Side-impact collisions, also known as broadside or T-bone accidents, can often be serious or fatal for the occupants of the car that gets hit. T-bone accidents account for more than half of all auto accidents and are responsible for around 9,000 deaths every year. Because these accidents can be so catastrophic, insurance companies will either try to settle quickly with accident victims before they get a lawyer, or they will try to avoid paying the full amount of the claim by shifting blame for the accident onto the victim, along with other tactics. Don’t try to settle your case on your own or accept less than your claim is worth. Instead, talk to an experienced Atlanta T-bone accident attorney who can help you get the care and compensation you need to deal with the significant costs and challenges a T-bone accident can bring. In Atlanta, call Durham Law Group at 404-845-3434 for a free consultation.

What Causes T-bone Accidents in Atlanta?

A T-bone accident occurs when the front of one car strikes another on its broadside, creating a T shape when looking at the two vehicles. The most common cause of a T-bone crash is that a negligent driver speeds through an intersection trying to beat a yellow light or ignores traffic signals altogether and collides with another vehicle already in the intersection coming from the cross-street. T-bone collisions can also happen when a car executes a left-hand turn at an intersection or any point along a city street, rural road, or undivided highway, and the car gets struck by an oncoming vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Similarly, a driver who pulls out into the street from a side street, driveway, alleyway, or parking lot can get broadsided by an oncoming vehicle. If you need a T-bone accident lawyer in Atlanta, contact Durham Law Group today.

Why Are T-Bone Crashes Often So Serious or Deadly?

T-bone accidents are incredibly dangerous and are even more often fatal than head-on collisions. Many factors combine to make broadside collisions especially dangerous. For one, the way automobiles are designed makes the occupants much more vulnerable to a side impact than a frontal or rear collision. Vehicle occupants are protected in the front and rear by the engine block, trunk space, and crumple zones specifically designed to absorb the shock of an impact and protect the people inside. Crashes to the front of the car will also trigger airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger, a safety feature standard in all new cars for more than 20 years. On the other hand, these same vehicles offer little to no protection from side impacts. Only a few inches of steel separate the driver or passenger from an oncoming car or truck. The passenger compartment does not have crumple zones, and while side airbags do exist, they are not required and don’t come standard in most vehicles.

Perhaps the biggest danger in broadside crashes is posed when a pickup truck or SUV crashes into a car. These taller vehicles are likely to strike the passenger car directly on the windows and doorposts, which offer the least protection to the occupants of any place on the vehicle. SUVs have been getting taller and heavier, posing ever greater risks to people in smaller cars hit in a side-impact crash. In addition to getting crushed or pushed off the road, a struck vehicle could also roll over, heightening the risk of serious injury or death. Contact an Atlanta T-bone accident attorney today.

T-bone accidents are complex physical events; it can take a lot of work to investigate and understand how the crash occurred and who was at fault. Sometimes, automotive defects are responsible for the severity of the crash, such as when airbags were present but failed to deploy, the vehicle was designed to roll over too easily, or the car does not meet crashworthiness standards. At Durham Law Group, we conduct a thorough investigation and work to hold all liable parties accountable for the damages they have caused. When those damages include catastrophic, long-term, or permanent injuries, our attorneys work equally hard to prove a case that justifies a full amount of compensation to care for the injury victim’s present and future needs. Our team is committed to obtaining a successful outcome for our clients, and we put in the time and energy necessary for a strong result.

Get Help From a T-Bone Accident Attorney in Atlanta

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a T-bone car accident in Atlanta, get the experienced and dedicated help you need by calling Durham Law Group at 404-845-3434. Your consultation is free, and we never charge a fee until after we are successful recovering compensation for you. Contact your T-bone accident attorney today!