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Kentucky Broadside Collision Lawyers
Knowledgeable Kentucky accident attorneys help clients severely injured by T-bone accidents
Most broadside collisions occur at intersections when drivers ignore or misjudge traffic signals, ignore “Yield” signs, or are distracted. They can cause very serious or even deadly injuries, especially when the impact is directly into the slender structural member that supports the roof and from which the driver and passenger’s side doors are hung. Many cars are now equipped with side curtain airbags installed above the doors. These deploy on impact to cushion passengers’ heads against the sudden, violent sideways motion characteristic of “T-bone” collisions.
If you were involved in a broadside collision, you should consult an experienced Kentucky t-bone accident attorney at once. Determining fault in such collisions is complicated, and Kentucky’s “pure comparative negligence” law makes a prompt, professional response essential. An experienced broadside accident attorney at Crandall & Pera Law can protect your interests in the legal arena.
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Why are broadside collisions so dangerous?
The sides of a car offer the least protection to its passengers. Door thickness is measured in inches, and unlike the engine compartment and trunk, the sides of cars lack energy-absorbing controlled collapse structures. A severe side impact can drive the doors into the passenger compartment, bend their supports, and cause the floor of the passenger compartment to buckle and its roof to collapse.
Passengers are in physical contact with the doors, which means that the energy of a side impact is transferred directly to them.
What kinds of injuries do drivers sustain when their cars are “broadsided?
The combination of forward motion and sudden side impact in a broadside collision creates forces capable of causing injury to five body regions:
- Clavicle. The clavicle can be compressed and fractured by forces against the shoulder.
- Chest. Compression of the thoracic wall inward can result in fractured ribs, pulmonary contusion, or compression injury of the solid organs beneath the rib cage. Shear injuries of the aorta can also result from lateral acceleration.
- Abdomen and pelvis. Compression and fracture of the pelvis are caused by the head of the femur being pushed through its pelvic socket. Occupants on the driver’s side are vulnerable to spleen injuries because the spleen is on the left side of the body, whereas those on the passenger side are more likely to receive an injury to the liver.
- Neck. The torso can move outward from under the head. This can fracture the vertebrae or, more likely, cause spinal cord injury.
- Head. The head can impact the frame of the door, causing skull fracture, traumatic brain injuries, brain contusion, subdural hematoma, and death.
Who is responsible for my Kentucky broadside collision?
Responsibility in broadside collisions is not always clear and, in the absence of witnesses, presents considerable challenges. Measuring skid marks on a dry roadway can provide an estimate of the vehicles’ speeds, but it is not able to determine who was at fault. Which car struck the other is also not determinative; the driver of the car that was struck may not have had the right of way. Investigators may have to rely on accident reconstruction specialists, as drivers involved in serious accidents rarely remember all the details or may offer accounts favorable to themselves. Kentucky’s insurance and comparative negligence rules can make “fault” an essential part of the legal process. In tort-based litigation, the more one party’s share of negligence in an accident increases, the more the other party’s share decreases. Eventually, the insurer whose client made the larger contribution to the accident pays, although its payment is reduced in proportion to the other party’s share of negligence.
The car accident attorneys at Crandall & Pera Law can help determine who held the majority of fault in your collision.
What is the value of my Kentucky broadside collision claim?
The value of a Kentucky broadside collision claim depends on various factors, including the severity of injuries, the extent of property damage, and the overall impact on your life. Here's a detailed look at what can influence the value of your claim:
- Medical expenses: Compensation can cover all past, present, and future medical costs related to the accident. This includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medical equipment, and follow-up visits.
- Lost wages: If the accident caused you to miss work, you could claim compensation for lost income. This includes wages lost during your recovery period and compensation for lost earning capacity if you cannot return to work or can only return in a limited capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for pain and suffering addresses the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident. Factors considered include the severity and duration of pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, and the overall impact on your daily life and activities.
- Property damage: This includes the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.
- Loss of consortium: If the accident negatively impacted your relationship with your spouse, you might be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement: If the accident results in permanent disabilities or disfigurement, you can receive additional compensation to account for the long-term effects on your quality of life and ability to earn a living.
Why do broadside collisions happen?
Broadside collisions, also known as T-bone crashes, occur for a variety of reasons, but most often, they boil down to driver error at intersections. Here are some common causes:
- Disregarding traffic signals and signs: This includes running red lights, failing to yield at stop signs, or not following turn signal instructions.
- Speeding: Especially through intersections, speeding makes it harder to react to other vehicles and stop safely.
- Distracted driving: Texting, talking on the phone, eating, or any other activity that takes your attention away from the road can be dangerous, especially at intersections.
- Reckless driving: This includes behaviors like weaving through traffic, failing to maintain a lane, or making sudden, unexpected maneuvers.
- Impaired driving: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol significantly reduces your reaction time and judgment.
- Drowsy driving: Just like being drunk, being tired behind the wheel can slow your reaction time and make you miss important cues on the road.
Even mechanical failure can play a role in rare cases, but the vast majority of broadside collisions are preventable through careful and attentive driving. If you suffer injury in a broadside collision in Kentucky, call the attorneys at Crandall & Pera Law today.
If you are injured in a broadside collision, let a Kentucky lawyer at Crandall & Pera Law represent you
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a broadside collision, one of Crandall & Pera Law’s Kentucky t-bone accident attorneys can help. When both parties share liability, let us be your advocate and work to ensure that the results match the facts of the case. We have access to investigative specialists who can help establish responsibility in broadside collisions, as well as to medical specialists who can determine the nature and likely after-effects of your injuries. Your accident case is important to us, and we want to help. Please call our offices today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Kentucky broadside accident lawyer. We have offices conveniently located in Lexington and Louisville.