Athens T-Bone Accident Lawyer

While dealing with the emotional trauma of being in a T-bone accident, you often have to deal with physical injuries for yourself and your passengers as well as the damage to your vehicle.

If you are involved in a T-bone accident in Athens, you may need a car accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Brady M. Larrison with Larrison Law Firm Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys can help. He has served the residents of Athens and the state of Georgia for more than a decade. He wields experience in a variety of personal injury cases, including T-bone accidents, and is available to review your case.

How Do T-Bone Accidents Happen?

A T-bone accident occurs when one driver fails to yield to another that has the right-of-way. The driver that did not yield crashes into the side of the other vehicle. Many T-bone accidents occur at intersections controlled by a stop sign or traffic light.

For example, a driver may make a left-hand turn because they assume the driver coming in his direction will stop at a yellow light. If the driver goes through the yellow instead of slowing down or coming to a stop, they could hit the car that was making the turn. In some cases, a driver may pass through a stop sign, hitting the side of another vehicle that is proceeding through the intersection.

There are several reasons drivers may behave in dangerous ways that increase the risk of a T-bone accident, including:

• Distracted driving (texting, eating/drinking, paying attention to GPS or smartphone)
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence or otherwise impaired
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Rainy or icy roads

What to Do If You’ve Been T-Boned

It’s important to stay as calm as possible and follow these steps:

• If possible, move to a safe location out of the line of traffic
• Evaluate everyone involved for injuries. If medical attention is needed, call emergency services so that an ambulance can be dispatched, and the victim can be taken to the hospital
• Exchange insurance information with the other party
• File a police report
• Take pictures and videos of the accident and the damage to the vehicle
• If needed, call roadside assistance to have your vehicle towed from the scene
• Contact your insurance company to file an accident claim
• Seek medical attention for yourself, even if you feel fine
• Contact a T-bone accident lawyer to learn about your options for compensation

What Injuries Are Common From T-Bone Collisions?

A T-bone crash can cause significant injuries and can sometimes be fatal.

When you are hit from the front or the back, your vehicle absorbs much of the force from the crash. However, if you are hit from the side, the vehicle doesn’t absorb much of the impact.

Some of the most common injuries sustained from T-bone accidents include:

• Abdominal injuries
• Back injuries
• Bone fractures
• Brain injuries
• Burns
• Chest injuries
• Head/neck injuries
• Organ damage
• Pelvic injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

Many of these injuries require extensive medical treatment and have lifelong consequences. A T-bone collision attorney can help you get the compensation you need to cover these expenses as well as your emotional and financial suffering and more.

How Is Liability Determined in a T-Bone Accident?

Typically, the driver of one of the vehicles is at fault in a T-bone accident. Many times, it is easy to determine fault from a T-bone car accident — it is usually the driver that made an illegal left turn or who went through a stop light or stop sign.

But in formal proceedings, there are four things that a plaintiff must prove in order for the other driver to be held liable for the accident and must provide compensation. These points are:

• The other driver had a duty to behave reasonably behind the wheel
• The other driver was negligent, engaging in dangerous behaviors while driving
• The accident was a result of said negligence
• The accident caused harm

Most of the time, if these things can be proven, the victim can pursue compensation from the other driver.

Sometimes, neither driver is at fault. In some cases, it may be due to road conditions, faulty traffic equipment, poorly placed stop signs, or a defect in the vehicle. In the case of traffic signals and signage, the government could be held liable. In the case of a vehicle defect, the manufacturer of the vehicle may be held responsible for the crash and resulting injuries.

The best way to determine T-bone car accident fault is to contact a T-bone collision attorney to have your case evaluated.

How a T-Bone Accident Lawyer Can Help

A T-bone accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. The most common damages included in car accident claims are:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

If your loved one was killed in a T-bone crash, wrongful death may also be included as part of the damages.

If you or a loved one are involved in a T-bone crash in Athens, contact us at Larrison Law Firm Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney. Brady M. Larrison will evaluate your case to help you identify whoever may be responsible and seek fair and reasonable compensation from them.