Pennsylvania T-Bone and Side-Impact Collision Attorney
T-bone accidents, also called side-impact or broadside collisions, occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. These crashes most commonly happen at intersections and are among the most dangerous accident types because car doors and side panels provide far less protection than the front or rear of a vehicle. Siddons Law Firm represents T-bone accident victims across Pennsylvania, fighting to hold red-light runners and negligent drivers accountable.
How T-Bone Accidents Happen
T-bone collisions typically occur when one driver violates another’s right of way. Common scenarios include a driver running a red light and striking a vehicle lawfully proceeding through the intersection, a driver failing to stop at a stop sign and colliding with cross traffic, a driver making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, a driver failing to yield when entering a roadway from a driveway or parking lot, and a driver misjudging the speed of approaching traffic at an uncontrolled intersection. Faulty traffic signals and obscured traffic signs can also contribute to T-bone accidents, potentially creating liability for government entities responsible for traffic control maintenance.
Why Side-Impact Crashes Cause Severe Injuries
The sides of vehicles offer minimal crash protection compared to the front and rear. While front and rear impacts are absorbed by bumpers, crumple zones, and engine compartments, side impacts place occupants just inches from the point of collision. Even vehicles equipped with side-curtain airbags and reinforced door beams cannot fully compensate for the limited distance between the door panel and the occupant. Occupants on the struck side of the vehicle bear the brunt of the impact forces.
Common T-Bone Accident Injuries
T-bone accident victims frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries from the head striking the window or door frame, spinal cord injuries from lateral forces on the spine, broken ribs and punctured lungs from door intrusion, pelvic fractures from armrest and door panel impact, hip and leg injuries particularly for drivers struck on the driver’s side, internal organ damage including liver and spleen lacerations, shoulder and arm injuries on the struck side, and severe cuts and lacerations from shattered window glass.
Proving Fault in T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accident liability typically turns on which driver had the right of way. Insurance companies representing the at-fault driver may dispute who had the green light or who arrived at the stop sign first. Our attorneys establish fault using traffic camera and red-light camera footage, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, witness testimony, vehicle damage patterns indicating point and angle of impact, traffic signal timing data, and accident reconstruction analysis.
Compensation for T-Bone Accident Victims
T-bone accident victims can pursue compensation for all medical expenses and ongoing treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering damages, permanent disability and scarring, property damage, and wrongful death claims for families who lost loved ones.
Contact Our T-Bone Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a T-bone or side-impact collision at a Pennsylvania intersection, contact Siddons Law Firm at (215) 513-2121 for a free consultation. We investigate every intersection accident thoroughly to establish liability and maximize your recovery.