T-bone or side-impact accidents can be some of the most violent collisions that occur on Oklahoma City’s roads. When they happen at high speeds, these accidents can cause devastating harm and forever alter the lives of victims.
If another driver T-boned your vehicle, you may be facing a long struggle with severe injuries and financial strain. Cain Law represents car accident victims, including those with severe injury cases, and has extensive experience helping clients recover after serious auto accidents.
Filing a claim against the at-fault driver may provide a path to financial recovery, but the thought of taking that process on while you’re going through medical treatment may sound like too much. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone. Cain Law can help you seek compensation after a T-bone car crash while you focus on healing.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with an experienced Oklahoma City car accident lawyer.
Why Work with an Oklahoma City T-Bone Accident Lawyer at Cain Law
Legal representation can make a critical difference in your experience of pursuing compensation after a T-bone accident, and it can heavily influence the outcome of your personal injury case. That’s why you need a T-bone collision attorney with the experience and resources necessary to prepare and pursue your claim. When you come to Cain Law after a T-bone accident in Oklahoma City, we will:
- Make ourselves available 24/7 to take your call
- Start on your case immediately, deploying our rapid-response team to launch a thorough investigation into the crash, leveraging our familiarity with Oklahoma City roadways and common crash locations to strengthen your case
- Meet with you at your home, in the hospital, or wherever is most convenient for you
- Help you get the medical treatment you need by connecting you with trusted medical providers for comprehensive care and evaluation of future medical needs
- Handle your case at no cost to you, only collecting a fee if and when we recover compensation for you
Cain Law has recovered over $250 million for deserving Oklahomans harmed by other people’s actions, including multiple recent six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts arising from motor vehicle accidents. As one client wrote about their experience with us:
“This firm is nothing short of amazing. Throughout the entire process, I felt informed and up to date on everything going on. They were extremely straightforward and honest, and for that, I am appreciative. Highly recommend this firm for your car accident needs.” – Natalie R.
What Is a T-Bone Accident?
A T-bone accident is a crash in which the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, creating a “T” shape at the point of impact. These collisions are also called side-impact or broadside crashes. T-bone collisions usually occur at intersections, parking lots, and other locations where vehicles collide or cross paths, often due to reckless or negligent behavior.
The force of impact may hit the driver’s side, passenger’s side, front door, rear door, or another side panel, depending on the angle of the collision. T-bone accidents can involve any type of vehicle, including passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, or commercial vehicles.
Why T-Bone Accidents Are So Dangerous
T-bone accidents are dangerous because the side of a vehicle offers less protection than the front or rear. In a head-on or rear-end crash, the engine compartment, trunk, bumper, and frame absorb the bulk of the impact. In a side-impact collision, there’s often only a door, window, and possibly a side airbag between the occupant and the striking vehicle. This can expose vehicle occupants to direct force, especially when the crash happens at high speed or involves a larger vehicle. The risk of bodily injury in these crashes is significant, as the minimal structural protection on the sides leaves occupants vulnerable.
The impact may also push the struck vehicle into another lane, a pole, a guardrail, or oncoming traffic. In many cases, drivers and passengers have little time to react before the collision occurs, which can make the situation even more terrifying and the injuries even more severe.
Common Causes of T-Bone Car Accidents at Intersections
Many T-bone accidents happen at intersections, where vehicles cross paths and drivers’ failure to obey traffic signs, signals, and right-of-way rules can put another vehicle directly in their path. Some of the most common causes of T-bone accidents at intersections include:
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failing to yield when turning left
- Misjudging the speed of an approaching vehicle
- Driving while distracted by a phone, GPS, or other device
- Speeding through an intersection
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Who Is Liable in a T-Bone Car Accident Case in Oklahoma City?
T-bone accident liability depends on the specific circumstances and who caused the crash. Determining who is at fault often requires a thorough review of evidence, including police reports, physical evidence, and crucial witness statements. Typically, a driver who violated a traffic law, ignored the right-of-way, or made an unsafe maneuver is responsible, but who’s at fault isn’t always immediately clear.
Both drivers may blame each other, and insurers may look for ways to reduce or deny payment. A T-bone car accident attorney in Oklahoma City can review the evidence to determine what happened before impact and who should be held responsible. Potentially liable parties in T-bone accident cases may include:
- A driver who ran a red light or stop sign
- A driver who failed to yield while turning
- A distracted, impaired, or speeding driver
- A commercial driver’s employer
- A vehicle manufacturer, if a defect contributed to the crash
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning you can recover compensation as long as you are less than 50% at fault for the accident, but your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
If you are pursuing personal injury claims or a personal injury case after a T-bone accident, it’s important to know that Oklahoma law generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit (statute of limitations).
After a car accident, consulting an Oklahoma City T-bone car accident lawyer is crucial to understand your legal options, guide you through the insurance claim process, gather evidence, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Legal representation can also protect you from making statements or signing documents that could jeopardize your claim, as insurance companies often use such information to reduce payouts.
Available Damages in a Car Accident Claim
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident in Oklahoma City, you may be entitled to recover compensation for a wide range of damages. These can include:
- Medical expenses: Coverage for hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and any future medical treatments required for catastrophic injuries or traumatic brain injuries
- Future medical needs: If your injuries require ongoing care, you may be eligible for compensation for future medical expenses and long-term treatment
- Lost wages: Compensation for income lost due to time away from work, as well as diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
- Pain and suffering: Damages for physical pain, emotional trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from the accident
- Property damage: Reimbursement for repairs to your vehicle or replacement if it was totaled in the crash
An experienced car crash lawyer can fight for the full and fair compensation that you deserve.
Common Injuries in Side-Impact Collisions
T-bone or side-impact collisions can cause serious injuries because the force of the crash may strike close to where a driver or passenger is seated. The impact can also throw occupants against the door, window, center console, or another person in the vehicle. Some common injuries in T-bone accidents include:
- Head injuries, including concussions
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken ribs, arms, legs, or hips
- Shoulder and chest injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Cuts from broken glass
- Spinal cord injuries
- Psychological trauma
While some T-bone accident injuries are obvious right away, others may not become more noticeable until several hours or days after the crash. It’s important to seek medical treatment promptly after a collision, because potentially life-threatening complications could be masked by adrenaline.
Contact an Oklahoma City T-Bone Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you got hurt in a side-impact collision another driver caused, Cain Law is ready to help you pursue T-bone accident compensation in Oklahoma that will make it easier for you to move forward with your life. Contact us today to arrange a free initial consultation with a T-bone accident lawyer and learn more about the steps we’ll take to protect your rights and fight for the results you deserve.