Who is at Fault in a T- Bone Accident?

A T-bone accident, also known as a side impact collision, can happen in a variety of circumstances. Depending on the individual events, either driver in the incident can be held responsible or at-fault for the accident. Proving fault isn’t always the most straightforward task to accomplish after a T-bone accident. Side impact collisions are uniquely dangerous because you aren’t protected by the engine, trunk, or steel frame like you would be in a front or rear-end collision.Side impact collisions only have a door and window protecting you from injuries. The lack of protection is why there are between 8,500 to 10,000 car accident deaths from side-impact collisions every year. Safety standards are always increasing, but there are questions about how much safer these technologies are.

Who is Responsible in a Side Impact Accident?

Some accidents make it easy to know who is responsible, primarily when it’s an obvious driver error that caused it. Other incidents make it harder to place blame, such as if another car hit you or cut you off and forced you to veer into another vehicle. Certain elements come into play in determining who is responsible for causing the accident, which can offer valuable information to a personal injury lawyer in Westlake Village and Agoura Hills if you decide to take that route.

Scrutinize the Scene

The scene of the accident is crucial for determining who caused it. Always call the police to have them come to the scene to file an official report, do not apologize or admit that the accident was your fault, and take pictures of any damages. Witnesses can also help prove who is responsible for the crash.

Traffic Lights

Look at what time the accident occurred and if possible to the exact minute. It’s not an exact science, and might not work in all cases, but knowing the time of the incident might help prove what the signal said at the time. It can be another option to prove who had the right of way at the time.

Defects in the Vehicle

It’s common for accidents to occur due to the failure of crucial features such as brakes. The question of liability weighs the responsibility of the driver for failing to repair the brakes and the local repair shop who just checked them in your recent inspection but failed to take action. Cases such as these might require involving the manufacturer or repair shop to recoup costs.

If you’ve been in a side impact collision, it’s important to determine who is responsible for causing the accident. You may need the assistance of our car accident lawyers in Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.