What is a T-Bone Car Accident?
T-bone accidents occur when the front end of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle, forming the letter “T.” Most T-bone accidents happen at intersections where one car fails to give right-of-way to another.
Why T-Bone Car Accidents Occur
One party to a T-bone accident may mistakenly believe they have the right-of-way or cannot stop due to speed or weather conditions. The following commonly lead to T-bone accidents:
- Left-hand turns while speeding;
- Driver miscommunication;
- Failure to judge vehicle distance;
- Failure to obey traffic signs, signals, or speed limits;
- Failure to look for oncoming traffic before pulling out of a private drive or parking lot; and
- Illegal U-turns into oncoming traffic.
If you were involved in a T-bone accident due to another driver’s negligence, you may qualify for personal injury compensation. Contact an experienced Louisville car accident attorney for a claim consultation and evaluation.
Who is At Fault in a Kentucky T-Bone Car Accident?
As illustrated above, the driver without legal right-of-way is typically at fault in a T-bone accident. However, a thorough investigation could reveal multiple liable parties in a T-bone accident.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- An auto repair shop for faulty repairs;
- An auto manufacturer or parts supplier for defective auto systems or parts; and
- A governmental entity for hazardous road construction or traffic control systems.
In Kentucky, the T-bone accident victims may also share a portion of liability for the accident.
Kentucky is a Pure Comparative Fault State
Kentucky is a pure comparative fault state. This means that an accident victim’s damages are reduced by their shared percentage of fault for an accident.
For example:
- A car accident victim is awarded $100,000 in damages;
- The accident victim is found to be 20% at fault for their car crash;
- The damages award is reduced by 20% or $20,000; and
- The victim is left with a damages award of $80,000.
Evidence is of utmost importance when assessing liability in a T-bone accident. An experienced car accident attorney in Louisville will examine multiple resources when building a compensation claim.
Evidence in a Kentucky T-Bone Accident Claim
There are several kinds of evidence used by attorneys in T-bone accident claims. Shared fault makes evidence essential for T-bone accident victims.
Evidence in a T-bone accident may include:
- Police reports;
- Eyewitness statements;
- Medical records;
- Accident reconstruction reports;
- Accident photos;
- Dashcam footage;
- Traffic camera footage; and
- Repair statements from auto body repair shops.
The sooner a car accident attorney can start the evidence-gathering process, the better. Eyewitness recollections and physical evidence are more readily available at the beginning of an accident case.
Contact an Experienced Louisville T-Bone Accident Attorney Today
Have your T-bone car accident evaluated by a skilled attorney at Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC, today. There is no cost for a consultation with one of our specialized Louisville personal injury attorneys, and Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC, only charges legal fees when we win your claim!
If you suffered T-bone accident injuries through no fault of your own, you have legal rights under Kentucky law. Let Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC, advise you of your legal options and walk you through the claims process!