T-Bone Car Accidents

T-bone car accidents (or motorcycle accidents) are also known as side-impact collisions. The video below shows a t-bone car accident that resulted when one driver ran a red light.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zVzXEht1aME
As you can see, car accidents involving a side-impact collision can be extremely violent and the injuries associated with t-bone car crashes are quite significant.

Causes of T-Bone Car Crash

The National Safety Council reports that side-impact crashes are second only to head-on car accidents in the number of serious injuries and fatalities they cause each year. During a side-impact collision, one car hits the other in a perpendicular direction, thus the name t-bone.
The impact also frequently results in secondary collisions with other vehicles and stationary objects, such as utility poles, curbs, lane dividers, trees, and street signs. If either the initial or subsequent impacts are significant enough, a side-impact crash can also cause a rollover.
The following are generally considered the most common cause of side-impact collisions:

1. Failing to Yield – Failing to properly yield the right of way can cause t-bone accidents.
2. Running a Red Light – This is a very common cause of a side-impact collision.
3. Making a Left-Hand Turn – Many t-bone car accidents are caused by a driver who fails to properly gauge the speed of oncoming traffic or fails to notice a motorcycle when making a left turn.
4. Making a Right-Hand Turn – By failing to properly gauge the speed of oncoming traffic or to see a car or motorcycle, a driver can cause a t-bone car accident or a rear-end collision.
5. Distracted Driving – Talking on a cell phone, eating, or any other non-driving activity can divert a driver’s attention and make it likely that an accident will occur.
6. Bad Weather – Cars can hydroplane on wet roadways and cause side-impact collisions.
7. Braking or Mechanical Failure – This is a fairly uncommon cause of a T-bone accident, but one which nevertheless still occurs.

Stops Sign Problem Areas St. Petersburg and Clearwater

There are several areas in the St. Petersburg /Clearwater area where drivers routinely run stop signs. Florida law requires that drivers approaching a stop sign must stop completely before the crosswalk (if present). When a driver fails to stop completely, you will sometimes hear it referred to as a “California Rolling Stop.” The practice of rolling through stop signs is far more prevalent than actually just running the stop sign but is still a very dangerous practice.

In St. Petersburg and Clearwater, there are several areas where motorists’ consistent failures to obey stop signs have created safety issues. Several such areas include:

1. The northbound U.S. 19 frontage road at Dimmit Dive. The frontage road has a stop sign to allow traffic exiting U.S. 19 access. Exiting at this location has become dangerous because of drivers who fail to stop and are hit by drivers, traveling at speeds of up to 50 MPH exiting U.S. 19.
2. The northwest frontage road along Tyrone Boulevard in St. Petersburg has several stop signs at exiting points for the traffic from Tyrone. Drivers using the frontage road very rarely seem to stop completely. This makes for a dangerous combination when a motorist exits Tyrone.
3. The intersection of Tyrone Boulevard, 68th Street North, and the frontage road create a very dangerous situation with the combination of two intersections at one location. Further complicating the issues at this intersection is the number of pedestrians that are typically present.
4. The intersection of Oakhurst Road and Antilles Drive / 137th Street North in Seminole (the fork in the road in front of Time Out Bar and Grill) is one of the more dangerous intersections in Pinellas County. I have personally encountered 4 accidents with injuries during the month of February at or near this intersection.

The Expected Injuries in a T-Bone Collision

The injuries typically seen in t-bone collisions can be catastrophic. As the impact occurs, the occupant of the car is slammed across the car with a whip-like force. The head can be hit by the side window and then violently tossed to the other side of the car and back. Airbags and seatbelts may help, but the force is so great and violent that severe injuries are expected after a side-impact collision. The force exerted causes the injuries in both cars to be serious. The expected injuries in both vehicles include:

• Death;
• Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries – In a side-impact collision, the driver’s head can strike the vehicle frame or window, causing the brain to hit the inside of the skull. Depending upon the force of the impact, the driver can suffer anything from a mild concussion to a skull fracture and brain damage.
• Fractured or Broken Bones – The impact directly into the door can easily fracture ribs, arms, wrists, legs, ankles, and skull;
• Spinal Cord Damage – A side impact collision can severely damage the spinal cord resulting in paralysis.
• Neck and Back Injuries – Muscles, ligaments, and tendons can stretch well beyond their natural limit. More severe impacts can result in their tearing, especially in the neck and shoulder area. The unnatural jolting and stretching of the neck and shoulder from side to side and forward and backward is comparable to a whip effect. This injury is commonly known as whiplash.
• Lacerations and Contusions – Cuts and bruises will almost always occur caused by either the airbags or contact with the actual components of the vehicle.
• Damage to Internal Organs – The impact and force of a t-bone accident can be so massive that it will actually damage internal organs.

The injuries in t-bone collisions are often more severe if one vehicle is significantly larger or heavier than the other vehicle involved in the car accident.

Contact The T-Bone Car Accident Lawyers at Jones Law Group

Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney at Jones Law Group today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you in the privacy of your own home.

If you were injured in a T-bone accident, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.