerously severe impact on the victim and their family. When looking at motor vehicle crash statistics, angle-impact crashes, such as T-Bone accidents, have the highest fatality rate.
Many T-bone accidents happen at an intersection. The NHTSA reports that intersections are a common environment for accidents because of the fact that two or even more roads are crossing each other, and activities, such as turning and switching lanes, can lead to a risk of colliding with another vehicle.
What Driving Errors Often Contribute to T-Bone Accidents?
Traffic laws are strict to keep all motorists on the road as safe as possible. Simple actions like making a left turn without looking for oncoming traffic can lead to a T-bone accident and cause serious harm to the passengers involved.
According to the NHTSA, T-bone accidents make up about 25% of all vehicle collisions every year. These crashes mostly occur due to driver error and are less likely to be caused by a factor such as the weather or vehicle malfunction.
The following are some of the most consistent factors that contribute to T-bone accidents:
- Turning without a clear view
- Not looking around adequately before turning
- Assuming another driver’s intentions
- Running traffic lights or stop signs
- Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle
- Illegally passing
What Can a Bridgeport T-Bone Accident Attorney Do to Protect My Claim?
T-bone accidents can result in serious injuries that will affect the accident victim’s ability to go about their daily routine.
If you have been injured by another motorist in a t-bone car accident, an attorney may be able to help you seek compensation for your damages. Facing the bills from your accident as they pile up can be an overwhelming sight, but an attorney can be your advocate through financial recovery.
Instead of trying to juggle the tasks of your financial recovery and the attention that your physical recovery requires, lighten your load of responsibilities by retaining a trusted Bridgeport T-bone car accident attorney to be your eyes and ears throughout the litigation.
During the course of your auto accident claim, while you are recovering from the impact of a T-Bone car accident, your Bridgeport personal injury attorney can:
- Offer legal advice and professional guidance: Throughout the course of your T-bone car accident claim, you may come up with questions or develop concerns and will need a professional to lean on for support. Without an attorney, you’ll be left to search around for answers and may encounter misleading information or information that isn’t in the best interests of your specific case.
- Provide an accurate valuation of your damages: It can be unnerving to see the bills pile up from your auto accident, but an attorney can help you understand exactly what debts you’ve incurred and even predict what expenses you may face later. This comprehensive valuation of your damages will help your attorney understand if your claim’s value is truly being accounted for in a settlement.
- Investigate claims of negligence: In order to recover a settlement from another entity for your injuries and other damages resulting from an auto accident, you and your attorney must prove that the allegedly negligent party is truly liable for your expenses.
- Negotiate a final settlement on your behalf: Even after coming up with an accurate estimate of your total damages from the accident, you must negotiate the settlement figure with the liable party’s insurer. A Bridgeport highway accident attorney can take over this nerve-wracking task and will combat any lowball offers that leave you with out-of-pocket expenses.
- Prepare your case for a formal lawsuit: In most cases, a T-bone car accident claim will be the most efficient way to recover a settlement for the damages you sustained after an accident, but in special circumstances or cases where both parties cannot agree on a settlement amount, a formal lawsuit may be necessary.
What Can the Victim of a T-Bone Accident Recover From an Insurance Claim Settlement?
Every auto accident claim will look different, but a claimant can expect to recover a variation of economic (objective losses) and non-economic (non-tangible losses) damages.
When a T-bone car accident victim is seeking compensation for damages incurred in an auto collision, their settlement may consist of reimbursement for damages such as:
- Medical bills, including the cost of continued treatment
- Lost wages and compensation for wages lost due to limited working ability in the future
- Property damage, such as vehicle repair or replacement
- Emotional suffering, like mental anguish or the loss of a companion
Common Injuries Sustained From Side Impact Car Accidents
The injuries that result from a side-impact accident can be severe because there is less protection on the sides of the vehicle than there is at the front or the rear. When treating T-bone accident victims, some of the most commonly reported injuries that medical professionals see include:
- Broken clavicle and dislocated shoulder
- Broken ribs and internal bleeding/bruising
- Pelvic fractures and other lumbar injuries
- Skull fractures and TBIs
- Broken arms and legs
- Internal injuries like tearing
If You Have Been Injured in a Recent Accident, Call a Bridgeport T-Bone Accident Law Firm
A T-bone car accident can be a terrifying experience for the victim, and the resulting injuries may leave them with long-lasting or permanent limitations. In cases where a T-bone accident left the victim with physical or financial burdens, an attorney can help recover a settlement that accounts for the debts they have taken on.
The ins and outs of claim management can feel complex, especially when a claimant has little to no experience with the process. Your attorney will look out for your best interests during the course of your claim by preventing the liable party from getting away with presenting lowball offers and undervaluing your claim.
These are standard tactics that an insurance adjuster may attempt, but your attorney will know how to combat these strategies.
Bert McDowell Injury Law has associates standing by to help you schedule an initial consultation. If you have any questions leading up to your appointment with an attorney, keep a list to talk about in your meeting.
Your attorney is your professional advocate through litigation and can offer insight and advice where applicable. To schedule your free case review, call (203) 590-9169 or contact us online today.
(203) 690-1030
