Broadside accidents, often referred to as T-bone collisions, are among the most dangerous you can experience. Injuries are likely to be severe or even fatal, and determining liability is often a challenge due to the complexity of these collisions.

As you grapple with a damaged or totaled vehicle and significant injuries, it’s important that you take steps to protect your legal rights. Our team of car accident lawyers can help you pursue the compensation you are owed. Call Delius & McKenzie to schedule a consultation immediately.

What is a broadside accident?

A broadside accident involves one driver striking the side of another car with the front of their car. They are called T-bone accidents because the cars form the shape of a “T” when they collide. These types of accidents may occur in a variety of settings, but you’ll see them most commonly at intersections guided by traffic lights, in parking lots, and at intersections with stop signs. They’re often the result of one driver ignoring right-of-way rules or simply not paying attention. For example, one driver may cross through the intersection on a green light. A driver coming from the left or right may ignore or not see the red light, causing them to run through the red light and strike the other vehicle. At an intersection with stop signs, drivers may ignore the stop signs or not realize that traffic coming from the left or right does not have a stop sign.

Why broadside collisions are so dangerous

Broadside accidents are unique in the danger they cause to drivers and other vehicle occupants. There is minimal protection on the side of vehicles, compared to the protection provided by the front and back. Those on the side of the vehicle that is struck are at the greatest risk, but even those on the opposite side can suffer severe injuries. If the vehicle that’s struck is top-heavy—for example, a pickup truck—there’s even a chance that it will roll over.

Another danger posed by T-bone collisions is their location. Intersections are one of the worst places you can have a car accident. If everything goes perfectly, every other driver going through the intersection will see the accident and take appropriate evasive action to avoid the crash. In reality, you’ll likely have at least one driver who isn’t paying attention and either strikes the existing car accident or causes another accident trying to swerve out of the way. One already-serious accident can quickly turn into a pileup.

Your first steps after an accident

It is absolutely crucial that you take immediate action after an accident to protect your rights, prevent further injury, and fight for compensation.

First, call emergency services. They will tell you what to do next. Usually, they will have you move out of the intersection and to a safe place if at all possible. However, because these accidents are so dangerous, there’s a good chance that one or both vehicles are too unsafe to drive or attempt to move. In that case, you’ll likely need to evacuate to the nearest sidewalk with the other vehicle occupants.

When the police arrive, describe the facts of the crash as clearly and accurately as possible. Avoid guessing what you think happened or trying to explain the behaviors of the other driver. Be clear and concise. Ensure that your side of the story is told and included in the police report.

From here, it is essential to get checked out by a medical professional. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you can go to the emergency room, an urgent care clinic, or a general practitioner. Get medical records for all of the care you receive and keep copies for your attorney.

Your next step is to call a car accident lawyer in Tennessee. You could be entitled to compensation, but a lot depends on the records and evidence you have, the circumstances of your accident, and how quickly you take legal action.

Determining fault and pursuing compensation

It can be very difficult to determine fault in T-bone accidents, which is one reason we recommend connecting with a car accident lawyer as early as possible in the process. Fault largely depends on who had the right-of way.

Why is this so difficult, then? It’s very common for both parties to claim they had the right-of-way. Even in cases that should be clear cut—there’s a red light or only one side has a stop sign—both parties are likely to claim that the law was in their favor. The challenge, then, is to prove which side had the green light at the time of the accident.

Eyewitnesses can be very helpful in cases like these. If there are drivers on one side or the other who can verify which side had the green light, that makes it much easier to cut through the noise and figure out who is in the right.

Compensation varies, depending on the extent of your losses and how well you document them. Accident victims are often entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other financial losses they’ve suffered as a result of the accident. The more thoroughly you track your expenses and losses, the easier it will be to demand fair compensation from the at-fault party.

Get the help you need—call our team today

When you work with the car accident lawyers at Delius & McKenzie, you can feel confident knowing that we will fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. Let’s talk about your broadside accident and how it has affected you. Call us or fill out our online contact form to set up a time to discuss your case with our team.