A truck T-bone accident happens when the front of a large big rig, tractor-trailer, or 18- wheeler strikes the side of another motor vehicle moving in another direction. These accidents are especially common at traffic intersections, and the force of the impact might cause the impacted vehicle to spin around or overturn in the middle of the intersection or roadway.
Since these accidents typically occur at high rates of speed, accident victims—including drivers and their passengers—often suffer severe injuries. When that happens, they may recover monetary compensation and damages as a part of their truck accident claim or lawsuit.
If you or a person you care about has suffered injuries in a T-bone accident that a negligent truck driver or trucking company caused, an experienced truck accident lawyer may assist. Your lawyer can review the circumstances of your T-bone collision with you and determine if you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you can file such a claim or lawsuit, your lawyer can file your claim and assist you throughout the settlement negotiation process.
If the insurance company will not offer you the compensation that you deserve for your truck accident injuries, your lawyer can litigate the case. Your lawyer can represent you at all court hearings and will zealously advocate for your right to recover monetary compensation.
Possible Injuries in Truck T-bone Accidents
T-bone accidents that result from truck driver negligence often occur at high rates of speed. When they occur, the driver and passengers in the impacted vehicle can suffer extremely serious injuries. In some instances, those injuries might even wind up being permanent—or even fatal. The force of an impact may cause the accident victim’s body to move around inside the vehicle abruptly. In some serious accidents, the force of the collision might eject the accident victim’s body from the vehicle.
If the driver or passenger remains in a vehicle, a part of their body can strike the steering wheel, headrest, window, or console, resulting in one or more serious injuries. If the collision causes the smaller vehicle to overturn, the driver’s head can strike the roof of the vehicle, resulting in a serious head injury, such as a concussion.
Some of the most common injuries from T-bone truck accidents include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, cuts and abrasions, and death.
If you have suffered any of these injuries in a truck accident that resulted from driver negligence, your first step should be to follow up at a hospital so that a doctor can examine you there. In addition to thoroughly examining you and assessing your medical condition, the emergency room doctor can perform an X-ray, MRI, brain scan, or another test to determine the seriousness of your injuries.
If you have to undergo emergency surgery, that can happen right away at the hospital. Moreover, the treating healthcare provider at the hospital or urgent care center can make recommendations for follow-up medical care in the future, such as for orthopedic treatment or physical therapy following your accident.
Even if your injuries appear minor, you should still undergo emergency medical treatment at a hospital. This step is crucial to preventing more serious injuries from arising.
In addition, if you ultimately file a claim against the negligent truck driver or their employer, their insurance company may become skeptical if you don’t seek emergency medical care. Specifically, the insurance company may wonder about the seriousness of your injuries or might think that your injuries were not all that severe.
In almost every case, following up at the ER after a truck accident is the best course of action to take.
In addition to seeking emergency medical care following your truck accident, you should follow through with additional medical treatment based on the ER healthcare provider’s or your doctor’s recommendations. For example, you might need to follow up with a family or primary care doctor—or with a specialist (such as an orthopedic doctor) if your symptoms become progressively worse.
When attending these medical appointments and physical therapy sessions, maintain your treatment regimen and refrain from discharging yourself. Do not stop attending medical appointments until the treating healthcare provider formally discharges you.
Otherwise, the insurance company might become skeptical of your truck accident claim. Finally, you should refrain from large gaps in your medical treatment, and you should focus on continuing to treat your injuries.
While you finish treating your injuries, a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in your area can begin gathering your medical records, police reports, witness statements, and other important documentation your truck accident claim may require. During this time, you should focus all of your attention on getting better and making a full recovery from your injuries. Your lawyer can handle all of the legal aspects of your claim.
Common Causes of Truck T-bone Accidents
Truck T-bone accidents can happen for many reasons.
In most instances, these accidents occur because of negligence on the truck driver’s part. For example, the driver might be violating a rule of the road, such as by failing to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle at a traffic intersection or driving too fast for the weather conditions.
At other times, T-bone accidents happen when truck drivers are distracted. For example, they might pay attention to an electronic device in their vehicle, such as a cell phone, tablet, or GPS device, rather than to the road.
Finally, some truck T-bone accidents happen because truck drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When a truck driver is under the influence of one of these substances, their vision might become blurry, or they might not stop their vehicles in time to avoid an intersection collision.
No matter the circumstances, negligent truck operation is likely to lead to a serious motor vehicle accident. If you suffered injuries in a truck T-bone accident that resulted from one of these types of negligence, your lawyer can help you file a claim against the truck driver or trucking company and work to get you the compensation that you deserve.
Who Can Cause a Truck T-bone Collision?
When a truck driver violates a rule of the road, engages in distracted driving, or operates their vehicle while intoxicated, they can be directly responsible for any T-bone collision that occurs. In that instance, the injured accident victim can pursue a claim or lawsuit directly against the truck driver and indirectly against their insurance company.
However, if the truck driver is operating their vehicle within the scope of their employment, the trucking company that employs them can also be responsible for any accident. In other words, an accident victim can hold an employer trucking company vicariously liable for the negligent wrongdoing of their employee driver.
In addition, trucking companies are responsible for properly supervising their drivers to the greatest extent possible. They also must hire and retain only qualified, experienced drivers who have good track records. If a trucking company is aware of a driver’s history of moving violations yet hires or retains them as a driver for the company—and an accident occurs—the trucking company can be liable for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of the problem truck driver.
If you suffered injuries in a truck T-bone Accident, your lawyer can explore all possible avenues of recovery in your case and can pursue a claim against all potentially responsible parties. In many instances, the truck driver and the trucking company that employs them have the same insurance company. Your lawyer can file the necessary claim or lawsuit and pursue the damages that you need for all of the injuries you suffered in your truck accident.
Filing a Claim After a Truck Accident
When filing a claim for damages with the at-fault truck driver or trucking company’s insurer, your lawyer can negotiate with the adjuster and work to obtain a favourable settlement on your behalf.
If the insurance company refuses to offer you a settlement that fairly compensates you for your injuries, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and litigate your case in the court system. If the case is still unresolved, you can take your case to a trial or alternative dispute resolution proceeding, such as arbitration or mediation, to resolve the case.
Pursuing Monetary Compensation for Injuries Arising from a T-bone Truck Collision
When a large truck, tractor-trailer, or big rig collides with a smaller passenger vehicle, it is almost always the driver and occupants of the smaller vehicle who will suffer injuries. This is especially common if the truck collision happens at a high rate of speed, such as at a traffic intersection where the truck driver runs a red light.
When a driver or passenger suffers injuries in a truck T-bone accident, the accident victim might be in a position to recover monetary compensation and damages from the truck driver or trucking company’s insurer.
To recover this compensation, the accident victim must prove all of the legal elements of their claim. Specifically, they must show that the truck driver, trucking company, or some other party did something wrong under the circumstances. In addition, they must show that their injury or injuries resulted from the truck accident. Assuming the accident victim can satisfy these elements, they might be entitled to recover various damages.
The monetary compensation that an accident victim can recover in a truck accident case will depend on the type and extent of their injuries, the severity of their injuries, and the extent of their related medical treatment.
First of all, truck accident victims can recover compensation for lost wages if they had to miss time away from their workplace. They can also pursue compensation for non-economic damages, including the value of their pain and suffering, inconvenience, and mental distress.
In addition, if they suffered a permanent injury in their accident, they can recover compensation for lost quality of life and/or loss of the ability to use a specific body part. If they can not return to the same job after their truck accident, or if they had to switch to a lower-paying job, they might be eligible to recover damages for loss of earning capacity. Similarly, in some cases, they can recover compensation for loss of spousal companionship or family support.
In some instances, truck T-bone accidents result from particularly reckless or egregious behavior. For example, the driver might have been operating their vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In that instance, the accident victim can pursue and recover compensation for punitive damages.
The main purpose of punitive damages is to penalize a grossly negligent driver for their wrongdoing. They also discourage other drivers from committing similar negligent actions or inactions.
If you suffered injuries in a truck T-bone accident, an experienced truck accident lawyer at MNH Injury Lawyers will help you to pursue the damages that you deserve based on the nature, extent, and cost of your injuries. Truck accident claims are complex and often involve extensive investigation to gather evidence of liability.
With insurance companies fighting against your full compensation, you want the right law firm standing up for your full financial recovery.
