Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers

What Is a T-Bone Truck Accident?

A T-Bone Accident is when another vehicle slams into the side of your car in a T-bone accident, it’s always scary and dangerous, but the results could be catastrophic if the crash involves a massive tractor-trailer.

The sides of passenger cars offer limited protection in a crash, so this type of accident can cause devastating or even fatal injuries. If the truck driver or company was liable for the accident, you could receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.

A T-bone accident is one of the most dangerous and severe on the roads. This crash happens when a vehicle crossing an intersection smashes into another vehicle on its side at a 90-degree angle. If a tractor-trailer T-bones your car, it can be obliterated. Most truck T-bone accidents involve severe injuries, including head and spinal cord damage, shattered bones, internal injuries, burns, lacerations, and more. Some T-bone accidents are fatal.

Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers

T-Bone Accident Statistics

Side-impact crashes are the deadliest for small children. Over the last 20 years, deaths from T-bone crashes have risen by 20%. This may be because more SUVs and other large vehicles are on the road, increasing the force involved in T-bone accidents.

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety found in 2021 that 3,662 people died in T-bone accidents, representing 25% of all auto accident fatalities. Unfortunately, a side-impact blow is often more fatal than a head-on impact because in a side-impact crash, the only thing separating the person from the other vehicle is the door. Some T-bone accidents cause the vehicles to be thrown into other vehicles. This is especially common when a tractor-trailer hits a much smaller vehicle.

Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers

Where Do Most T-Bone Accidents Occur?

Most T-bone accidents involving trucks occur at intersections where one vehicle runs a red light or stop sign or fails to yield. They also can happen when a truck makes a left turn and fails to yield to oncoming traffic.

Brake failure is another common cause of T-bone truck accidents; a factor considered in Product Liability. Moreover, negligence on behalf of drivers and their employers, who are supposed to maintain their vehicles so they are safe on the road, can be a factor. Sometimes, they don’t keep the truck’s brakes in good repair, leading to brake failure at the worst times. If the truck was improperly maintained and caused a T-bone accident, your Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer will find the necessary evidence to hold them accountable.

Causes of T-Bone Truck Accidents

Most T-bone truck accidents are caused by the truck driver failing to obey right-of-way rules on the road. Most T-bone accidents involving trucks are caused for one or more of these reasons:

• Running a red light or stop sign
• Misjudging oncoming traffic speed when making a left turn
• Misjudging gap in oncoming traffic
• Not checking blind spots
• Distracted driving, including cell phone use
• Aggressive or reckless driving

Many T-bone crashes involving trucks are caused by speeding, running red lights, or driving recklessly. But large trucks cannot stop quickly like smaller vehicles; it can take a semi-truck twice as long to stop from 55 MPH as a regular car.

If you were in a T-bone accident because of a trucker’s negligent actions, don’t hesitate to call one of our truck accident attorneys today.

Most modern motor vehicles are equipped with airbags and reinforced side-impact bars that help to protect drivers and passengers in T-bone collisions. However, the provided protection is not the same as in a front-impact crash. Plus, the tremendous weight and force of a tractor-trailer hitting the vehicle can cause severe injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken or crushed bones
• Internal injuries
• Paralysis

You should receive prompt medical assistance if you suffered severe injuries in a T-bone truck accident. Then, speak to a truck accident attorney to determine your next legal steps.

Who Is Liable in a T-Bone Truck Accident?

Many T-bone accidents happen at intersections where the truck driver fails to yield the right of way or doesn’t stop at the red light. It may seem obvious that the truck driver was at fault. If that is the case, Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys will collect all of the evidence and prove that the trucker or his company caused the accident.

However, there are many factors to determine who caused a T-bone truck accident. Evidence that may be collected to determine liability could include photos, traffic camera footage, eyewitness accounts, and the official

If the evidence shows that the other driver was at fault, you could file a claim or lawsuit against the driver. However, if a trucking company employs the trucker, the legal theory of respondeat superior could apply. Respondeat superior means that an employer may be liable for an employee’s negligent actions. Most commercial trucking companies must carry large liability policies, so you could sue the employer for your injuries and other damages.

Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers