Who Is At Fault In A Car Accident T-Bone

Who Is At Fault In A Car Accident T-Bone

T-bone collisions are often devastating for every party involved, particularly for passengers inside of the vehicle that sustained the side impact. As with any other vehicle accident, it is crucial to determine who was at fault so that compensation can be apportioned out appropriately. As harsh as it seems, it is important to take the severity of the incident out of the equation when determining fault.

Whether a person sustains an injury or comes away from a crash completely unharmed has no bearing on fault. Here, we want to discuss how fault is determined in the aftermath of a T-bone accident in California.

T-bone accidents often result in severe injuries

T-bone accidents are also referred to as broadside collisions, and they can occur in a variety of ways. In general, T-bone collisions often result in severe injuries, particularly for those who are stuck on the side directly impacted by the oncoming vehicle. Individuals often do not have much protection between themselves, their vehicle frame, and the other vehicle involved. It is not uncommon for a T-bone collision in California to lead to victims sustaining the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Open head wounds
• Spinal cord trauma
• Other severe neck or back injury
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Severe bruising
• Broken or dislocated bones

Determining fault for a T-bone collision in California

These accidents occur in a variety of ways, but they usually happen when one driver fails to yield the right of way to another driver. Some of the most common scenarios that lead to T-bone accidents include the following:

• A driver turning left at an intersection into oncoming traffic
• A driver running a red light and colliding with another vehicle going through the intersection
• A driver running a stop sign and colliding with another vehicle

These crashes regularly occur because of the inattentiveness of one driver. However, there are various contributing factors that could increase the likelihood of a T-bone collision occurring. This can include drivers becoming distracted by their cell phones or other devices as well as drivers who are fatigued behind the wheel. Any driver who is impaired by alcohol or drugs is also at higher risk of causing a T-bone collision.

Understanding how a T-bone collision occurred and proving it are two different things. Insurance carriers will need various types of evidence in order to determine fault and pay out compensation to victims. Some of the most common evidence used in these cases includes:

• The official police report
• Statements from any eyewitnesses
• Statements from any drivers or passengers
• Video surveillance available from nearby cameras
• Photographs were taken at the scene of the crash
• Vehicle “black box” data
• Mobile device data

An attorney may be necessary

Regardless of how clear the fault may be to those involved, it is not uncommon for the insurance carrier of the at-fault party to delay or deny a claim altogether. Any victim of a T-bone accident should work with a skilled OC car accident attorney who can help them through this process. An attorney can use their resources to fully investigate the claim, obtain any evidence needed to prove liability, and negotiate with aggressive insurance carriers.