When one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle, severe injuries can result. The side panels are the weakest part of a car or truck, and a collision at high speeds can collapse the doors and side panels onto the occupants inside.
When a failure to take reasonable care causes a side-impact/T-Bone car accident in Reno, contact one of the experienced motor vehicle crash lawyers at Shook & Stone. They can help you manage your medical care and bills while investigating the crash and compiling evidence so that you can claim compensation from the parties who caused you harm.
Typical Injuries from Side-Impact Collisions
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that T-Bone accidents account for almost a quarter of fatal vehicle collisions. Even with side-impact airbags, the damage to a vehicle’s side panel when another vehicle crashes into it can cause devastating injuries.
Every accident is different, and the injuries someone suffers depend on:
- The make and model of the vehicle they are in
- The size and weight of the other vehicle
- Each vehicle’s speed when the collision occurred
- The passenger’s position and posture at the moment of impact.
Our Reno T-Bone crash attorneys at Shook & Stone commonly represent people who have suffered injuries that include:
- Lost teeth
- Broken bones
- Traumatic amputations
- Disfiguring facial injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Eye injuries causing blindness
- Moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries
- PTSD or other trauma-related psychological injuries
- Hyperextension of the neck and shoulders (whiplash)
- Crushing injuries of the torso causing damage to the internal organs
Even the least severe of these injuries could cause lingering symptoms that take months to resolve, and many injuries from T-Bone accidents are permanent.
Compensation from a car accident claim includes reimbursement for your hospital and doctor bills. If you are having trouble paying them in the meantime, a legal professional often can negotiate a lien in which the healthcare provider agrees to collect their fees from the proceeds of a claim against the at-fault driver or other negligent parties.
Determining Who Is Responsible for a T-Bone Accident
Side-impact auto collisions in Reno often happen when one driver tries to beat a light or flies through a stop sign. They also occur when a driver fails to yield the right-of-way when merging, pulling out of a driveway or parking lot, or making a turn.
Under Nevada’s system, the insurance company for the at-fault driver must pay the losses of anyone injured in the accident. In many cases, it is relatively easy to identify which driver is at fault in a side-impact wreck. However, sometimes others also contribute to an accident.
For example, you might hold a local government responsible if a malfunctioning stoplight or poorly designed road played a role in the accident. If the at-fault driver was drunk, a restaurant or bar that served them might have liability for your injuries. When faulty brakes or steering lead to an accident, you can hold the manufacturer responsible. Shook & Stone attorneys are skilled at accident investigation and will identify as many responsible parties as possible to ensure you receive appropriate compensation.
Establishing Negligence Triggers Responsibility to Pay Compensation
When you bring a claim for compensation in a Reno side-impact or T-Bone car accident case, you must prove the other party is responsible. You must show that they were negligent and that the negligence was a direct cause of your injuries.
Negligence means failing to use the same degree of caution and care that a reasonably careful person would have under similar circumstances. If the police wrote a driver a ticket after the wreck, the ticket is evidence of negligence. Our proactive attorneys will also look at video footage, review witness statements, and engage accident reconstruction experts to determine whose negligence contributed to the accident.
If you were negligent—perhaps you were speeding or delayed getting your worn brakes replaced—you can still collect damages in many cases. According to Nevada Revised Statute § 41.141, you can collect reduced compensation from other negligent parties if you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. It is always worth consulting a qualified legal professional about whether you have a viable claim.
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Contact Our Reno Attorneys After a Side-Impact/T-Bone Car Accident
A severe automobile crash can leave you in pain, disabled, and unable to work or engage in your normal routine for months, or even forever. The people, companies, or governments who contributed to the wreck are legally obligated to compensate you for your losses.
When you or your family member is hurt in a side-impact/T-Bone car accident in Reno, call the offices of Shook & Stone right away. Our skilled injury attorneys can help ensure the responsible parties pay for the harm they caused you.
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