Whether it happens in the middle of a busy intersection, while you are traveling at highway speeds on the interstate, or anywhere else, being T-boned or sideswiped by another negligent driver can be a distinctly unsettling and potentially life-changing experience. Unfortunately, this sort of wreck can also be much trickier to file a lawsuit over than many people expect, largely because it can be surprisingly hard to establish in retrospect how a crash like this happened and who specifically was to blame for it.
For that reason, among many others, seeking help from a lawyer who has experience with side-impact / T-bone car accidents in Flagstaff should be one of your main priorities if you have been hurt recently in such an accident. With more than 30 years of experience handling similar cases, the attorneys at Phillips Law Group are ready and able to take your case all the way to trial if necessary to get you paid what you deserve.
Who Is Legally at Fault for a Side-Impact Crash?
When it comes to seeking civil recovery for a side-impact or T-bone car crash in Flagstaff, the most important thing to determine will be who held the majority of the “fault” for causing the crash to happen in the first place. In practice, this typically means showing that the incident likely could have been avoided if a particular person involved had not done a certain reckless, careless, and/or illegal thing—for example, running a red light, driving drunk, or simply becoming distracted at the wrong moment.
At the same time, however, any lesser amount of fault assigned to the injured person suing over the wreck can be held against them as a proportional reduction in the value of their final damage award, thanks to the rules outlined in Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505. Fortunately, Arizona is one of a small number of states that takes a “pure comparative fault” approach to this legal principle, meaning there is no amount of fault someone could hold for their own accident that would disqualify them from getting at least some amount of compensation from another at-fault party.
Getting Paid Fairly for Short-Term and Long-Term Losses
Assuming no issues with comparative negligence as described above, a comprehensive settlement demand or lawsuit over a T-bone or sideswipe car accident in Flagstaff can include both economic and non-economic damages stemming from that wreck, including:
- Costs of emergency medical treatment
- Auto repair/replacement costs and other out-of-pocket expenses not already covered by insurance
- Lost work income and/or benefits
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Psychological trauma and distress
Importantly, it is also possible to demand compensation in advance for future losses that can be expected to occur after the legal process concludes, such as the costs of rehabilitative medical treatment and lost overall enjoyment of life caused by a permanent disability.
Contact a Flagstaff Attorney for Help With a Side-Impact Or T-Bone Car Accident Lawsuit
In a front-end or rear-end traffic collision, the frame of your car will provide at least some protection from the forces the crash generates. However, another vehicle crashing directly into the doors or side paneling of your car can often lead to the force of the impact being transferred directly onto your body, resulting in exponentially more severe injuries than another type of collision might have caused.
This is why it is important to take legal action after being injured in side-impact / T-bone car accidents in Flagstaff. Call Phillips Law Group today to discuss your recovery options with an auto accident lawyer.
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