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Speeding, impaired driving, and distracted driving are some of the most common causes of side-impact car collisions. More now than ever, electronics distract drivers while they travel, whether by way of texting, using social media, or selecting music. Even if you drive responsibly, you could find yourself in a t-bone accident caused by an inattentive driver while proceeding on your right of way.
Call a Cicero side-impact car accident lawyer if this happens to you so that you can have an experienced car accident attorney’s help when pursuing recovery for any injuries and losses caused by someone else’s negligence.
A side-impact car accident, also known as a T-bone or broadside collision, occurs where a vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle. On impact, the impacted car may spin around, roll over, or be forced into other cars, poles, structures, or pedestrians. Because of this unpredictable nature of such incidents, there might be multiple parties involved in a lawsuit.
A side-impact crash can lead to serious injuries, including whiplash, concussion, spinal damage, broken bones, soft tissue injuries, and cuts and abrasions. In addition, an impacted—or impacting—vehicle may end up totaled, meaning there is no resale value left to it after the accident.
Side airbags have been standard since in vehicles in the U.S. since 2009. However, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, side-impact collisions accounted for 25 percent of deaths in passenger car crashes in 2016.
Side-impact accidents are often particularly dangerous because the only thing between the striking vehicle and occupants of the struck car is a door and a window. As a result, passengers seated on the side of the impact are more likely to sustain severe or fatal injuries than those seated on the opposite side, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In order to recover monetary compensation for injuries and financial losses stemming from a side-impact accident, plaintiffs must show that the other driver was negligent. An experienced Cicero side-impact car accident attorney could provide a great deal of assistance obtaining the evidence needed to prove the plaintiff was not at fault.
For instance, the automated programming of traffic lights may show what signal was in effect for each driver at the time of the accident. The police report at the scene can also reveal details that demonstrate fault by one or both parties.
The state of Illinois adheres to modified comparative accident law, which reduces the amount of damages the plaintiff in a personal injury case can recover by the same amount that they are found at fault. If someone’s portion of fault is deemed to be more than half, then they cannot recover.
If a plaintiff can show fault in a side-impact collision, they may be able to recover from the range of injuries, losses, and costs that the accident caused them. These damages may include:
In Illinois, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you. It is best not to delay pursuing legal action because witnesses’ memories can fade and investigations require sufficient time to fully assess liability.
Call a Cicero side-impact car accident lawyer for a consultation today. If government entities are at fault in your accident due to factors like poor roadway condition or lighting, your attorney could also pursue legal actions under the applicable deadlines.