T-Bone Accidents

Schaumburg and Wheaton Lawyers Helping Victims of Vehicle Collisions

T-bone accidents are also known as side impact crashes, and they often occur in an intersection. In this scenario, one car strikes another at a nearly 90-degree angle, making a “T” shape. Unlike in other accidents, such as a head-on collision, side-impact collision victims usually have no forewarning and cannot brace themselves or attempt to minimize their harm by braking or swerving their vehicle. At Therman Law Offices, our Schaumburg and Wheaton car accident attorneys help those suffering the devastating aftermath of T-bone collisions, as well as other vehicle accidents. We advocate for injured individuals as they assert their right to compensation against at-fault drivers, bringing over three decades of combined experience to our cases as we compassionately help clients and their families.

Demonstrating Negligence After a T-Bone Accident

T-bone car accidents can be some of the more catastrophic types of collisions, resulting in serious injuries and even fatalities. These side-impact crashes can cause vehicles to roll over, or lead to multi-vehicle pileups. Often, T-bone accidents are caused by negligent drivers. Negligence is the legal term for failing to use reasonable care as circumstances require behind the wheel. Examples of negligent driving behavior include drinking and driving, running a red light, or failing to yield at an intersection. Because all drivers must obey by traffic rules and use care to avoid foreseeable harm, individuals engaging in this kind of conduct may be held legally responsible if their careless or negligent driving results in injuries.

After a vehicle accident, injured victims may file a personal injury claim alleging that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused the crash. If successful, the plaintiff can recover costs associated with the collision, including expenses for future anticipated medical care. In order to hold the at-fault driver liable, the plaintiff must establish all elements of a negligence claim, which are the duty to act with care, breach of this duty, causation, and damages.

A duty of care behind the wheel encompasses observing traffic signals and rules of the road, as well as assessing conditions and adjusting conduct as necessary. If an intersection has a flashing red light, a reasonable driver would slow their speed, stopping to determine whether it safe to proceed. When a driver causes a T-bone accident, the legal issue in a negligence claim is whether they operated their vehicle as a reasonable person would in a similar situation. For example, if the facts show that the defendant driver’s speed was thirty miles above the posted limit, and they failed to slow down after seeing a flashing red light in an intersection, the judge or jury may determine that this constituted a breach of the duty of care. If their conduct directly caused a crash, the defendant may be accountable for all resulting damages.

To prove the element of causation, the victim must show that the defendant’s actions actually led to their injuries. Evidence that shows there were no other factors that contributed to the crash can be part of this showing, and a knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help you assemble and present all relevant information of this nature. Finally, the victim would set forth damages that include all costs associated with the accident.

Damages in a T-Bone Accident

Compensation in an injury lawsuit can include economic and non-economic damages. The purpose of these damages is to place the victim in the position they would be had the accident not occurred. Economic damages can include hospital bills, physical rehabilitation costs, and missed wages from work. Non-economic damages refer to emotional pain and suffering from the accident. Compensation may be awarded through a settlement, however in other cases the case may proceed to a trial.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Schaumburg or Wheaton

The attorneys at Therman Law Offices are dedicated to helping clients in Wheaton and Schaumburg seek maximum recovery from negligent drivers. We understand the emotional impact of a serious collision, and are here to provide a free consultation to help you better understand your next steps. We are proud to help clients throughout Norwood Park, Harwood Heights, Elmwood Park, Norridge, and Rosemont, Harwood Heights, Edison Park, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, and Mt. Prospect. To reach us, call our office at 312-588-1900 or fill out our online form.