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Who Is At Fault In A T-Bone Car Accident In Tennessee?

All car accidents carry some type of risk, but a T-bone crash can cause severe damage to your vehicle and serious injuries to you and your passengers. If you were in an accident because of another driver’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your damages.

At the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, we understand how to determine fault in a T-bone car accident in Tennessee. Call us at 865-546-1111 to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We can help you pursue a settlement to pay for your medical costs, lost wages, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact our office today to see how we can assist you.

 

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

A T-Bone car accident occurs when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle, and the wreckage forms something that resembles the letter, “T.” A T-bone car accident is also known as a broadside collision or a side-impact collision.

 

Which Driver Is at Fault for a T-Bone Accident?

Generally, the driver who fails to yield the right-of-way to another driver at an intersection may be at fault. For example, if a driver fails to stop at a red light or at a stop sign and hits a vehicle already in the intersection, they are at fault for the accident.

However, a T-Bone accident can also occur when one vehicle quickly cuts in front of another vehicle to make a right turn, and the second vehicle broadsides the car making the right turn. Similarly, T-Bone accidents can happen when a driver making a left turn in an intersection fails to yield the right-of-way to traffic approaching from the opposite direction.

In these cases, the driver who drove recklessly or dangerously is at fault for causing the crash.

 

How Do I Prove Fault in My Case?

Our car accident lawyers can help you build a solid case to prove that the negligence of another driver caused you to suffer injuries or property damage. To do this, we gather evidence to support your claim. This evidence might include:

  • A police report that provides details of your accident;
  • Traffic camera footage of the intersection;
  • Surveillance camera video from businesses nearby;
  • Photographs of the accident scene;
  • Photographs of road signs or traffic lights at the intersection; and
  • Eyewitness testimony.

If a commercial truck T-boned your vehicle, we may send a letter to the trucking company demanding it to preserve any electronic or written data associated with the accident.

 

How Can I Recover Compensation for My Injuries?

Our firm can help you by filing an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurer. We take the pressure off of you so you can spend more time recovering from your accident. Our lawyers will also negotiate the claim on your behalf to make sure you receive a fair settlement.

We have years of experience handling all aspects of insurance claims. We know how to counter the tactics auto insurers use to delay, reduce, or deny claims.

 

What If the At-Fault Driver Blames Me for the Accident?

We can determine whether your actions played a role in the crash after we investigate your case. For instance, if you had the right-of-way, but were texting while driving and another car T-boned your vehicle, you may be partially responsible for the accident. Even though you had the right-of-way, you could have possibly avoided the accident had you not been texting.

You may still pursue compensation if you share responsibility for the crash, but you will receive a reduced amount based on Tennessee’s comparative negligence rule. This law reduces your total amount of compensation based on your percentage of fault for an accident.

 

How Much Is My Case Worth?

We can estimate the value of your case, but only after we conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. The nature and severity of your injuries will play a large part in the amount of compensation you may be eligible to receive.

Because of the closeness of a driver’s or passenger’s body to the side doors, T-Bone accidents can cause serious injuries to the legs, hips, and arms, as well as severe injuries to the head and neck. As a result, you can pursue compensation for your:

  • Medical expenses;
  • Hospital bills;
  • Lost wages;
  • Loss of earning capacity;
  • Funeral expenses, if a loved one died in the accident; and
  • Property damage.

You may also pursue non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish.

 

Were You Injured in a T-Bone Car Accident in Tennessee?

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a T-bone accident another driver’s negligence caused, contact the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, at 865-546-1111 for a free, no-obligation legal consultation.