Side-impact accidents are the most dangerous motor vehicle accidents for both drivers and passengers. These incidents occur when the side of a vehicle is struck at an angle or straight on. In front-end and rear-end accidents, there’s space that separates the bodies of passengers from the outside of a vehicle. In addition, areas like the trunk, hood and bumpers act as buffers that minimizes the impact from a collision. However, there are few structural barriers on the car’s sides, often resulting in severe injuries and fatalities for passengers. 

An experienced auto accident attorney can help victims to navigate the legal process of seeking damages and to receive the compensation they deserve following a side-impact collision.

Types of Side Impact Injuries

The striking vehicle’s size and speed determine the collision’s severity. Injuries are more significant when the car is bigger and is traveling faster. However, side-impact accidents have still been shown to cause severe injuries even at slow speeds.  

A national study determined that these are the most widespread injuries resulting from side-impact collisions:

• Head injuries: These injuries can occur from blunt force trauma from hitting the head during an accident. They also happen when the body itself takes a blow that allows the brain to bounce against the inside of the skull, resulting in brain bruising or bleeding. 
• Neck and back injuries: These injuries occur when the body’s weight accelerates first on impact while the head stays still. This causes the neck to absorb the force of impact, stretching muscles and ligaments when the head’s weight abruptly pulls the neck back, resulting in whiplash, which can cause spinal cord damage.
• Chest, abdomen and pelvic injuries: A buckling car frame can result in severe and life-threatening damage to the torso. Organs most impacted include the thoracic aorta, heart and spleen. Internal bleeding can be challenging to identify and is a leading cause of death in crush injuries.

There have been continual improvements to upgrading vehicle safety features but their focus is mainly on how to make rear-end and head-on collisions less fatal. Some car manufacturers have begun to include side airbags to offer an additional layer of protection in these side-impact crashes, but they are currently not standard safety features. 

What Are the Common Causes of Side Impact Accidents?

Side-impact collisions are often caused by distracted driving when a driver takes their complete attention off the road. They usually happen at intersections, where a driver fails to yield and runs a red light or stop sign. In addition, speeding or driving too fast for road conditions, such as icy weather, can cause a vehicle to slide into an intersection and strike another car unexpectedly. Illegal passing that reduces a driver’s ability to see traffic ahead can also result in T-bone accidents, as can reckless or aggressive driving and failure to look for oncoming traffic before turning.

No matter the cause, an accident’s results can significantly impact the lives of everyone involved. For this reason, having a car accident lawyer by your side will help you navigate the challenging times. 

Determining Fault for Side Impact Accidents

Drivers assume a duty to act with care while operating a motor vehicle to avoid harming others on the road. When a driver has failed to exercise reasonable care, as in the case of distracted driving or driving under the influence, they have breached that duty and can be held liable for injuries and expenses incurred by the occupants of the other vehicle. 

Issues of liability can be more complicated than in other types of crashes, making it difficult for insurance companies and courts to determine fault. For example, T-bone accidents often occur when one vehicle strikes a second vehicle while traveling through an intersection or when one driver cuts in front of another. In either of these cases, both drivers might claim that they had the right of way. 

Crash witnesses, skid marks, and points of damage on a vehicle can offer clues to accident investigators that will help to determine fault. In some cases, both drivers could be found negligent in a side-impact collision. Even when traveling through a green light, a driver is responsible for looking both ways before proceeding.  

Insurance companies and courts will often consider speed, visibility, traffic conditions, and other circumstances during a crash to determine damages. Exchange insurance information with the other driver if possible and gather the contact information of the accident’s potential witnesses. While monetary compensation can’t repair physical damage to persons and property, it can ease the financial burden of medical bills, rehabilitation and loss of income.

If you’ve been involved in a side impact accident and want to prove the other party’s fault, hiring an auto accident attorney is the most effective way to do so. Experienced legal professionals have the proper knowledge and experience to build a solid case that works in your favor.

Taking Legal Action

An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to guide claimants through the litigation process, which can be complicated and time-consuming. Find an auto accident attorney with a background in personal injury law. Call the Law Offices of David Kohm at our convenient locations today and get a free consultation.

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