Ventura T-Bone Car Accident Attorney

T-bone collisions typically involve two vehicles – with one vehicle’s front colliding into the side of the other. The passengers or the driver on the side of the impact are the most vulnerable to injuries and fatalities in T-bone car accidents; however, anyone in the car accident can be severely injured. 

Safety features within vehicles, such as seatbelts or airbags, help but may not be enough to prevent injuries in T-bone car accidents. Suffering injuries in a T-bone collision that was not your fault could make you entitled to compensation for your damages. A Ventura car accident attorney from the King Law Firm can help you navigate the process of obtaining compensation.

Common Injuries in T-Bone Accidents 

• Head Injuries: Injuries to the head are common in T-bone car accidents. The violent impact of a T-bone collision can cause the victim to hit their head on the dashboard, steering wheel, window, or other parts of the vehicle. 
• Neck Injuries: T-bone accidents can cause injuries to the neck, such as soft tissue damage or whiplash, which is caused by the sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement of the head. 
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Side impact collisions can exert extreme force on the spine, causing it to bend, rupture, or bulge. It can lead to severe injuries, such as paralysis.  
• Dislocation: Dislocated joints in the knee, elbow, or shoulders are common injuries in T-bone car accidents. Major dislocation injuries may require surgery. 
• Lacerations: The broken shards of glass due to the accident’s impact or any sharp object can cut through the skin, resulting in lacerations. 
• Nerve Damage: The nerves can become compressed or pinched due to the accident’s impact, resulting in pain, immobility, and other symptoms. 

Determining Fault in a T-Bone Collision 

Generally, liability in T-bone car accidents depends on which motorist had the right of way and which motorist violated the traffic rules. In most cases, the driver who did not have the right of way is at fault for the T-bone car accident. However, both drivers can also be at fault. 

To determine fault in a T-bone collision, insurance companies and judges consider the available evidence in the case, such as the police report of the accident, medical records, and CCTV footage. The police report can also contain eyewitness statements about how the accident occurred and which party violated traffic rules. Attorneys and insurance companies can also conduct investigations to gather additional evidence to determine fault in T-bone accidents.

What To Do If You Got in a T-Bone Car Accident? 

Get to a Safe Area and Assess Your Injuries  

After getting involved in a T-bone collision, if you can, you should get out of the vehicle and move to a safe area. Once you are out of the vehicle, you can check to see if you are injured. 

Due to the shock of the accident and the adrenaline rushing through your body, you may not feel pain or other symptoms right after the accident. Still, you can check for any apparent signs of injuries, such as scarring, bruising, or lacerations. 

The most crucial step is to seek medical attention right after the accident. Even if you feel fine, you should get a check-up so the doctors can determine if there are any delayed injuries. In addition, having a record of medical expenses would prevent the insurance company from downplaying your injuries and devaluing your settlement.  You should not leave the scene of the accident unless you need to get emergency medical treatment. 

Call 911

If you had passengers in the vehicle who suffered injuries, too, you should call the local authorities. Even if it was a minor accident, California law requires residents to inform the police right after the accident. 

The police can make a detailed report of the accident, including the contact information of everyone involved and witness statements. This report could be used as sufficient evidence during settlement negotiations or a personal injury lawsuit.  

Call for Roadside Assistance 

After you are in stable condition, you can check the damage done to your vehicle. Suppose your vehicle was totaled during the accident, or you are unable to drive due to your injuries. In that case, you can call a towing company to move your vehicle to a repair shop or another safe location where you can pick it up later. 

Inform Your Insurance Company 

Whether you are at fault or not, you should notify your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. Do not agree to any settlement amount when communicating with the insurance company of the liable party, as you might be offered an unreasonably low offer. 

Gather Evidence at the Accident Site 

If another driver is liable for the accident, they may try to flee the scene, so remember to take a photo of their vehicle’s license plate. You may also want to take photos and videos of the accident site and vehicle damage to use them as evidence in your insurance claim or lawsuit. 

When the police have created the report, you can ask for a copy. You can also gather the insurance and contact information of the other driver involved in the collision. 

Types of Damages in T-Bone Accidents 

Economic Losses

• Medical expenses 
• Rehabilitation costs 
• Loss of income due to injuries 
• Loss of earning potential due to disability 
• Modification to home or vehicle 
• Property loss or damage. 

Non-Economic Losses

• Emotional pain due to loss of quality of life. 
• Humiliation and reputational damage. 
• Loss of enjoyment of life due to disability or disfigurement. 

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Ventura, CA 

Objective decisions are difficult to make right after the accident when you are already dealing with serious injuries, which is why you should hire a Ventura T-bone car accident attorney. You can contact our law firm at the King Law Firm to schedule a consultation with our personal injury lawyer in Ventura, CA. 

Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience dealing with similar cases, so they know how to tackle the bad faith tactics of the insurance company and prevent them from lowballing your claim. Personal injury cases can take several months or years to reach a verdict, but an attorney can expedite the process. We look forward to hearing from you.