Modern motor vehicles have become much safer than older styles of cars thanks to significant improvements in their design and the safety features within them, including things like collision avoidance systems and side airbags. Even with every bell and whistle possible, though, there is only so much that technology can do to mitigate the forces involved in a high-speed impact between the front of one car and the doors or side paneling of another.
T-bone crashes like this—as well as similar sideswipe collisions that involve the sides of two cars colliding with each other—very often result in serious injuries, and can also very often be traced back to the reckless or careless misconduct of one specific person involved. When you are hurt in a side-impact / T-bone car accident in Avondale, you should talk to a skilled car accident attorney from the Phillips Law Group about the possibility of filing suit against the person who hit you.
Who Could Be Liable for a Side-Impact Collision?
Every motorist who operates any kind of motor vehicle on public Arizona roads owes roughly the same “duty of care” to every other person with whom they share that road. This duty requires them to obey traffic laws, watch out for nearby vehicles and people, and generally act rationally at all times while driving. Anyone who violates this “duty”—for example, by committing a traffic offense, being distracted or drunk behind the wheel, or losing focus at exactly the wrong moment—and causes a crash as a direct result can be considered legally “negligent” and held financially liable for ensuing losses based on that negligence.
Typically, the person most directly at fault for a side-impact car crash in Avondale is the other person involved in the wreck, who either struck and injured the person filing suit or caused that injured person to strike them. In some situations, though, other third parties may hold some of the fault for a crash like this. For instance, if someone rolls through a stop sign because their brakes unexpectedly failed, fault for an ensuing T-bone crash might lie with a mechanic who failed to inform the driver of their faulty brakes and/or the company that made and sold faulty brakes to begin with.
How Comparative Fault Could Affect Civil Recovery
It is worth noting as well that an injured person filing suit over a T-bone car accident in Avondale can be found partially at fault for their own injuries if they also acted negligently behind the wheel immediately prior to the wreck. Based on something like a traffic violation or moment of distraction, a court could assign a percentage of “comparative fault” to a person injured in this sort of accident, and then—in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505—proportionately reduce their final damage award based on that percentage.
Fortunately, Arizona follows a “pure comparative fault” system, so there is no amount of comparative fault someone can be assigned other than 100 percent which will disqualify them from being able to recover at least some civil compensation. Still, this can be a big obstacle to getting paid fairly for the effects of a side-impact collision, and it can be important to be proactive about contesting allegations like this.
Contact an Avondale Attorney for Help Following a Side-Impact / T-Bone Car Accident
Side-impact collisions can cause serious injuries to everyone inside the cars involved, especially if they happen at highway speeds. Even at low speeds, though, an accident like this which left you with an injury needing professional medical care could serve as valid grounds for civil litigation—provided that you understand and know how to effectively enforce your rights.
After a side-impact / T-bone car accident in Avondale, the assistance of a knowledgeable legal advocate can make all the difference in how your situation plays out and what sort of outcome your case has for you. Call today for a consultation with our firm. Unlike other personal injury attorneys, we are not afraid to take your claim to court to get you exactly what you need and deserve.
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