West Palm Beach T-Bone Collisions

T-bone accidents happen when one vehicle hits another vehicle on its side, the aftermath of which resembles a ‘T.’ These accidents can cause serious injuries to both drivers and passengers, who are not as protected from a vehicle next to a car as they might be if a vehicle is struck head-on or rear-ended. Often, T-bone collisions are caused by a driver’s careless, or negligent, acts. The West Palm Beach car accident attorneys at Donaldson & Weston are dedicated to making sure that those responsible for causing another person’s injuries are held legally liable. Serious injuries can be accompanied by serious expenses for medical care, leave from work, and other aspects of recovery. Victims injured by a negligent driver are entitled to compensation for those costs. If you have been injured, or have lost a loved one, in a T-bone collision, contact our office to learn more about your legal rights and options.

T-bone collisions may also be known as side-impact accidents, since one vehicle hits the other on either the driver or passenger side of the vehicle. In West Palm Beach, many of these types of accidents occur in dangerous intersections, where one motorist tries to speed through a yellow light or otherwise fails to yield the right of way to another vehicle. Some of the most dangerous intersections in the area include where Okeechobee Boulevard meets Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, as well as where it intersects with North Jog Road. Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and Village Boulevard is another intersection where accidents are likely to occur. In 2014, the intersection of North Military Trail and 45th Street was the site of 80 motor vehicle collisions. T-bone collisions are some of the most dangerous of all kinds of crashes, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting 3,000 fatal side-impact accidents nationally in 2011. Aside from fatalities, T-bone accidents can lead to significant, life-altering injuries, such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and other conditions resulting in permanent impairments.

There are a variety of situations that can result in a T-bone collision, most of which involve a driver’s negligent act. Victims of these crashes can recover damages from liable parties by pursuing personal injury claims. To prevail in a personal injury lawsuit, a victim and their attorney must show that the defendant breached his or her duty to act reasonably, causing harm and resulting in damages. Examples of actions constituting breaches of a driver’s duty toward other road users include failing to yield the right of way, speeding excessively, running a red light, or engaging in distracted or aggressive driving practices.

When negligence is shown, the damages available to victims may include past and future medical costs, lost property, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, certain family members can pursue claims on behalf of victims who have passed away due to another party’s negligence. Under state law, personal injury claims must be pursued within four years of a victim’s injury, and family members only have two years in which to file a wrongful death case.