Side-impact or T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Unfortunately, this type of accident happens frequently and can lead to severe injuries and even death.
The party who caused the accident is responsible for paying compensation to anyone who sustained losses because of it. However, the injured person ultimately has the burden of proving liability.
Work with a local law firm with deep roots in the community after a side impact/T-bone accident in Tucson. A skilled legal professional from Phillips Law Group can protect your rights and ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.
How T-Bone Accidents Happen
Most T-bone accidents in Tucson occur at intersections. One vehicle might go through a stop sign or light and collide with another vehicle crossing the intersection. Sometimes a driver making a turn does not yield to oncoming traffic and the vehicle with the right-of-way crashes into the turning car.
Side-impact accidents can also happen in parking lots. A driver might pull out of a space in front of an oncoming vehicle, causing a collision. Similarly, these accidents sometimes happen when a car pulls out of a driveway or exits a drive-through onto a busy street.
A legal professional representing an injured person can investigate the incident to determine what occurred and who is responsible. The police report, witness statements, physical damage to the vehicles, surveillance footage, and other evidence could shed light on the cause of the crash.
Allocating Responsibility for a Side-Impact Collision
Evidence is especially important in side-impact crash cases because there is often a dispute about which party is responsible. Sometimes, both drivers had a role in causing the crash.
Arizona Revised Statutes §12-2505 allows an injured person who has partial responsibility for an incident to claim compensation from other responsible parties. The law discounts the amount a negligent claimant could collect by their percentage of responsibility for the accident. In other words, an injured motorist who was 20 percent responsible for a crash could collect 80 percent of their losses from the other responsible parties.
When more than one person bears responsibility for an incident, insurance companies for the responsible parties negotiate among themselves to allocate fault. An injured person in Tucson whose conduct might have contributed to the T-Bone wreck must have a knowledgeable attorney representing them to ensure they do not bear a disproportionate share of the blame.
Compensation Available After a Broadside Crash
The money an injured person collects as compensation for their losses is called their damages. Compensatory damages include both economic and non-economic compensation.
Economic damages reimburse the injured person for their accident-related expenses and losses. These include diminished earnings, medical costs, and other incidental expenses. When the injury is permanent or will prevent the injured person from returning to their job, economic damages could also include future lost income and ongoing medical expenses.
Non-economic damages provide money for temporary or permanent changes to the injured person’s quality of life. An injured person could receive non-economic damages for their inconvenience, emotional distress, disability, scarring, physical pain, and lost enjoyment of life. The cost of these losses is subjective, but a skillful attorney can present a compelling case that adequately reflects the full amount of damages.
Punitive Damages Are Sometimes Appropriate
Compensatory damages are intended to make up for an injured person’s losses, but punitive damages are meant to punish a wrongdoer. They could be available when an at-fault driver caused harm through intentional conduct or by acting in disregard of the likelihood of injury to others.
Punitive damages are rarely available in personal injury cases. However, they could be appropriate when a T-bone in Tucson was caused by someone driving drunk, racing, or driving recklessly. The claimant must have evidence proving the driver acted intentionally or with reckless disregard for the harm they might cause.
Seek Compensation After a Side-Impact Crash With a Tucson Attorney
A side-impact/T-bone car accident in Tucson can cause severe injuries that have a significant impact on your well-being. You can hold the negligent driver accountable by seeking compensation for your losses with the help of a skilled local attorney.
Insurance companies are likely to take advantage of you if you try to handle the claim yourself, which is why you should strongly consider contacting Phillips Law Group to get skilled representation. Your initial consultation is free, and our team is dedicated to ensuring you feel heard. You are also under no obligation to work with us after this first visit. Please don’t hesitate — call us today to get started!
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