Side-Impact Collision

Car Accident Attorneys Advocating for Victims in Wheaton and Schaumburg

A side-impact collision can lead to serious injuries and, in the most serious cases, fatalities. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a side-impact collision that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. To determine your next steps, you need to reach out to a skilled Wheaton or Schaumburg car accident lawyer without delay. At Therman Law Offices, our team can thoroughly evaluate the facts of your case and guide you through the entire legal process. With over 35 years of combined experience, we have helped many Illinois clients resolve their legal claims and can help you as well.

Claims Based on Side-Impact Collisions

Side-impact collisions, also commonly known as T-bone accidents or right-angle collisions, are some of the most deadly accidents on the roads. These accidents take place when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another, forming a T. Side-impact accidents often take place at intersections and may have a variety of causes, including drivers failing to yield to other drivers with the right of way, drivers running stop signs, drivers making a careless left turn, drivers speeding through yellow or red traffic lights, or distracted driving. While the severity of these crashes varies, side-impact collisions may cause the vehicles to spin or even roll over.

The reality is that side-impact accidents are more common than you may think. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that side-impact collisions make up approximately 25 percent of all passenger vehicle fatalities throughout the United States each year. According to the United States Office of Health, Safety, and Security, side-impact collisions also are responsible for over 9,000 deaths each year. The only other type of collision that results in more deaths on an annual basis is head-on collisions.

In Illinois, negligence or fault determines who pays for the damages after an accident. Negligence occurs when an injury or death is caused by a person failing to use reasonable care behind the wheel. Reasonable care is defined as the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have used under the same or similar circumstances. Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence system, under which a plaintiff may still obtain damages as long as their degree of fault does not exceed 49 percent. In other words, if the plaintiff is 50 percent or more at fault for their injuries, they cannot pursue a personal injury case against the other party.