T-bone (also called side impact) accidents can result in severe injuries. In fact, this type of collision accounts for 23% of deaths in car crashes. If you sustained injuries or lost a loved one in a T-bone accident, you can try to recover damages.
By choosing to work with a Henderson T-bone accident lawyer, you are increasing your chances of obtaining fair compensation. Having an experienced attorney by your side can help you take the right steps toward damage recovery. Our legal team at Pacific West Injury Law helps accident victims get the money they deserve, so call us for a free case review.
Who Is Responsible for a T-bone Accident?
Determining who is at fault for a T-bone accident is integral to the success of your case. Usually, these collisions happen when one driver doesn’t give another one the right of way. The responsible parties may be:
- Another driver – The driver runs the red light and crashes into another vehicle or makes a left-hand turn into a passing car.
- Pedestrian – A jaywalking pedestrian could interfere with the traffic and cause drivers to avoid them by swerving and crashing.
- Manufacturer – If faulty spare parts that a manufacturer installs in a vehicle interfere with safe driving, the company could be responsible.
- Employer – If the at-fault driver was working (e.g. carrier or bus driver), their employer is responsible for covering damages.
- Government – In rare cases, the local government that failed to maintain or repair the road properly could be held responsible. For example, a driver had to swerve to avoid a pothole and hit another vehicle.
In some cases, multiple parties can be responsible for a side-impact accident. To determine their fault, you would need to prove their negligence. Doing this without professional legal assistance could be complicated.
How do I Prove Negligence in a T-Bone Accident?
To prove negligence in a T-bone accident, you can use:
- Evidence (photos, videos, police reports)
- Eyewitness testimonies
- Expert witness testimonies
- Proof of treating injuries that you sustained in the accident.
These materials are necessary to demonstrate the following four aspects of negligence:
- The legal duty of care to the victim – When it comes to car accidents, this duty doesn’t usually need additional proof. Each driver has a legal duty to act responsibly on the road.
- Failure to exercise this duty – To recover damages, you would need to show that the at-fault party breached the abovementioned duty. Breaking traffic laws, acting unreasonably, distracted driving, and similar behavior signifies the breach of the legal duty of care on the road.
- The connection between the breach and damages – You have to be ready to demonstrate exactly how the breach of duty resulted in the damages you incurred. For example, the driver practiced distracted driving, ran a stop sign, and T-boned your vehicle, breaking your arm.
- Evidence of damages – To obtain compensation, you have to show what exactly you want to be compensated for. So, if you broke your arm, you need to provide medical bills that confirm the broken bone treatment.
It may seem that proving negligence in a T-bone accident is easy, especially if the at-fault driver broke a traffic law. However, in some cases, the fault for the accident can be distributed among several traffic participants.
Comparative Liability in Nevada
According to Nevada Revised Statutes §41.141, you have an opportunity to recover damages even if you are partially responsible for the accident. This law allows you to collect compensation if your fault in the accident is less than the fault of another party (or multiple parties together).
For example, driver A runs a stop sign and T-bones driver B’s vehicle. Both drivers sustain injuries. If driver A can prove that driver B saw another vehicle but failed to get out of the way due to being distracted (e.g. talking on the phone), the judge may distribute the blame.
If the judge decides that driver A is 90% responsible while driver B is 10% responsible, driver B can only recover 90% of damages. Meanwhile, driver A can’t recover anything since their fault is more than 50%.
What Compensation Can I Expect in a T-Bone Car Accident?
If you and your T-bone accident lawyer can prove another party’s negligence, you can claim substantial damages, including:
- Economic damages – Any damages that you sustained due to the car accident can be covered. They can include medical bills, at-home care expenses, car repair bills, therapy, lost wages, and even damages you may incur in the future. (e.g. long-term medical treatment or wages lost due to a disability).
- Non–economic damages – These damages include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of consortium, loss of support, and loss of enjoyment of life, both right now and in the future.
- Punitive damages – The judge may decide to award punitive damages in case the at-fault party acted outrageously. While these damages are awarded to punish the defendant and not to compensate the victim, the plaintiff still receives the money.
The final amount you receive depends on many factors including:
- The severity of your injuries
- The driver’s insurance coverage limits
- The quality of your evidence
- The distribution of fault
You can improve your chances of getting higher compensation by working with a Henderson T-bone accident attorney.
Why do I Need a Henderson T-Bone Accident Lawyer?
You don’t have a legal obligation to hire a T-bone accident attorney in Henderson. However, without one, you could have problems with collecting evidence, obtaining witness testimonies, negotiating with insurance companies, taking the case to court (if necessary), and receiving proper compensation.
The at-fault party’s insurance company and legal assistants will work hard to counter your arguments, affect fault distribution, and minimize payouts. By putting a lawyer in your corner, you can put up a better fight.
Call Pacific West Injury Law Today
If you’ve been injured in a side-impact accident, you could be entitled to sizable compensation. To improve your chances of getting the money you deserve, consider hiring an attorney.
A T-bone accident lawyer in Henderson can help. Contact us to discuss your options today.
