Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone Car Accident?

T-bone car accidents occur when one vehicle drives into the side of another. Who is at fault in a T-bone car accident varies on a case-by-case basis. In some collisions, the driver who got hit may be at fault, while in others, it is the driver whose vehicle initiated the impact.

If you or a loved one was involved in a side-impact accident in Columbus, Ohio, our legal team can review your case and help you determine who may be at fault and liable for your damages. We can have a Columbus personal injury lawyer from our team help you construct your case and fight for compensation to start your recovery.

The Party at Fault for the Accident May Owe You Compensation for Your Damages

The term “damages” often refers to money awarded to accident victims to either help them pay bills or compensate them for their injuries’ physical and mental trauma.

Damages may go by similar names, including monetary compensation and financial recovery. You may also see the terms “economic damages” and “non-economic damages” used. These are two subcategories of damages that you may qualify for, depending on the circumstances of your collision and injuries.

What Qualifies as Economic Damages?

Economic damages are the monetary impacts of the accident. The following are different types of economic damages you may be able to claim in your case:

• Repair expenses or other expenses related to property damage
• Current loss of income, including benefits and pensions
• Expected loss of income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Current medical expenses
• Projected medical expenses for future treatments

You may be able to claim other forms of economic damages if you can relate how your injuries or the accident caused other financial hardship. We can help you prove these damages by collecting financial documents that support your claims, such as receipts, bills, or tax documents.

What Are Considered Non-Economic Damages?

Non-economic damages are often just as important as economic damages. However, it can be tougher to put a price on factors like physical pain and emotional trauma than on the cost of getting your car repaired. An attorney from our team can help you appraise the value of your case.

Examples of non-economic damages include:

• Disfigurement or scarring
• Pain and suffering
• Long-term or permanent disability
• Reduced quality of life
• Emotional distress

What Happens If the Injured Party Passed Away and Cannot Collect Damages?

If your loved one passed away because of the T-bone accident and thus cannot file a personal injury claim or lawsuit, you may be able to file for compensation on their behalf, depending on your relation to them. Instead of a personal injury action, you would be filing a wrongful death action, which may entitle you to additional damages.

Damages for wrongful death cases may include:

• Loss of financial support from the decedent
• Loss of companionship or parental guidance
• Funeral service expenses
• Loss of society
• Remaining medical debts from the decedent

Our law firm handles both personal injury and wrongful death cases, so we can manage your case for you if you would like to dedicate your time to grieving your loved one.

A Personal Injury Lawyer from Our Team Can Help You Prepare Your Case

You may be reluctant to hire a lawyer for several reasons. Money may be tighter than ever after the accident, or you may think that hiring legal representation is too dramatic a step. While these concerns are understandable, they do not have to stop you from getting legal help if you want it.

Our legal team wants to help you fight for the compensation you need. Regarding legal costs, our law firm works for a contingency fee, which we take out of your recovered compensation rather than out of your pocket. You only have to pay our attorney’s fees if and when you get your compensation.

What Our Legal Services Include

Having an attorney from our team represent you can bring you peace of mind as your case progresses. You may find it helpful—even reassuring—to have someone on your side to:

• Answer questions: Whenever you need advice, guidance, or clarification, our team will be here to provide it.
• File paperwork: Submitting the right forms at the right times is crucial to a lawsuit. Our team can make sure appropriate paperwork gets done.
• Collect evidence: Surveillance footage, witness testimony, police reports, and more can help prove the validity of your case. Our team can investigate your case separately from the police to help you gather evidence.
• Talk to the liable party: You do not need to have any direct contact with the party who caused your accident or their representatives. Instead, one of our attorneys can speak with interested parties on your behalf. This includes handling the insurance companies.
• Advocate for you: From the negotiating table to the courtroom, a lawyer from our team will fight hard for the money—and the justice—that you deserve.

Keep Track of Ohio’s Statute of Limitations if Your Accident Was in Columbus

If your side-impact collision happened in Columbus, Ohio, and you intend on filing a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation, you must keep note of Ohio’s statute of limitations. This law affects how long you have to file your case.

Per Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. If you are filing a wrongful death action instead, then Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02 mandates you generally have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file.

Do Not Wait Until the Last Minute to File Your Case

With both statutes of limitations mentioned, certain exceptions may apply that might toll your case’s filing deadline. However, you do not want to wait too long to find out how long you have to file, especially if it puts you at risk of missing the deadline altogether.

Should you fail to file your lawsuit by its deadline, you may be barred from pursuing compensation through litigation. To avoid this, our team can immediately review your case to determine how much time left you have to file your case, then act accordingly. Our Columbus personal injury lawyers can help streamline the legal process so that you file your suit on time.

Common Causes of T-bone Accidents That Can Warrant Compensation

Intersections present many dangers that can lead to side-impact collisions. For example, drivers may attempt to make a turn before it is safe to do so at a traffic light, putting themselves in the path of a driver who legally has the right of way. In this case, it is the turning driver who could be at fault for the T-bone accident.

On the other hand, drivers headed straight through an intersection can also end up in a side-impact collision if a vehicle traveling perpendicular to them decides to drive through a red light or a stop sign. In T-bone crashes like this, the driver who ignored the road sign may be found at fault.

What Leads to Negligent Driving

Why do drivers make such reckless decisions? They may be in a hurry or believe that they have the right of way when they do not. Others choose to drive recklessly regardless of the risk to others (and themselves).

In all too many cases, collisions occur because of easily avoidable risk factors. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), some common causes of risky driving behavior include:

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Drowsiness
• Using a cell phone or another electronic device

There’s no excuse for any of these behaviors behind the wheel, especially when they end in a T-bone collision. If you are struggling to pay your medical bills, you deserve fair compensation. An accident lawyer can file a claim with the liable party’s insurance company or seek a court-awarded offer.

Seek Medical Attention After a T-Bone Collision

T-bone accident injuries can range from minor cuts and scrapes to severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries. The sooner you start medical treatment, the better. Your health comes first, and your case for compensation depends on your medical records.

An attorney can use your medical documents and bills to establish negligence in your case and fight for fair compensation.

Start Working with a Car Accident Attorney from Our Team Today

If you or a loved one was involved in a side-impact collision, call the Fitch Law Firm LLC. We can help you prove who is at fault in your T-bone car accident and find evidence to substantiate your claim to damages when you become our client. To get started, call our Columbus office for a free case assessment.