The side of a vehicle may have airbags but generally does not provide as much protection as the front or back of a car. The front and back of a vehicle can more easily absorb the impact of a collision between vehicles. When another vehicle sideswipes or perpendicularly hits another vehicle (known as “T-boning”), the major force of the impact occurs on the side of the car. As a result, many serious injuries and fatalities occur as a result of a side-impact collision.
If you suffered any injuries as a result of a side-impact collision, consider how a Houston side-impact collisions lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLL at (844) 730-0233 can help you understand your legal rights.
Catastrophic Consequences of Side Impact Collisions
Many people think that the most devastating car accidents are rollover accidents or head-on collisions. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that victims who experience side-impact collisions in their vehicles have the highest rates of serious injuries and fatalities of any type of car accident.
In most cases, a side impact collision occurs when both vehicles travel at extremely high rates of speed on the roadways or in intersections. Sideswiping accidents often occur on highways as one car attempts to merge either onto the highway or merge into another lane without noticing that another vehicle is already in that lane. As a result, both vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed on the highway have the sides of their vehicles collide, causing serious accidents.
The other type of side-impact collision is when a driver runs a red light or fails to stop at a stop sign and enters an intersection with traffic flowing directly in front of them. As a result, the vehicle may directly hit the side of another vehicle in a T-bone accident. The sheer force at which a driver impacts the side of a vehicle straight on is often the cause of devastating injuries and fatalities. On top of the fact that the side of a vehicle offers less protection than the front and back, in some cases, these accidents occur in a way that the airbags never deploy, causing even more catastrophic damage.
For a free legal consultation with a side impact collisions accidents lawyer serving Houston, call (844) 730-0233
Reasons for Side Impact Collisions
Research from the Injury Epidemiology Journal confirms that the side of a vehicle simply does not provide similar protection as the front or back of a car. There are many reasons why a side-impact collision may occur. While every car accident has its own set of facts and circumstances, some common ways side-impact collisions occur include the following:
- Distracted driving resulting in the failure to notice other cars when merging, or failing to stop at a red light or stop sign (examples include texting while driving, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, smoking, or checking a GPS or navigational system)
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving and/or road rage
- Failing to yield to the right of way intentionally or unintentionally
- Driving while fatigued
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Inclement weather
- Debris or hazards in the roadway from construction, potholes, etc.
- Wildlife or animals in the roadway
- Manufacturing defects (if the braking system, steering system, or tires fail in some way as a result of a design defect or manufacturing defect)
Houston Side Impact Collisions Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Types of Compensation Following a Side Impact Collision
You have the legal right to pursue compensation from a negligent party if their actions (or inaction) resulted in a side-impact collision that caused you to suffer any kind of injuries, damages, or losses. While money will never replace your health, you may face astronomical medical bills, ongoing medical procedures or therapy, the inability to return to work resulting in lost wages, property damage, psychological damage, and pain and suffering.
You have a legal right to receive compensation for the expenses and losses suffered resulting from your side-impact accident. Some of the following are types of compensation you may have the legal right to pursue:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses can include your ambulance fees, emergency room treatments, hospitalizations, surgeries or medical procedures, physical therapy, cognitive therapy, medications, medical treatments, medical equipment or devices, psychological counseling, and any other expenses related to the injuries you suffered as a result of your side-impact collision.
Medical expenses may also include future medical expenses if a medical professional makes the determination that your injuries are either permanent or will remain ongoing for a considerable amount of time.
Loss of Wages
In many cases, victims think they may only have the legal right to receive compensation for the wages they directly lost because of the time they took off to recover from their injuries. However, if you suffered serious injuries and remained unable to work for a considerable amount of time, you may have the legal right to pursue your vacation time, sick leave, missed bonuses, missed promotions, missed employee benefits, missed pension contributions, and more.
Additionally, if your medical condition resulting from the accident appears to remain permanent and you will have no ability to bring in income in the future, you may also have the legal right to pursue loss of future wages as well.
Property Damage
You have the legal right to pursue compensation for any property damage to your vehicle or the contents of your vehicle related to your accident.
Pain and Suffering
You also have the legal right to pursue compensation for your pain and suffering. These computations can include complex legal analysis. Visiting with a Houston side-impact collisions lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help you understand more about your unique situation and how much compensation you may receive as a result of someone else’s negligence. Reach our team today by calling Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233.
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Consider How a Houston Side Impact Collisions Lawyer Can Help You
If you suffered injuries due to a car accident that involved sideswiping or T-boning, consider visiting with our legal team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC who can help you understand your legal rights and help you determine what types of compensation you may have the legal right to pursue.
You can speak with a member of our car accident team today by calling Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233.
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