T-bone car accidents are among the most dangerous types of car crashes. Roughly 13 percent of car accidents in the United States are t-bone crashes, and New Hampshire sees it s fair share. Since these crashes are so hazardous, they represent a disproportionate amount of fatalities, accounting for 22 percent of car accident deaths.
If you have suffered an injury in a t-bone car accident, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. First, however, you must prove the other driver is at fault, and that can be more challenging than you imagine, even if you’re certain they are to blame.
The best way to determine who is at fault for your t-bone accident in Nashua is to consult a New Hampshire car accident lawyer. They have the tools and knowledge of the law to hold drivers accountable for your injuries.
Why a T-Bone Car Accident Is So Dangerous
A t-bone car accident occurs when the front of one car strikes the broad side of another, either the driver or passenger side. T-bone car accidents are incredibly dangerous for everyone involved in the crash. A tremendous amount of force can be unleashed on both cars and the occupants within. If anyone is on the side of the car that was struck, they will likely suffer serious injuries. Even if the car struck the other side of the vehicle, the occupant can still be injured from the sudden and violent impact of the car crash.
T-bone car accidents usually occur at intersections. One party may have failed to stop at a traffic light or stop sign and ended up in the intersection. A driver may have tried to make a turn when they did not have adequate time. Alternatively, the oncoming driver may have been speeding and struck a car where the driver ordinarily should have had enough time to complete the turn.
How Insurance Companies Determine Liability in a T-Bone Car Accident
After the t-bone accident, the insurance companies may confer to determine which driver should be held responsible for the crash. The driver who struck the other car will not always be the one who is at fault.
A legal principle applies to car accidents such as T-bones. The driver who did not yield the right of way to the other as required by law is to blame for the accident. If a driver ran a stop sign or red light, they should be liable for injuries caused. If a driver was making a left-hand turn (with a yield requirement) at the time they were struck, they can also be responsible for the accident, absent any special circumstances.
Liability is often not so straightforward, however. You also cannot simply point fingers and expect an insurance company to listen. Instead, your car accident attorney must gather evidence to support your claims of liability.
The Police Report Can Help Determine Liability
In many cases, it can be apparent at the scene of the accident who was to blame for the accident. If the accident was reported to the police, an officer likely showed up at the scene and wrote an accident report. Based on what they heard and observed, they may have decided to issue a citation to the other driver involved in the accident. Even if they did not issue a ticket, they may have included the observations in their report. You may use these facts as evidence of liability when you file an insurance claim. If the other driver was guilty of a New Hampshire traffic offense, it can even be considered negligence per se, which will help you win your case.
Other Sources of Proof in a T-Bone Car Accident Case
If there were witnesses who saw the crash, they can testify that they saw the other driver fail to yield the right of way. Your car accident lawyer can contact the witnesses whose names appear on the police report or whose information you obtained at the scene of the accident. Your car accident lawyer will use helpful witness statements as part of your claim.
Pictures of the scene of the accident can also give some clues about which driver may be to blame for the accident. The pictures may reveal the angle of the accident, which can help establish what happened.
The Other Driver May Tell a Different Story About the Accident
You may face challenges when nobody saw the accident, and the other driver claims that you were the one who failed to yield the right of way. You have your own story, but the other motorist might be telling one opposite of yours. Then, you will be involved in a so-called “truth contest.” Your car accident attorney must have sufficient evidence that backs up your side of the story and disproves the other driver’s version of events. If you do not have evidence, it will be your word against the other driver, and you may not win your case.
Even when you are involved in a “truth contest,” your car accident attorney may still have steps that they can take to prove the other driver was to blame. Your car accident lawyer can work with an accident reconstruction expert in these cases. These experts use principles of math and physics to recreate what happened in the accident. Although their opinion is not binding, it can be persuasive when an insurance company challenges you about liability. The accident reconstruction expert may testify in court if you are forced to file a lawsuit.
If the insurance company denies your claim or they try to blame you for the accident, you still have legal options. The insurance company is neither a judge or jury, and the final word in your case is not theirs. If you are getting nowhere with the insurance company, your car accident lawyer can file a lawsuit against the driver in court. Then, your car accident attorney might even present evidence to the jury, and they can determine whether the other driver is liable for the accident.
Contact a Nashua Car Accident Lawyer Now
Never wait to schedule your free consultation with a personal injury attorney. They can assess fault for your t-bone collision and advise on your rights at no cost.