Injuries from a T-bone car accident in Hamilton County can be severe and may require months or years of rehabilitation and medical attention to treat. Unfortunately, when you get into a T-bone car accident, you’re usually totally caught off guard, and this doesn’t give you a lot of time to protect your body from the accident.

A skilled Fishers T-bone accident lawyer can help you and your family get the compensation you need to help cover the cost of lost wages and mounting medical bills after this severe car accident.

The legal process can be overwhelming, especially during recovery. Our skilled T-bone accident attorneys in Hamilton County or Fishers are here to guide you through this process.

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

Also called side-impact collisions, T-bone accidents are some of the highly fatal accidents on Indiana roads. They can cause passengers and drivers to suffer from severe injuries, and in extreme instances, they can result in death.

These accidents are unique. Unlike other collision types, victims in T-bone accidents only have a window and thin door to separate them from the colliding vehicle. On impact, the window can shatter and shower you with shards of glass, and the thin sheet of metal that makes up the car door can crumple like a piece of paper.

Even though it may seem obvious that the person driving the colliding vehicle is at fault in this accident, this may not always be the case. Sometimes, the driver of that vehicle that gets hit is at fault. In other instances, a third party could cause the T-bone collision, which is why you want to retain a car crash lawyer at an Indiana injury law firm to help navigate the legal process.

Are T-Bone Car Accidents Common?

Generally speaking, T-bone or side-impact crashes cause severe injuries to the passengers in the vehicle because the vehicle’s side has a very poor ability to absorb the colliding vehicle’s force. Even if your car has side airbags for additional protection, side airbags aren’t as effective in protecting the occupants as front airbags. According to the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, side impacts accounted for 23% of fatalities, while frontal impacts accounted for 58%.

Occupants in the impacted car typically have severe injuries from the car’s side crashing in on them, subsequent collisions with other cars, or the vehicle rolling over. Without the bumper and engine to protect the passenger or the trunk, passengers and drivers are prone to serious injuries. The following are common injuries from this type of accident:

Bone fractures
Chest injuries
Skull fractures
Spinal cord injury
Traumatic brain injuries

Fatal accidents can occur anywhere, but studies show that nearly 46% of all accidents happen on rural roads and tend to be more severe. Unfortunately, Indiana has hundreds of miles of rural roads and neighborhoods, and this means that it’s common to see higher fatalities than accidents in other states.

Indiana University collected crash data that showed severe traffic accidents typically have several factors influencing them, including speeding, seat belt use, and driver impairment. Unfortunately, these negligent behaviors happen more frequently on rural roads.

The IIHS reports that fatal crashes have dropped in more rural areas since the start of the 2000s. Still, improved vehicle safety and traffic control play a role. However, although these numbers have declined in recent years, fatal accidents happen more in rural areas.

If you sustained injuries in a rural accident in Hamilton Country, you want to contact your local personal injury lawyer at SLG Accident Attorneys. We understand how severe rural area accidents can be, and we want to help you file a case and get the compensation you need.

Car Accident Lawyers Holding Negligent Drivers Responsible

In 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that over 36,000 people died in car accidents. There were also 2.71 million accident victims who required a trip to the hospital to treat their injuries. Whether your accident is severe or minor, it can change your life. You can suffer lost wages, permanent disabilities, or pain and suffering. A qualified auto accident lawyer can help familiarize you with car accident facts and legal processes.

Human error causes 94% of all car accidents. Things like distracted driving, drunk driving, running stop signs and red lights, speeding, aggressive driving, reckless driving, and fatigue all increase the chances of a T-bone accident and severe injuries.

How Do You Determine Fault in a T-Bone Accident?

Numerous parties can be involved in a T-bone accident, and your auto accident attorney in Fishers can help evaluate the accident and determine who was at fault. Some of the parties include the following:

Another Driver

Sometimes, the driver who is at fault evades the collision. For example, the driver might make a wrong turn in front of an oncoming vehicle, causing the driver to swerve and strike another car. The driver who started this accident chain is responsible even if they didn’t hit anything. This driver should stay at the scene, but they may flee. If so, your car injury lawyer will talk to witnesses to identify the liable party.

