T-Bone Truck Accidents
Request Free ConsultationT-bone truck accidents, also called side-impact collisions, occur when a tractor-trailer or other large commercial truck collides with the side of another vehicle, forming a “T” shape at the point of impact. Any accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating for the occupants of smaller passenger vehicles, but T-bone accidents can be particularly deadly, especially to those on the impact side.
In one recent year, 5,837 commercial truck crashes occurred in the United States, resulting in 5,936 deaths and 161,000 injuries. Many of those who survive truck accidents are left with life-altering catastrophic injuries and deep emotional trauma.
As Colorado’s commercial hub, Denver sees its share of truck crashes. Our highways and streets are heavily trafficked by commercial trucks day and night. I-70, for instance, is a hotspot for deadly truck accidents in the Denver area, but busy intersections are where most T-bone truck accidents happen.
Truck accidents of any kind can turn your world upside-down in an instant. If you or a close family member have been injured in a truck accident, an experienced and dedicated truck accident lawyer can help clear a path toward a better future.
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Why Are T-Bone Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
As with truck crashes of any kind, the dangers of T-bone truck crashes stem from the significant size and weight disparity between a commercial truck and a standard passenger vehicle. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle weighs around 3,000 to 4,000 pounds.
The height difference also plays a role: commercial trucks sit much higher off the ground, which increases the risk of a car sliding underneath in a side-impact crash, known as an underride accident. This combination of immense weight, height, and structural disparity often leads to devastating outcomes for those in smaller vehicles.
Factors that make T-bone truck accidents so dangerous include:
- Vulnerable Impact Zones: Passenger vehicles have less structural protection on their sides compared to the front and rear, making side impacts potentially more severe. While crumple zones and airbags provide some protection, they are not as effective in side collisions, particularly when struck by a much larger vehicle.
- Force of Impact: Large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is roughly 20 times the weight of an average passenger car. This immense mass generates a force that is significantly more destructive than typical car-on-car collisions. The heavier the vehicle, the more force is exerted upon impact, making injuries more likely to be severe or fatal.
- Underride Accidents: In some cases, smaller vehicles can get lodged under a truck during a side collision. The height difference between trucks and passenger cars increases the risk of an underride accident, which often results in catastrophic injuries for the car’s occupants.
Common Causes of T-Bone Truck Accidents
T-bone truck accidents are not random events. They occur due to specific, identifiable causes that, in many cases, could have been avoided. Whether the accident results from a driver’s actions, poor road conditions, mechanical failure, or a combination of factors, understanding the root causes of T-bone truck accidents is important to determining liability and is helpful in preventing future accidents.
Common T-Bone truck accident causes include:
Driver Negligence
The most common cause of T-bone accidents is driver negligence, which can take several forms:
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failing to yield the right of way at intersections
- Distracted driving (using smartphones or GPS, eating or drinking, etc.)
- Drunk driving
- Impaired driving (driving under the influence of drugs)
- Speeding in urban areas
- Aggressive and reckless driving
Trucking Company Negligence
Trucking companies can also be held liable in T-bone truck accidents if they fail to meet industry standards for safety and driver management. Common issues include:
- Poor driver vetting, where drivers with a history of traffic violations or accidents are hired without adequate background checks
- Inadequate training that leaves drivers ill-prepared to handle the challenges of safely operating large commercial vehicles
- Pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines, which can lead to reckless driving or violations of FMCSA hours of service regulations.
- Operating a fleet of poorly maintained or unsafe trucks which increases the risk of mechanical failure, brake issues, or tire blowouts that can lead to serious accidents
If a trucking company’s negligence contributes to an accident, it may be held responsible for the resulting damages.
Poor Road Conditions
Inclement weather, potholes, and poorly maintained roads can also increase the likelihood of a T-bone truck accident. Large trucks have difficulty stopping or maneuvering quickly, especially on slick roads, which may result in side-impact collisions.
Many professional truck drivers undergo training to prepare for the risks of their environment, but how they respond or fail to navigate external conditions may be a result of poor judgment or lack of training.
Mechanical Failures
Mechanical issues, such as faulty brakes, tire blowouts, or steering problems, can also cause truck accidents. When trucking companies fail to maintain their vehicles properly, they increase the risk of a devastating crash. A defective truck component could also be to blame. If investigations find that some form of mechanical failure was a factor in the T-bone crash, the truck company or parts manufacturer may also be held liable.
Shifting Cargo
Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift while a truck is in motion, making the truck difficult to control. A sudden shift in weight can cause the truck to veer off course, potentially leading to a T-bone collision.
Injuries Commonly Associated with T-Bone Truck Accidents
Whether it happens at an intersection or due to a truck driver running a red light, the sheer force of a truck hitting the side of a car can lead to catastrophic injuries and even fatalities. Common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): The impact of a T-bone accident can cause head trauma ranging from concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
- Spinal cord injuries: Victims often suffer from spinal cord damage, which can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
- Broken bones: Rib fractures, broken arms, and leg injuries are common injuries caused by the force of the impact and crushing.
- Internal injuries: The violent nature of a T-bone accident can cause internal bleeding and damage to vital organs.
- Whiplash: Even in relatively minor T-bone accidents, the sudden movement of the neck can lead to whiplash, a painful injury that can impair a person’s ability to work and perform daily activities. Whiplash can sometimes require long-term treatment.
