People involved in side-impact collisions, also commonly known as broadside or T-bone collisions, often suffer severe injuries because cars generally have fewer safety features on their sides. If you were involved in a side-impact crash, you may face serious physical, mental, and financial consequences from that crash for a long time, necessitating the help of a local car crash attorney. A monetary settlement from the driver responsible for your injuries could help ease some of your financial burdens allowing you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery with the assistance of a local car wreck attorney. Let a skilled Kenneth City side-impact car accident lawyer work hard to obtain the best possible compensation for your case.
Why are Broadside Collisions so Dangerous?
Side-impact crashes occur when the front of one car crashes into another car’s side, creating a T shape with the two vehicles. A broadside collision generally occurs when an at-fault driver fails to yield the right of way to another driver. These accidents commonly occur at intersections when an at-fault driver fails to stop at a stop sign or red light. They also frequently occur in parking lots or at any time when a driver merges into traffic.
In front-end and rear-end collisions, the bumpers, hood, trunk, and the front airbags all shield people from the direct impact of an oncoming car but there is often much less to protect a person on the broadside of most passenger vehicles. While some newer models have side-impact safety bars and side-curtain airbags, in many cars, the door itself is the only form of protection from a sideswiping car. In cases where a larger vehicle such as a truck or SUV crash into the side of a smaller vehicle, the results could be catastrophic.
What Kind of Injuries Commonly Occur after a Sideswiping Accident?
Because cars do not offer much safety protection, people may suffer serious injuries in broadside collisions. Some of the compensable injuries that passengers commonly experience includes:
- Neck or spinal cord damage, ranging from minor whiplash to total paralysis
- Brain injuries, ranging from minor concussions to permanent brain damage
- Broken bones
- Leg and lower extremity injuries
- Abdominal and other internal injuries
- Facial disfigurement and scarring
- Post-traumatic stress and other emotional disorders
- Death
Although the people located closest to the impact clearly incur the most harm, people situated on both the struck and un-hit side of a car may suffer injuries in a broadside collision. The rate of speed of the hitting car can influence the severity of the injuries. It is essential to speak with an experienced local attorney as soon as possible after the crash while a witness’s memories of the accident are still fresh. A skilled Kenneth City sideswipe wreck attorney could work to reconstruct the scene of the accident to better understand what happened by reviewing police reports, looking at any video footage from surveillance or traffic cameras, and interviewing eyewitnesses.
What Damages Could a Victim Recover in Kenneth City?
Claimants can pursue recovery for all of their actual expenses that they suffered in the accident. This means that they can seek compensation for all of their medical costs, as well as for any lost wages and future lost income that they suffer if they are unable to work temporarily or permanently as a result of the injuries that they sustained in the accident. Claimants could also pursue compensation for their non-economic losses such as pain and suffering or reduced enjoyment of life.
Let a Local Lawyer Help You
Car accident cases are not easy to manage. They require attention to many different legal matters, and many different players such as witnesses, police officers, doctors, and insurance companies. Put your faith in the hands of a qualified Kenneth City side-impact car accident lawyer to compassionately and skillfully handle your case. Call today to schedule a consultation for your case.