Drivers Involved

On a green light, if the driver crosses the intersection at the same time a second driver runs a red light and hits them, the driver on the bottom of the T is at fault. If the driver ran the light and got hit while the other car went on a green light, the driver on the top of the T is at fault. The drivers may also share responsibility, depending on the accident circumstances. A car accident injury attorney can help prove who is at fault.

Vehicle Manufacturer

The vehicle manufacturer might share fault if faulty vehicle components caused the accident, like a stuck accelerator or bad brakes. Every state has product liability laws, and car injury attorneys can hold automobile manufacturers liable for damages. They might investigate the crash, including the vehicle’s condition at the time of the crash.

Do I Need a Lawyer If the Accident Wasn’t My Fault?

If you had a T-bone accident that wasn’t your fault, you have the right to retain a T-bone accident lawyer in Hamilton County. You might assume that since the accident wasn’t your fault, everything works out in your favor. However, you may have to prove that you didn’t have any responsibility for the accident.

You don’t have to hire a car crash lawyer, but they can help you file your lawsuit or claim against the guilty party. Getting into a car accident due to the reckless behavior of another driver results in frustration, stress, and injuries.

So, you don’t want to worry about negotiating with insurance companies or tracking everything after an avoidable accident. This is where your T-bone accident attorney can guide you through the legal process, build a case, and act on your behalf during negotiations.

My Accident Claim Was Denied. What Do I Do?

If the insurance company denied your claim, ask for the reason in writing. You’ll want to know why they denied it and how to appeal it. It could be a mistake, or it could be a legitimate denial. For example, maybe you didn’t have the right coverage for the claim.

You want to review the current evidence and submit a letter that describes how the evidence is at odds with the company’s decision. If you’re uncomfortable disputing the denial with the insurance company, you may want to get legal advice and consult a car wreck lawyer.

What Types of Cases Does SLG Accident Attorneys Handle?

At SLG Accident Attorneys, our professional Fishers car accident lawyers have taken on a broad range of cases for our clients in Indiana. These cases include but are not limited to the following:

Distracted Driver Accidents – Technology makes it very easy to get distracted as you drive. Texting, adjusting the radio, or looking around can make it easy for drivers to blow through lights and miss road signs, resulting in an accident.
Wrong-Way Accidents – Unfortunately, it’s common for drivers to get into oncoming traffic and cause accidents. These are usually head-on accidents, so the potential for severe injuries is very high.
Fatal, Serious, and Catastrophic Accidents – Depending on the accident’s severity, you can end up with catastrophic or life-changing injuries. You need a fatal car accident lawyer to ensure you get the compensation you need to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Highway Accidents – Indiana has thousands of miles of highways, and people driving at excessive speeds can cause accidents. Also, road rage incidences are high, increasing the chances of accidents.
Uber and Lyft Accidents – Ridesharing is immensely popular, but it can make a case all the more complicated if you get in an accident while using Uber or Lyft. You have to figure out who is at fault, which insurance company to pursue for compensation, and more. So, it makes sense that you’d use an attorney to help you with the case.
Hit-and-Run Accidents – Hit-and-run accidents can be catastrophic due to the vulnerable position the driver puts you in. They may flee the scene, and you’ll need a dedicated car injury lawyer to be your advocate as you recover.

Car Accident Lawyers in Fishers, Indiana

If you were in a T-bone accident and sustained injuries, SLG Accident Attorneys are here to help. Residents of Fishers and Hamilton County know we have a reputation for getting results for our clients by building strong cases and getting them the compensation they deserve. You can fill out our secure form or call us at 317-762-4186 to set up a no-obligation, free consultation.

Some of the locations in and around Hamilton County which our legal team serves include Fishers, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel, Noblesville, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Hammond, Gary, Highland, Munster, East Chicago, Fort Wayne, Anderson, Avon, and more.