Los Angeles Side Impact Collision Attorneys

Side-impact crashes can cause serious injury or death, especially if they occur on the driver's side and the car is hit by a larger vehicle, such as a semi-truck or tractor-trailer. A side-impact collision is more likely to be fatal than a front end-collision or rear-end collision at the same speed.  Side-impact accidents are also known as t-bone crashes and broadside crashes. The Los Angeles car accident lawyers at Estey & Bomberger have represented dozens of victims of side-impact collisions in personal injury and wrongful death claims.

Causes of Side-Impact Collisions

Side-impact or T-bone crashes occur most often at intersections or junctions when one driver fails to yield to another driver's right-of-way. This may occur because a driver was distracted, drunk, or there could be a signal light malfunction, missing stop sign, or poor visibility. In a T-bone accident, the car that is struck on the side absorbs the impact. If the impact is on the near-side of the driver, the consequences can be devastating, resulting in catastrophic injury or fatality, depending on the speed and size of the vehicle. A side-impact crash can also cause a driver to lose control of their car and strike other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians, or a stationary object such as a tree, wall or guardrail. A side-impact crash can also trigger a vehicle rollover accident.

Side-Impact Crash Injuries

Technology has improved in reducing driver deaths in front-end collisions and rear-end collisions. However, the percentage of driver deaths in side-impact collisions has actually gone up. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in crashes with another passenger vehicle, 51% of driver deaths in recent model cars during 2000-01 occurred in side impact crashes, up from 31% in 1980-81. During the same time period, the proportion of deaths in frontal impacts declined from 61% to 43%. Most cars test poorly for side-impact safety. A door and a window provide much less protection than the front or rear of a car.  Even with a side-curtain airbag, when a larger vehicle strikes a smaller one, injuries can be catastrophic or fatal for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. Common injuries include abdominal and chest injuries, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Injuries are most serious and most likely to be fatal in small and mid-size vehicles. Ejection from a vehicle may occur if occupants are not wearing seat belts.

Side-Impact Crash Lawyer in Los Angeles

If you or someone in your family has been injured in a side-impact collision, a personal injury lawyer can help protect your legal rights. You may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries, including your medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, or the wrongful death of a family member in a fatal accident. Call the attorneys at Estey & Bomberger for a free consultation. We are available to discuss your case and potential claim 24 hours a day. If we represent you in your case, we will not charge any fees unless we recover money for you.