Side collisions can cause some of the most severe injuries in car accidents because the side of a vehicle provides less protection than the front or rear. Figuring out who’s to blame for the crash often comes down to traffic laws, who had the right of way, what witnesses saw, and other pieces of evidence. A Jackson T-bone accident lawyer can help you with next steps after an accident.
Representation You Can Trust
Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., concentrates its practice on serving individuals and families who have suffered injuries or losses because of someone else’s negligent or careless actions. Operating throughout Mississippi since 1999, our law firm handles personal injury claims. We work with injured victims to assess their legal claims, explain their rights, and pursue injury claims against negligent parties when warranted.
Essentially, a T-bone accident can happen when the front bumper of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle. The resulting damage may resemble the letter “T.” This type of accident commonly occurs at intersections, parking lots, highway on-ramps and off-ramps, and anywhere vehicles’ paths can cross. Reasons why T-bone accidents occur include:
Running a red light
Running a stop sign
Driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
Turning into oncoming traffic
Speeding through an intersection
Jackson has many notably busy intersections, including roads that connect to Interstate 20, Interstate 55, U.S. Highway 49, and more. With high numbers of vehicles coming through these intersections, T-bone accidents can happen. In 2022, there were 3,334 serious traffic injuries and 729 traffic fatalities in Mississippi. These would have included many T-bone accidents.
Determining Fault in A T-Bone Accident
It’s not always simple to pinpoint responsibility when a T-bone accident occurs. Although the driver who hits the side of another car is typically at fault, there are certain circumstances that may shift liability. If one driver enters an intersection after failing to stop, they may likely be found responsible. However, if that driver is struck by someone who was speeding or driving through a traffic signal, that driver may be found partially at fault.
Mississippi follows a comparative negligence rule according to Mississippi Code § 11-7-15. Comparative negligence means if two or more people are at fault for an accident, each person’s percentage of fault can impact the amount of compensation they are entitled to collect.
Injuries Caused by Side-Impact Collisions
The sides of vehicles tend to have less protection than the front and back. Therefore, T-bone accidents can cause serious injuries to anyone located around the driver or passenger side door. Common types of injuries caused by T-bone accidents include:
Injuries can be severe when high speeds are involved. Factors such as where the impact occurred, whether airbags deployed, and if individuals were wearing seat belts can play a role in a person’s injury.
Mississippi T-Bone Accident Laws
Mississippi drivers must follow traffic laws to avoid car accidents. Certain state traffic laws can affect who is at fault after a side-impact accident. Mississippi Code § 63-3-805 states that any driver who is turning left must yield the right of way before proceeding through an intersection. Failure to follow traffic control laws could become significant when determining if someone acted with negligence.
Drivers are required to obey traffic lights and other traffic control devices under Mississippi Code § 63-3-309. Traffic signals place a duty on drivers to stop when facing a red light. Failing to stop at a red light and entering an intersection could result in that driver being at fault for the accident.
If you or someone you know was injured in a T-bone accident, you may want to hire a T-bone accident lawyer. A lawyer can provide legal assistance with investigating the crash, evaluating evidence, determining who is at fault, working with insurance companies, calculating damages, negotiating with insurance companies, and going to court if necessary.
Your Jackson T-bone accident attorney can also identify whether traffic violations or insurance issues impact your T-bone accident claim. Mississippi laws may allow injured victims to file a personal injury claim against negligent parties.
If the other driver says you caused the T-bone accident, it may likely be investigated to determine who may be at fault or how fault may be divided. Often, drivers provide conflicting stories after a crash at an intersection. Insurance companies and other investigators often look to see what evidence is available, such as the crash report, witness statements, and photographs of the scene.
Yes. While most side-impact crashes occur at intersections, they can also occur in parking lots when drivers back out of parking spaces without looking, fail to stop at directional signs or dotted lines inside parking lots, or pull into travel lanes without first yielding to traffic. Responsibility generally comes down to the parking lot’s configuration, traffic direction, statements from observers, and available video evidence.
Available damages may include reimbursement for medical bills, lost income, future medical treatment, repair or replacement of damaged property, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The value of your case depends on the facts involved, the nature and extent of your injuries, available insurance coverage, and how the collision has impacted your daily activities.
It is generally recommended that you do not accept the insurance company’s first offer. Insurance companies often present settlement offers before the full extent of the injuries is known or before medical providers understand the long-term needs of the victim. Reviewing a settlement offer carefully and knowing the long-term consequences of your accident may prevent you from accepting compensation that is too low.
Get Legal Help Today
If you were injured in a T-bone accident in Jackson, there may be options available to you to recover damages. Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., can help. Contact us today for more information.
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