Side Impact Collisions Injury Lawyer
Side-impact collisions, also known as T-bone accidents, often result in
significant damages and harm to drivers and passengers. Second only to
head-on collisions in terms of
accidents that result in serious injuries and fatalities, victims of a side-impact
collision often find themselves in need of
legal services and assistance in order to deal with the aftermath and consequences of
their accident.
A side-impact collision occurs when one vehicle is struck by another moving
in a perpendicular direction. Vehicle occupants are subjected to a sudden
and violent change of momentum which can toss them from side to side.
Safety devices like seatbelts and airbags offer some protection, but may
be ineffective due to the direction of force. Injuries stemming from a
side-impact collision can range from minor sprains and bruises to fractures
and potentially fatal physical trauma that may cause organ damage or even death.
Side-Impact Statistics
In the past two decades, the total number of fatalities caused by frontal
impacts has fallen, while deaths that occur as a result of side-impact
collisions have increased by as much as 20 percent. This trend has been
caused by advances in safety equipment and vehicle design that may be
of benefit in a head-on collision but that are not always able to afford
vehicle occupants the same protection during a side impact. The recent
popularity of larger vehicles, such as SUV's, that have greater total
mass may be a factor as well.
During a side impact, there is only an average of eight inches of steel
providing protection for occupants. These collisions are among the most
deadly for children and are responsible for fully one third of all collision-related
child fatalities. While side-impact airbags found in newer vehicles prevent
trauma to the head and neck, which can occur either due to the direction
of force in a side impact or through impact on the support post or ceiling
of a vehicle, have resulted in an estimated 37 percent reduction to collision
fatalities such equipment is rarely found in older model vehicles.
Common Causes of Side-Impact Collisions
- Running a Red Light
Failure to see or properly respond to a red light leads to many side-impact
collisions. These collisions may be particularly dangerous when drivers
accelerate to higher speeds in an attempt to make it through an intersection
before a light change.
- Failing to Yield at a Turning Lane
Turning across oncoming traffic can be dangerous, and failure to yield
the right of way from a turn lane can easily result in a collision. Drivers
who cut across oncoming traffic illegally rarely escape legal liability
for any accidents which may ensure.
- Turning From the Wrong Lane
Many side-impact collisions are caused by drivers attempting to cut across
another lane when making a turn. Vehicles that may remain in a driver's
blind spot are often not spotted until it is too late.
- Reckless Driving
Reckless and aggressive driving can quickly get out of hand. Drivers who
attempt to use their cars in an unsafe manner in order to prove a point
or intentionally cut off another vehicle often purposely ignore traffic
laws. Attempting to scare or intimidate another driver may lead to a collision,
one in which the aggressor is almost always found to be at fault.
- Distracted Driving
Operating a cell phone or other mobile device while behind the wheel can
be an invitation for disaster. While laws prohibiting the use of phones
and texting while driving are becoming more common, not every driver chooses
to give the road their full attention. Distractions behind the wheel leave
drivers unable to provide the concentration and focus that may be needed
in order to avoid a collision.
Common Injuries Seen in Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact injuries range from minor sprains, bruises and lacerations
commonly seen in a variety of accident to very serious and life-threatening
injuries that are more specifically associated with the direction of force
caused by a side impact. Lacking the additional protection that front
and rear crumple zones afford passengers means that even a low-speed side
impact has the potential to result in extensive trauma and injuries that
may be severe or life-threatening in nature.
- TBI and Cervical Spine Injuries
The trauma to the head and neck side-impact accident victims can easily
sustain are some of the most serious injuries associated with this type
of collision. The lateral force of an impact can fracture the cervical
spine and instances of head impacts on the interior of the vehicle can
easily lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both of these injuries
have the potential to be life-altering events and are often fatal in higher-speed
accidents.
- Organ Damage
There are limits to the amount of force the human body can sustain. While
the rib cage offers some protection for the organs, injuries to the spleen
and left kidney are common to driver's and back-seat passengers seated
on the left side. The amount of kinetic energy vehicle occupants may be
subjected to during a side-impact collision can be more than enough to
damage organs which may result in potentially fatal injuries and internal
hemorrhaging.
The Doan Law Firm Can Help
If you or someone close to you has been the victim of a side-impact collision
or other accident in which you were not at fault, obtaining legal assistance
can be of paramount concern. The guidance, representation and assistance
that only an experienced attorney can provide may be essential for determining
fault and liability, filing a case or suit or ensuing a more favorable
ruling or verdict can be reached. Obtaining financial assistance in order
to cover the costs of damages and medical care can be all but impossible
for those who lack the legal expertise and services that only the best
firms can provide.
Our firm is available 24 hours a day seven days a week to provide clients with
free phone consultations. Clients are not charged a fee unless we win, and our top priority is
customer service and client satisfaction.