Side impact collisions can cause serious, life-altering injuries, generate massive medical bills, and interfere with your ability to work. If you were injured in a side impact collision, you can take action to recover financial damages from the liable party.
Our side impact collisions lawyer serving McAllen from D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™, can investigate your accident to identify the negligent party, evaluate your losses, and work with the at-fault party’s insurance company to recover your losses. We can also litigate the matter in court if the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement.
Understanding Side Impact Collisions
Side impact collisions, also known as T-bone or broadside collisions, occur when the front of a motor vehicle collides into the side of another vehicle. They commonly occur at intersections while vehicles are turning, especially if they have to cross several traffic lanes to do so.
Common Negligent Behaviors That Cause These Accidents
Typically, broadside accidents result from negligence in some form or another. Accident investigators commonly find that the following behaviors cause these types of collisions:
- Running red lights
- Making improper left turns
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence
- Misjudging the time it takes to cross intersections
- Misreading traffic signals
- Driving while distracted
- Failure to yield
- Defective auto parts or malfunctioning vehicles
If an investigation of your accident reveals that one of the above or another form of negligence caused your side impact collision, you can pursue recovery of your damages.
We Can Establish Fault in Your Case
In order for Texas law to agree that another party is liable—or legally responsible—for your side collision accident injuries, your lawyer must prove the following elements:
- Another individual or entity owed you a duty of care—to act in a way that would keep you free from injury.
- That individual or entity breached this duty of care.
- This violation of duty caused you to suffer an injury.
- You sustained damages from your injury.
Entities That Could Have Acted Negligently in Your Case
Any party whose negligence caused the accident that resulted in your injuries can be found liable for your damages. Sometimes this party is the driver of another vehicle. In other cases, however, an entity might hold responsibility for your injuries.
Examples include:
- A municipality that failed to maintain a road, traffic signal, or stop sign
- A construction company that left debris on the road
- A motor vehicle or parts manufacturer whose defective product (steering wheel, brakes, etc.) caused you to lose control of your vehicle
Our investigation of your case will uncover the cause of your collision and identify the at-fault individual or entity.
How We Investigate Your Side Collision
When you hire us, we will seek the evidence to support each of the above statements. Our investigative efforts will include:
- Visiting the accident scene
- Interviewing witnesses
- Obtaining video footage from traffic signal cameras and other devices
- Getting a copy of the police accident report
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists
- Collecting photos
- Gathering your medical records
- Requesting wage statements from your employer
The evidence we obtain from this investigation will serve as the foundation for our case to recover your damages.
Types of Recoverable Damages in Your Side Impact Collision Case
In cases where another party holds liability for an accident, people injured in the collision can demand financial recovery from the at-fault party. The types and amount of this recovery depend on the severity of injuries and how those injuries have affected the injured person to this point—and how they will affect them.
Common types of damages associated with side collision injuries include:
- Doctor and surgeon fees
- Prescription medicine
- Physical therapy
- Replacement services
- Lost income and benefits
- Mental anguish and pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
If you lost your loved one from injuries sustained in a side vehicle collision, you can pursue a wrongful death action against the negligent party. Our firm can handle this matter for you.
The Statute of Limitations Limits How Long You Have To File a Lawsuit
Texas law requires that victims in motor vehicle accidents file any lawsuits against negligent parties within a certain window of time. According to the state’s statute of limitations, you must take legal action within two years of your accident.
By hiring a law firm earlier rather than later, you give your lawyer plenty of time to review your case, gather evidence, construct a demand letter, and negotiate with insurers.
If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, you will still have time to file a lawsuit before the statute runs out.
Why Broadside Collision Injuries Are So Serious
Although side airbags have added increased protection from broadside collisions, these accidents can still cause serious injuries, mainly because either drivers or passengers receive the full force of impact from the part of the vehicle that least protects them, just from a structural perspective.
Individuals who are sitting the closest to the point of impact tend to suffer injuries to the abdomen, chest, and legs. Those who are seated farther from the brunt of the impact tend to suffer neck, head, and shoulder injuries.
Commonly Occurring Injuries From T-Bone Accidents
Common injuries resulting from side impact collisions include:
- Tissue damage
- Fractured bones
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
These injuries can generate substantial expenses and cost you income as you recover.
There are many ways in which your injuries will continue to affect you for many years to come. A side impact collisions lawyer serving McAllen will work with experts in the fields of medicine, economics, occupational therapy, and psychology to determine the losses you should recover from the negligent party.
Call Our Team Today
You have suffered enough from your side collision—the trauma of the event and the actual physical injuries. You should not have to take on the additional hardship of seeking financial recovery associated with your injuries.
D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™, offers side impact collisions lawyers serving McAllen who can take this burden off your shoulders, enabling you to focus on the most important task at hand—recovering from your injuries.
Call our firm today for your consultation: (713) 850-8600.