When someone T-bones your vehicle at an intersection, a stop sign, or anywhere else, that single impact can alter the course of your life. Depending on the severity of the collision, side impact or T-bone car accidents in Elgin can total your car and cause catastrophic injuries that will leave you in a hospital for weeks and months.
To recover your losses and make the responsible party pay for their actions, you need competent legal representation from an experienced motor vehicle collision attorney. At O’Connor Cadiz Accident and Injury Law, our legal team is committed to helping you secure the financial remedies you need to move forward with your life. Contact us today to speak with a lawyer about your legal rights and options.
What are the Leading Causes of T-Bone Collisions?
Most side impact or T-bone car accidents in Elgin are largely preventable. They typically occur because someone was driving recklessly, impatient when exiting parking lots, going through intersections and four-way stops, or getting on or off the highway via the ramps.
Common causes include:
- Reckless speeding
- Running a red light at an intersection
- Rolling through a stop sign
- Making a left turn poorly
- Failure to yield
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Adverse weather conditions
The person who falls into one or more of these categories and causes the crash is typically at fault.
Side Impact Collisions and Their Dangers
Broadside crashes in Elgin are particularly dangerous for the vehicle occupants on the impact side because there is very limited protection. Passengers are typically shielded by “thin” B-pillars, doors, and side airbags. These mean nothing when a car at full speed T-bones a vehicle.
This lack of significant protection means that victims often suffer catastrophic injuries such as:
- Neck injuries
- Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
- Joint dislocations
- Multiple fractures
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
Some of these injuries are immediately obvious, but others are not. For example, the victim may not feel the effects of internal bleeding or organ damage until much later. Because some injuries may not be immediately obvious, seeking prompt medical attention—and speaking with an attorney—can be critical to protecting both your health and your legal rights.
Holding Responsible Persons Accountable for Their Actions
When a driver engages in reckless driving actions and T-bones another person, they are automatically liable. However, insurance companies try to push some liability to the injured victim. They do this because, under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence rule, a victim’s compensation can be reduced by their degree of contribution to the crash, provided it is less than 50 percent.
With the help of a local side impact car accident lawyer in Elgin, the claim can be easily contested. The attorney, through thorough investigation and case building, could help ensure that the at-fault party assumes their full measure of liability and pays for their mistakes accordingly.
Contact an Elgin T-Bone Car Accident Lawyer to Take Legal Action
Side impact / T-bone car accidents in Elgin can easily lead to financial difficulties if you do not have the right legal support backing you and fighting for your rights. Do not make the mistake of assuming that you can handle your injury claim yourself. You should not have to worry about getting better and dealing with insurance companies.
Let our dedicated car accident lawyers at O’Connor Cadiz Accident and Injury Law represent you. Our seasoned attorney could fight to protect your rights, handle your claim filing, and negotiate a fair settlement that will allow you to recover your losses, get the financial security you need, and move on with your life. Contact us today for a free consultation.
