T-bone accidents are serious collisions that could leave you facing a variety of injuries. These accidents occur when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another, creating the shape of a “T.” Because the sides of cars don’t offer as much protection as their fronts or rears, the resulting injuries could be significant.
If you have suffered an injury in a T-bone collision caused by another party’s negligence, filing a car accident lawsuit could help you recover your losses. Below, you’ll learn more about the most common injuries you can sustain in one of these crashes and how attorneys from Ramsey Law Group can help you fight for your rights.
Soft Tissue Injuries
If you pull a muscle or strain a ligament, you have suffered a soft tissue injury. Most people don’t consider these to be all that severe, but they can still cause significant pain and stiffness that makes it difficult to move.
In a car accident, whiplash is among the most frequently experienced soft tissue injuries. It occurs when your head shifts back and forth rapidly as a result of the impact, and it typically heavily strains the muscles in your neck.
However, whiplash, as well as sprains and strains to other soft tissues in your body (muscles, tendons, and ligaments), can take time to appear. You may go hours or even a day without feeling any discomfort, as pain and stiffness will only begin as the muscles become inflamed.
Head and Brain Injuries
T-bone accidents can also cause traumatic brain injuries. These occur when a force or jolt causes the brain to shift in the skull or when an object penetrates the head and damages brain tissues.
Concussions are the mildest of these injuries, but you can also experience hematomas, or bleeds in the brain, as well as the shearing of nerve fibers that can occur in diffuse axonal injuries. These are catastrophic wounds that could very well lead to fatal brain damage.
Chest and Rib Injuries
Car accidents can also leave you battling chest and rib injuries. You could break your ribs against the airbag or as a result of your seat belt’s force. When a rib breaks, it can puncture organs, including your lungs.
Internal bruising or bleeding can occur, as well, especially if you suffer a blow to the chest. Blood vessels can break, and organs can be damaged enough to put your life at risk. These are particularly common risks after T-bone accidents, as side impacts often leave little means of protecting oneself.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe you can suffer. These wounds could occur if you break vertebrae or in any way damage the nerve fibers that connect your spine to your brain.
The worst of these injuries is quadriplegia, which involves losing all sensation and movement in your four limbs as well as in the rest of your body from the neck down. It’s most likely to occur if you suffer an injury to your cervical spine.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Fracturing bones is also a common outcome of T-bone accidents, especially in those that involve high speeds. Stress breaks are the mildest, and they frequently happen to your ribs when airbags deploy and slam against you. Although these are not too severe, they can still take considerable time to heal.
Open fractures are those in which the bone breaks through the skin, making infections more likely and making the injuries far more complex to treat. Comminuted breaks, which are bones that break into two or more pieces, are the most difficult to treat.
Emotional Trauma
Not all injuries are physical; being in a traumatic accident can leave you struggling with flashbacks and anxiety. Some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder, which keeps them from moving on from the accident, and others may struggle with depression. All of these conditions drastically lower your quality of life.
FAQ
What Is the Main Cause of T-Bone Collisions?
Driver errors of all forms can lead to T-bone collisions, but distracted driving is among these crashes’ most frequent causes. People who are too preoccupied with their phones or other activities can run red lights and crash into the side of another vehicle.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a T-Bone Accident in Texas?
The statute of limitations for car accidents in Texas is two years. There may be exceptions to that timeline, however, so you should contact an attorney as quickly as possible.
What Damages Can I Receive In a T-Bone Accident?
You can receive coverage for medical expenses, including future ones, as well as lost wages if you had to miss work as you recovered. If you can no longer return to work, you can also claim a loss of earning potential.
There are also non-economic damages, which cover the physical and emotional distress you suffered and your loss of enjoyment of life.
Beginning a Claim With Help From Ramsey Law Group
Suffering injuries in a T-bone accident can leave you battling pain, both physical and emotional, as well as facing exorbitant medical expenses and a variety of other financial losses. However, with a car accident attorney by your side, it’s possible to demonstrate that you deserve (and go on to receive) compensation.
At Ramsey Law Group, our team of lawyers can investigate your accident, gather evidence, and put together a strong case we can use to negotiate with insurers. Don’t wait to get the process started — contact our team today to schedule a free consultation.