T-Bone Accidents
Safe driving is a priority in your life. When you are on the road, your whole attention should be focused on what you are doing. Unfortunately, this is not always enough to prevent an accident. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by the other driver, then you are entitled to compensation from them. An auto accident attorney Los Angeles can help you.
Side Impact Collisions
Also known as “t-bone” accidents, side impact collisions occur when one vehicle is broadsided by another. A range of circumstances can lead to such a collision. They are most often the result of a car failing to stop at an intersection when the light is red. These are some of the most dangerous accidents because the impact is at the most vulnerable spot in the car that is hit.
If you are hit from the front or the back, you have several feet of chassis to protect you, in addition to the engine or trunk. A t-boned car is guarded only by a door and a window, which can cause the person at the passenger or driver side serious injury.
What to do After a Side Impact Collision
If your car has been t-boned, then the people inside it will no doubt be shaken up and confused. You or one of your passengers may even be injured. You should check your own status and that of your passengers before doing anything else.
If you have been seriously injured, you should not attempt to move. You should call emergency services and wait for an ambulance to transport you to the hospital. An especially violent impact and serious injury may leave you unconscious. The medical team may need to carry out numerous procedures to save your life and bring you back to health.
The Aftermath of a Side Impact Collision
A side impact collision can put you on your back for some time. You will not be able to work and earn an income while you recover. Eventually, you will need to figure out how you will pay for the medical expenses you have accumulated and the other bills you need to pay. Once you have recovered your strength, you should speak to an auto accident attorney Los Angeles.
A car accident lawyer Los Angeles will get your side of the story. During the first interview your attorney will ask you some basic questions about the circumstances that led to the accident. Our car accident lawyer Los Angeles you hired will use what you give them as a basis for further investigation.
If it becomes clear that the recklessness of the other driver led to the collision, their insurance company may offer you a settlement. You should refer them to the t-bone accident lawyer Los Angeles you hired. Any initial settlement offer that comes from an insurance company will be much lower than you deserve. It is the job of your t-bone accident lawyer Los Angeles to negotiate a higher settlement. They can only do their job if they are allowed to speak for you.
Proving Fault in a T-Bone Accident
The primary task of your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be to prove who was at fault for the side impact collision. To do so, they will go beyond the police report. Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will send their own investigators to the scene of the crash to see its layout first-hand. They will also interview witnesses that the police may have missed or who refused to speak to the authorities. This can often lead to new facts and insights into the case.
Your lawyer will also bring in accident reconstruction experts who can re-create the accident based on the damage sustained by each vehicle and the marks and debris left at the scene.
If the other driver was at fault, then your lawyer will prove it. They will then use this fact to gain leverage over their insurance company in the negotiations.
The accident could have also been caused by a faulty traffic light. If the traffic signals malfunctioned, then the city of Los Angeles can be held liable for the injuries caused by the accident. Proving negligence on the part of the city requires a great deal of hard work. A dedicated personal injury lawyer is up to the task.
Defective airbags and other safety features may have also contributed to the injuries you sustained. In such instances, you can sue both the other driver or the city and the company that manufactured the safety devices. You may also have grounds to file suit against the car manufacturer.
If you have been harmed in a side impact collision, you need solid legal representation. You should call an attorney who specializes in t-bone cases.