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Chicago T-Bone Collisions / Side-Impact Crash Lawyers
Experienced representation when broadside accidents happen in Illinois
A T-bone collision (also called broadsides) involves the front of one car colliding with the side of another car. The letter T is a visual illustration of how the cars collide. These accidents often happen at intersections or when cars enter a main road from a parking lot or a side street. The occupants of both cars, especially the drivers and passengers whose side is struck, are likely to suffer catastrophic or permanent injuries. Many T-bone collisions are fatal.
At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we understand the unique challenges in holding drivers accountable for causing T-bone crashes. Our lawyers demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages. Our Chicago broadside accident attorneys also file wrongful death claims on behalf of families.
In one illustrative case, we obtained a $100,000 settlement for a 45-year-old man whose car was T-boned when another driver failed to yield at a stop sign. Our client suffered shoulder pain. An MRI revealed that he had a full-thickness tear of his shoulder that required repair surgery and several months of rehabilitation.
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How can we help?
- Where do T-bone/side impact accidents happen in Chicago?
- Why are T-bone crashes so dangerous?
- Why do T-bone/side impact accidents happen in Chicago?
- What types of injuries do T-bone/side impact accidents cause?
- Who is responsible when T-bone accidents happen in Chicago?
- How much is my side impact claim worth in Illinois?
- Do you have a Chicago broadside accident lawyer near me?
Where do T-bone/side impact accidents happen in Chicago?
Most broadside accidents occur at intersections when one car is turning and another car is going straight. These intersection accidents may involve one car failing to stop for a green light or failing to properly yield the right of way. Left-hand turns are more likely than right-hand turns to result in these collisions because cars are crossing one another’s paths.
Side impact accidents can also happen when a driver refuses or fails to let another driver merge, or a car enters a road from a side street or a parking lot. U-turn accidents are an additional, although less common, cause of T-bone accidents. Our lawyers handle every type of T-bone accident that happens in Chicago.
Why are T-bone crashes so dangerous?
Some of the many reasons that T-bone accidents cause fatalities or catastrophic injuries include the following:
- The car whose side is struck can’t adequately protect the occupants. Car doors and the sides of cars can’t absorb the impact of an accident in the same way that accidents involving the hood or the trunk of a car can protect the occupants. Usually, the door or side of the car will push inwards, impacting the driver or passenger or forcing the occupants into other occupants.
- Crash protections are less effective. Even with side-airbags, there is less protection when a vehicle is struck on its side, as compared to being struck head-on or in the rear of the car.
- Your vehicle may collide with other vehicles, roadside objects, or other parts of the highway. If a driver crashes into your car on its side, either car involved in the accident can be pushed or spun into other lanes of travel, where either car could have secondary collisions with other vehicles. The force of a side impact crash can also force your vehicle into a roadside barrier or a ditch.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), side impact crashes accounted for 22 percent of all fatalities in 2023. Side impact crashes caused 3,188 deaths to the occupants of cars, 1323 deaths to the occupants of SUVs, and 776 deaths to the occupants of pickups.
Why do T-bone/side impact accidents happen in Chicago?
Our Chicago T-bone accident lawyers work with the police, our investigators, and traffic experts when necessary, to show how your accident happened. Some of the common causes of T-bone/side impact accidents include the following:
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Driver distraction, including texting, using a mobile phone, looking at a navigation system, and other causes
- Driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions
- Speeding, failing to yield, and other traffic violations
- Entering an intersection too early or too late
- Improper turns
- Tiredness
- Defective brakes and other car parts
- Poor visibility
- Blind spots
- Other causes
What types of injuries do T-bone/side impact accidents cause?
Broadside accidents often cause life-changing injuries or injuries that require substantial medical care before the victims feel normal again. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers handle all types of injuries, including the following:
- Head trauma, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and concussions
- Spinal cord damage, including paralysis and herniated disks
- Loss of arms and legs/traumatic amputations
- Fracture/broken bones
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Crush injuries, including broken ribs
- Nerve, muscle, tendon, and ligament damage
- Burn injuries
- Cardiac injuries
- Loss of sight or hearing
- Severe cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Death
Who is responsible when T-bone accidents happen in Chicago?
At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we hold everyone responsible for a broadside accident accountable, including the following defendants:
- The drivers of the cars involved in the accident
- The employers of the negligent drivers
- The owners of the cars involved, in some cases
- A manufacturer of defective brakes or other vehicle parts
- A tavern or another seller of alcohol if the drinks that were sold are the cause of your accident
- The Illinois Department of Transportation or other governmental entities or agencies for faulty road design or maintenance.
How much is my side impact claim worth in Illinois?
Our Chicago T-bone/side impact lawyers demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages (current and future), including the following:
- Medical bills for emergency care, hospitalizations, doctor visits, rehabilitative care, and all other types of medical costs
- Lost wages, business income, and other job-related losses, including compensation if you cannot work again
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- The damage to your vehicle
- The loss of life’s pleasures
- The loss of bodily function
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium (the loss of companionship, support, and intimacy between spouses)
In some cases, such as accidents due to drunk driving, we may demand that a defendant pay punitive damages.
If a family member dies in a T-bone/side impact accident, we file wrongful death claims on behalf of the family. The damages include the funeral and burial costs, the loss of financial support your loved one would have provided, and the loss of personal comfort, love, and guidance your loved one would have provided.
Do you have a Chicago broadside accident lawyer near me?
Yes. Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers is located at 77 W. