T-Bone Accidents

T-bone accidents, also known as broadside crashes, are those in which the front of a vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle. They may occur in many different types of situations, such as when a driver fails to yield the right of way, runs a red light, or makes an unprotected right turn when you have the right of way through the intersection. These types of accidents kill thousands of people in the U.S. each year. If you have been involved in a T-bone collision, Knoxville car accident attorney Mark C. Hartsoe and the staff at the Hartsoe Law Firm are ready to help you recover damages.

If another car hits the front of your car or the back of it, there is material in place to protect you from the force of the impact—the engine, seats, steel, and bumper. However, if you are T-boned, there may be nothing but the door (or a passenger seat, depending on which side the other car strikes) between the vehicle and you. Oftentimes, serious injuries result from T-bone wrecks.

In some cases, it is clear who was at fault for a T-bone accident, and in those cases, the central issue may be damages. However, there are cases in which the other driver may claim that they had the right of way or that you were at fault for speeding or another reason. The police report may be helpful to establish fault, but in some cases further investigation and expert testimony from an accident reconstruction specialist who has viewed photographs, debris, skid marks, and testimony may be necessary. The accident reconstruction specialist may also be able to look at the time of the accident and compare it to a traffic light's programming to determine who had the right of way in a T-bone accident at a controlled intersection when conflicting accounts are involved.

In order to recover compensation from the other driver, you will need to establish negligence by proving by a preponderance of the evidence the other driver's duty of care toward you (to drive safely and obey the rules of the road), a breach of duty (acting negligently), causation (injuries from the crash), and actual damages (lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and more). However, your compensation will be reduced to the extent that the accident was your fault. Tennessee follows the rule of modified comparative negligence. Under this rule, you may recover damages from another driver up to their percentage of fault, as long as your fault for the accident was 49% or less.

Injuries after a T-bone accident may be quite serious. You may need medical care as well as time to rest and recover, but you are likely to be concerned about your job and income loss. If you have been hurt in a T-bone accident caused by someone else, Knoxville car accident lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe and the Hartsoe Law Firm are ready to represent you regarding your wreck. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney. We represent injured people throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.