Arlington Heights T-Bone Collision Attorneys

Causes of T-Bone Collisions

T-bone accidents are often the result of negligent or reckless driving. Common forms of negligence that can cause a driver to collide with another vehicle from the side include:

• Running Red Lights or Stop Signs: Drivers may not pay attention to traffic signals, or they may ignore stop signs and proceed through an intersection without checking to make sure it is clear of traffic. When drivers speed up to make it through intersections before a traffic light turns red, they could strike other vehicles that are proceeding through the intersection or making legal turns.
• Failing to Yield: Drivers are required to yield to vehicles that have the right of way in an intersection. If a person turns in front of another vehicle or proceeds through an intersection when they do not have the right of way, they may cause a collision.
• Distracted Driving: Looking away from the road to send a text, adjust environmental controls, or pay attention to other distractions can cause a driver to fail to notice an approaching vehicle, or they may fail to notice that a traffic light has changed. If they proceed through an intersection that is not clear, they may cause a dangerous collision.
• Speeding: When driving at excessive speeds, drivers may be unable to stop in time at intersections, and they may crash into cross traffic.
• Impaired Driving: Due to the ways drugs or alcohol can affect reaction times, intoxication can limit a driver's ability to respond to traffic on the road. A person's judgment will also be affected, leading them to take dangerous actions such as running red lights. These issues can significantly increase the risks of dangerous T-bone accidents.

How T-Bone Accidents Affect Victims

The injuries sustained in T-bone collisions can be severe due to the lack of structural protection on the sides of vehicles. Even in modern cars that are equipped with side airbags and reinforced panels, protective measures are often insufficient against the force of a broadside impact, especially when larger vehicles such as SUVs or trucks are involved.

Common injuries from T-bone accidents include:

• Brain Injuries: During the impact, a person may strike their head on a window, the vehicle's interior, or other objects. This can lead to serious injuries that may have physical, emotional, neurological, and cognitive effects.
• Spinal Injuries: A person may experience a direct impact with another vehicle, which may cause serious damage to the back and spine. When the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, a victim may experience partial or total paralysis.
• Fractures and Crushed Bones: A person's arms, legs, ribs, hips, or other parts of their body may be damaged in a side impact. When arms or legs are crushed by the structure of a vehicle, amputations may be necessary.
• Internal Injuries: Organs such as the lungs, liver, or spleen can be damaged in a collision. When the damage to organs cannot be repaired, a person's life may be at risk.
• Severe Lacerations and Contusions: Shattered glass and flying can cause additional injuries. Some people may experience life-threatening blood loss, or injuries may cause permanent scars, leading to disfigurement.