T-bone car accidents, also called side-impact collisions, can have extremely devastating consequences. These crashes occur when one vehicle strikes another on its side, often forming a "T" shape, and very often result in life-altering injuries. These injuries include traumatic brain injury, spinal and back injuries, paralysis, organ damage, or death. 
If you’re injured in a T-bone accident and pursue a personal injury case, it’s often challenging to prove liability. That’s why it’s critical that you hire legal counsel. The experienced Flagstaff personal injury lawyers at Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC are here to help you hold the negligent driver accountable and secure the compensation you deserve.
Common Locations Where Side-Impact Car Collisions Occur
T-bone car accidents are common on the bustling streets and highways in Flagstaff and other cities in Northern Arizona. They frequently occur at intersections, especially when one driver runs a red light or does not yield the right of way. They also happen at stop signs when two motor vehicles simultaneously enter the intersection.
Common Causes of T-Bone Car Crashes in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona
Understanding the cause of your T-bone accident is crucial if you suffered injuries and are pursuing a claim for compensation with the negligent driver's insurance company. You must prove that negligence caused your crash to obtain the full value of your car accident claim. Having the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney is important. They can investigate the collision and collect all necessary evidence. Here are some common ways at-fault motorists cause these tragic wrecks:
Failure to the Yield Right of Way
One common way motorists cause these wrecks is by disregarding traffic signs or signals, such as running red lights and not stopping at or rolling through stop signs. T-bone auto accidents also occur when drivers misjudge the time they have to make a left turn and collide with vehicles lawfully in the intersection.
Distracted Driving
Texting, talking on a cellphone, eating and drinking, or other distracted driving behaviors can take a driver's mind off their driving and their hands off the steering wheel. They may not see a light turning red or a vehicle entering an intersection that has the right of way before it is too late to avoid causing a side-impact car collision.
Speeding
Speeding to beat a light at an intersection can make it impossible for a driver to stop in time to avoid colliding with another car that has the right of way. The victim’s injuries can be more severe when the at-fault person drives too fast.
Impaired Driving
Driving while intoxicated due to alcohol or drug use can impair a driver's judgment, vision, reaction time, and coordination, increasing the likelihood of a side-impact car accident.
Poor Weather Conditions
If a driver fails to slow down to a safe speed during rain, snow and ice, or fog, they may not have sufficient time to stop when a light turns red, or they could lose control of their vehicle and slam into another car at a stop sign or intersection.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive and reckless behaviors, such as tailgating, sudden lane changes, and cutting off other vehicles, can easily result in a T-bone car crash.
Evidence You Need to Prove Liability in a Flagstaff T-Bone Car Accident
Proving liability in a side-impact accident case can be challenging but is essential to obtain the compensation you deserve from the negligent driver's insurance company. Here are some types of evidence our knowledgeable personal injury lawyer, Bruce S. Griffen, can help you collect to establish the other motorist's fault:
Police Report
The official police report filed at the collision scene can be very helpful in showing who caused the T-bone auto crash. It will include details about the parties involved, statements from the drivers and witnesses, the officer's assessment of fault, and any traffic tickets issued.
Eyewitness Statements
Statements from people who witnessed the accident can provide critical insight into what happened. Their accounts can corroborate your version of events and support your claim. Their testimony can be even more compelling if they do not know you and have no stake in your case.
Traffic Camera Footage
Many intersections are equipped with surveillance cameras that may have captured the side-impact car accident. Obtaining this footage can provide persuasive evidence of how the T-bone car crash occurred. However, you will need the help of a skilled Flagstaff car accident lawyer to get the footage before it is taped over or destroyed.
Photos
Photos taken at the scene of the damaged vehicles, skid marks, and road and weather conditions can help recreate the wreck and determine fault.
Cellphone Records
If distracted driving is suspected, obtaining cellphone records can help establish whether the at-fault driver was texting or talking on their cellphone at the time of the T-bone auto accident. You will not be able to obtain these records without an attorney's assistance.
Expert Witness Testimony
If the insurance company claims you were entirely or partially at fault in causing the crash, you may need to hire an accident reconstruction expert to recreate the side-impact auto collision and prove that the other driver caused it.
Surveillance Footage
Nearby businesses or homes may have security cameras that recorded the wreck. Securing this footage can be crucial in proving liability. As with traffic camera footage, your lawyer will need to act quickly to obtain it.
Types of Compensation Awarded in Side-Impact Auto Accident Cases
As a victim of a side-impact car accident in Arizona, you can pursue compensation for your losses. This is a crucial step toward rebuilding your life, which was likely turned upside down after the collision. If you have not fully recovered from your injuries or will not make a full recovery, you may be entitled to future damages under Arizona law.
Calculating the compensation you should recover in your settlement is complicated. You need a dedicated personal injury lawyer with a track record of successfully settling and litigating car collision claims to determine what you deserve. Here are the types of damages you could receive:
Medical Expenses
You can seek compensation for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses resulting from the accident. This includes ambulance fees, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and future medical needs.
If you need assistive aids, modifications to your home, or a personal care or home health aide, you should also ask to be compensated for these expenses. It’s important to keep receipts and document your medical costs to ensure you are fairly reimbursed.
Wage Losses
You may recover compensation for lost wages if you cannot work while recovering from your injuries. Under Arizona law, you can also seek lost earning capacity damages if you must make a job change with a pay loss or are permanently disabled due to your injuries. Proper documentation, such as pay stubs and employment records, is crucial to substantiate these claims.
Property Damages
Compensation can be sought for repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other property damaged in the accident. This includes the costs of repairs, rental cars, or the fair market value of your vehicle if it's deemed a total loss. Providing clear evidence of the damage, repair estimates, and vehicle value is essential.
Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are recoverable in Arizona. This includes physical pain, emotional distress, and the overall impact the accident has had on your quality of life. An experienced personal injury attorney will have the skills to value this portion of your claim accurately.
Wrongful Death Damages
In the tragic event of a loved one's death due to a T-bone car accident, you may be able to pursue wrongful death damages. This can include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional toll of losing your family member. At Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how traumatic it can be to lose a loved one and will handle all the steps involved in settling your case so you can move forward in your life.