Of all the possible points of impact a driver’s vehicle can be hit in a collision, a T-bone is one of the most dangerous. Despite modernization and improved vehicle safety standards, the side of a car has the smallest amount of surface area between the driver and a colliding truck.
A St. Augustine side-impact truck accident lawyer could help you if you were injured in such an incident. With the help and experience of a local semi-truck crash attorney, you may be able to find the financial assistance you need to recover from your medical and psychological damages that arose from this event.
Common Factors From a T-Bone Truck Accident
While there is no blueprint for how a T-bone might occur, they most typically happen when two roads intersect. The potential is highest when a passenger car is in the intersection while a truck simultaneously enters without the right of way. Factors that commonly lead to side-impact collisions include:
- Speeding through an intersection
- Running a red light
- Rolling stops
- Turning across traffic
- Distracted, inexperienced, or intoxicated driving
Typical Side Impact Injuries
T-bone accidents between an 18-wheeler and an everyday passenger car often result in traumatic injuries due to the sheer differences in size. Common injuries the plaintiff and their passengers can suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries. The force of the collision can cause a driver’s head to strike the window or other objects
- Lacerations, fractures, and broken bones. Most frequently a broken femur, hip or pelvis
- Lacerations
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and temporary or lifelong paralysis
A plaintiff should be sure to provide a side impact truck accident lawyer from St. Augustine with an accurate account of the full extent of their injuries. All trauma, both physical and psychological, that the plaintiff suffered as a result of the accident may be able to be pursued in a court of law.
Time to File a Claim
While a plaintiff may be busy focusing on their physical and psychological well-being after undergoing such a traumatic experience, they must keep in mind that they only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. Under Florida Statutes §95.11(3)(a), a plaintiff has four years from the day of their accident to file an action for negligence.
This statute of limitations acts as a legal timer that begins ticking from the date of the incident. Any action brought after this statutory period has expired will likely be dismissed by the court after a motion by the defendant. A St. Augustine side-impact truck accident attorney can help the plaintiff to avoid this and other procedural issues that can adversely affect their case.
Reach Out to a St. Augustine Side Impact Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you are living with mental and psychological damage after being struck by a semi-truck, your life may be permanently affected for the worse. A St. Augustine side-impact truck accident lawyer may be able to help you find justice.
A local lawyer could sit down with you to discuss your situation and represent you in a lawsuit to seek damages for your financial losses. To learn what may be legally possible with your claim, reach out to an attorney today.
