One of the most serious and often traumatic types of motor vehicle accidents in Texas is the T-bone collision. This kind of crash often inflicts serious and even fatal injuries on those involved. If you get into a T-bone accident in Laredo, it can benefit you to hire a high-quality Laredo car accident lawyer to represent you during the claims process.
What Is a T-Bone Accident?
A T-bone accident describes a type of two-vehicle car crash where the front of one car collides with the driver or passenger side of another, forming a “T” shape. These deadly accidents occur most often at intersections in Laredo, when one driver fails to yield the right-of-way to someone who has already entered the intersection. Running a red light or rolling through a stop sign can contribute to these crashes. This type of car accident is one of the most deadly.
Common Injuries Caused By T-Bone Car Accidents
The sides of a motor vehicle are not designed to withstand impact as well as the front or rear of the car. For this reason, the impact of a T-bone collision can inflict severe and catastrophic injuries on the occupants of the vehicle that is hit. The driver of the car that crashes into another vehicle can also suffer serious injuries from the force of the collision.
Common examples include:
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries, such as herniated disks
- Bone fractures
- Internal injuries
- Burn injuries
- Lacerations
- Soft-tissue damage
- Amputations
Sadly, many T-bone car accidents in Laredo are fatal. In 2023, 1 person was killed in a car accident every 2 hours 3 minutes in Texas. A total of 4,283 deaths were reported in 2023. If a loved one lost his or her life in a deadly T-bone accident, your family may be able to pursue justice by filing a wrongful death claim in Laredo.
Steps to Take After a T-Bone Collision in Laredo
It’s important to keep in mind what to do after an accident to protect yourself. These include:
- Pull over and check yourself for injuries. Seek professional medical care right away.
- Call 911 to report the T-bone accident to law enforcement.
- Exchange contact information with the other driver. Do not admit fault or apologize.
- Take pictures of both vehicles while you are still at the scene.
- Speak to eyewitnesses to get their names and contact information.
- Collect copies of important documents, including your police report and medical records.
- Contact your car insurance company to report the T-bone accident and file a claim.
- Don’t accept a fast settlement or give a recorded statement to an insurance provider.
- Listen to your doctor’s instructions and follow your treatment plan while you recover.
- Before you engage in the insurance process, contact a T-bone accident lawyer for legal advice.
It is normal to feel overwhelmed, scared or confused after a serious T-bone crash in Laredo. Contacting a Laredo personal injury attorney early on is the most effective way to handle your case.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help After a T-Bone Crash?
Hiring an attorney for a T-bone accident case in Laredo can come with numerous benefits. Your lawyer can help you determine fault and prove that the other driver is to blame. For instance, your lawyer can gather evidence such as a police report, witness statements and expert testimony to show that the other driver was in the wrong in the moments leading up to the collision.
Your Laredo truck accident lawyer can also take over settlement negotiations with an insurance provider to fight for the case outcome that you deserve. This is especially important if you suffered severe injuries that will have a long-term impact on your life, health and ability to work. Finally, though most car accident cases reach settlements, a lawyer can bring your case to trial in Laredo, if necessary. Contact Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC to discuss a particular case for free.