- Burn injuries: Ruptured fuel tanks, fuel, or other flammable materials being transported can trigger fires in a T-bone truck accident. Serious burn injuries cause severe pain and suffering, scarring, infections, and long-term rehabilitation.
Claiming Damages and Losses After a T-Bone Truck Accident
Serious truck accidents result in painful injuries, emotional trauma, and a spectrum of other difficult and costly damages. A truck accident lawyer can help you assess the full range of your damages to ensure and pursue the maximum compensation possible for you. Truck accident damages commonly include:
- Medical expenses: Covers immediate and future medical treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, and rehabilitation.
- Lost wages: Compensation for missed work due to injuries and loss of future earning capacity.
- Property damage: Reimbursement for vehicle repair or replacement and other personal property damaged in the accident.
- Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death: If a loved one was killed in the accident, families may seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, financial support, and more.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
After receiving medical attention for truck accident injuries, your focus should shift to managing your care and gathering evidence to support a legal claim for compensation. To protect and support a potential claim, take the following steps:
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Consult a Truck Accident Lawyer
Given the complexities of T-bone truck accident cases, which may involve factors like trucking company negligence and compliance with FMCSA regulations, consult a truck accident lawyer. They investigate the accident, gather the necessary documentation, handle communications with insurance companies, and build a case against all liable parties, including trucking firms and truck manufacturers, if relevant.
Preserve All Evidence
If you were able to retain any evidence after your accident, it could be valuable in supporting your truck accident claim. Photographs and videos of the crash scene, witness statements and contact info, police reports, and damaged property are forms of evidence that can support your claim for damages.
Keep Track of Medical Appointments and Treatment
Keep all follow-up medical appointments, whether it’s with your primary physician, specialists, or physical therapists. Consistent medical care helps your recovery and serves as valuable documentation of your injuries and their progression.
Collect and Organize Medical Bills and Receipts
Keep detailed records of all medical expenses, including bills for hospital stays, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation. Make sure to also keep receipts for any out-of-pocket costs related to your treatment, such as transportation to medical appointments or purchasing medical equipment. These documents will be important in calculating the amount of compensation you may claim.
Document Your Pain and Recovery in a Journal
Maintaining a pain journal can be a powerful tool for capturing the day-to-day toll your injuries have taken on your well-being and life. Documenting your physical pain levels, emotional distress, and any limitations on your activities. This information can support your claim for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages, which are harder to quantify but play a significant role in T-bone truck accident cases.
By staying on top of your medical care and legal documentation, you can significantly improve your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for your T-bone truck accident injuries.
Why You Shouldn’t Negotiate with Insurance Companies After a Truck Accident
After a T-bone truck accident, trucking firms and their insurance companies start working immediately to minimize their liability in the accident. There are many ways they may try to do this, but top among them is trying to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as they can.
If an insurance company contacts you after a T-bone truck accident, they may try to persuade you to accept a payout that fails to cover all of your damages. Instead of negotiating with them, hire an experienced trial lawyer who has a proven record of securing maximum compensation for truck accident claims.
A truck accident lawyer handling the insurance companies will protect your rights, accurately and fairly value your claim, and aggressively pursue every dollar of compensation you deserve. If the insurer still fails to settle fairly, a trial lawyer is prepared to take your case to court and argue it before a judge or jury.
How a Trial Lawyer Can Help in T-Bone Truck Accident Cases
The physical pain and emotional trauma of your injuries and the grief of losing a loved one cannot be overstated and should never be undervalued. If you or a close family member are suffering from pain and loss after a T-bone truck accident, a trial lawyer with a proven history of success in handling complex truck accident claims can help you through this difficult time.
- Investigating the Accident: A thorough investigation is necessary to identify all liable parties and gather crucial evidence, including police reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements. Trial lawyers are skilled at building a comprehensive case from the ground up, anticipating how the defense might challenge your claims.
- Calculating Damages: Your lawyer will work with you to calculate all of your damages, including medical bills, long-term rehabilitation and care costs, lost wages or income, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. No damages should be overlooked.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies: A trial lawyer negotiates with insurance companies for you, using their litigation experience as leverage to secure a fair settlement.
- Filing a Lawsuit: If the insurance company refuses to settle fairly, a trial lawyer is prepared to file a truck accident lawsuit and represent you in court.
By having a trial lawyer on your side, you’re not only securing help for negotiations but also ensuring you have someone prepared to advocate for you in court if necessary. This can significantly increase your chances of receiving the full compensation you’re entitled to after a T-bone truck accident.
Fuicelli & Lee: Compassionate Legal Care for Truck Accident Victims
T-bone truck accidents can have life-altering consequences, from physical and emotional trauma to financial hardship and a diminished
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quality of life. While the future can seem overwhelming and bleak, there is hope.
At Fuicelli & Lee, our trial lawyers leverage a broad network of resources, courtroom experience, and the confidence that comes from thorough case preparation to help individuals harness the power of the civil justice system.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, call us today. Call (303) 444-4444 or fill out our quick online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
We understand that choosing the right attorney for your truck accident claim is an important decision – one that may impact the rest of your life. We take that responsibility to heart.