Bradley County Side Impact Collision Lawyer
When drivers fail to yield or obey stop signs or traffic signals, serious accidents can occur, including side-impact collisions. Given the potential severity of the injuries that may result from this type of motor vehicle crash, injury victims may want to look to a Bradley County side-impact collision lawyer for assistance.
Experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys may be able to investigate crashes, determine liability, and assess the likelihood of a successful personal injury claim based on a side-impact collision.
Common Types of Side Impact Collisions
Side impact collisions primarily consist of so-called “T-bone” and sideswipe crashes. Drivers who ultimately are injured in either type of these side-impact collisions often are unaware of the proximity of other vehicles until a collision occurs, which can result in devasting and life-threatening injuries.
T-bone or broadside collisions occur when the front of one vehicle impacts the side of another, thus forming a T shape. This type of collision often occurs at an intersection or any place at which vehicles are traveling perpendicular to one another, when one vehicle fails to yield to another or stop at a traffic signal.
Depending upon the speed at which the vehicles were traveling, the respective weights and sizes of the vehicles, and the exact point of impact, individuals may sustain serious injuries in a T-bone crash.
Sideswipe collisions tend to be less serious collisions than T-bond crashes, but nonetheless can result in severe injuries to all parties involved, particularly due to the lack of side protections for drivers and passengers in some vehicles.
This type of crash may happen when drivers leave the lane in which their vehicles are traveling and swerve into another vehicle. Again, the point of impact, speed, and size of the vehicles have direct effects on the severity of the crash.
Establishing Negligence in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Establishing negligence is necessary for any successful personal injury claim, including those arising from side-impact collisions. Negligence is composed of required elements of proof, which include duty, breach, proximate cause, and injury.
All drivers owe a duty to exercise reasonable care when it comes to the safety of others on the roadway. Drivers may breach that duty when they commit a traffic violation that leads to an accident, such as failing to stop at a red light and causing a side-impact collision.
If the collision is the proximate cause of the injuries that others sustain, then the drivers in this situation are likely liable for the costs of those injuries.
Injuries and Damages in Side Impact Collision Cases
While every case is different, side-impact collisions easily can result in traumatic brain injuries, head and neck injuries, abdomen and pelvic injuries, and internal injuries. When drivers are negligent in causing side-impact collisions, they may be liable for the injures that result to others.
Individuals who sustain injuries in side-impact collision cases may be able to recover the following types of damages, depending on the situation, among others:
- Medical and hospital bills
- Rehabilitation and medical equipment expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
With the assistance of a side-impact collision attorney in Bradley County, individuals may be able to file a claim for compensation against those who are responsible for their injuries.
Time Limits for Side Impact Collision Claims
Most states’ laws establish firm timelines for filing lawsuits, including personal injury claims resulting from motor vehicles. In the state of Tennessee, injury victims generally have only one year in which to file their claims for damages.
Although there are some exceptions to Tenn. Code § 28-3-104, which sets forth the statute of limitations for filing certain lawsuits, individuals typically should abide by the one-year deadline in order to ensure that their claims are legally valid under Tennessee law.
Retain the Services of a Bradley County Side Impact Collision Attorney Today
Injuries sustained in a side-impact collision can be very traumatic and result in high medical bills and lost wages for an extended period of time. In some cases, injury victims may even suffer permanent impairments that directly impact their ability to earn a living. When the negligence of another leads to injuries of this nature, those individuals should be held accountable for their actions.
If you believe that you or a loved one might have a motor vehicle accident claim, do not wait to contact a Bradley County side-impact collision lawyer, who may be able to give you the legal advice that you need.
