A side-impact truck collision—also referred to a T-Bone accident—is an especially dangerous one for the passengers sitting in a motor vehicle on the side of the impact. This is because a smaller car affords its occupants little protection when a much larger and heavier commercial truck slams into the vehicle’s side. Victims can suffer many life-altering injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, back and neck injuries, internal organ damage, or death. If you or a loved one were injured in one of these accidents that was caused by a negligent trucker, you need to retain an experienced truck accident attorney right away for assistance in pursuing your claim for compensation.
How Truck Driver Errors Result in T-Bone Accidents
Many side-impact crashes occur at intersections with a traffic signal or stop sign. Often these tragic wrecks are caused by trucker negligence. Some ways that these collisions occur include:
- Not coming to a complete stop. Some truckers will attempt to roll through a four-way stop rather than come to a complete stop due to the longer time it takes to slow and stop a truck. This is a common cause of T-Bone wrecks with vehicles which are legally in the intersection.
- Not yielding the right of way. Similarly, if a trucker fails to yield the right-of-way at an intersection, he is more likely to crash into another vehicle’s side.
- Running a red light. If a truck driver is trying to beat a red light, he can cause an even more catastrophic T-Bone accident because his truck is traveling at a faster speed—causing the impact to be greater.
- Failing to gauge traffic. Like other motorists, a trucker must correctly gauge the other traffic and be certain that he has sufficient time to make a turn before another vehicle which has the right-of-way enters an intersection. Many side-impact collisions occur when a trucker fails to access oncoming traffic properly before making a right or left turn.
- Not driving for weather. Truck drivers must slow down when rain, snow, or ice make the roads slippery. When they fail to do so, they can leave insufficient time to stop at a stoplight or stop sign, with a T-Bone collision being a likely consequence.
Maintenance Issues That Result in Side-Impact Wrecks
Not all of these accidents are caused by truck driver errors. In some cases, the truck driver fails to conduct a proper pre-trip inspection of the truck or ignores maintenance issues that he discovers. Trucking companies also have a duty to inspect and maintain their trucks. When they fail to do so, a key component of the truck could fail, causing a trucker could lose control of his vehicle and cause a T-Bone crash. Some of the maintenance issues that lead to side-impact accidents include steering problems and brake failures.
Contact Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Proving the trucker’s negligence in causing a T-Bone collision can be complex and requires the skill and experience of a truck accident attorney who handles many of these and other truck accident cases. If you or a family member were injured in one of these wrecks, fill out our convenient online form to schedule your no-cost initial consultation. A member of our legal team can review your claim and help you determine your best options for compensation for your injuries.
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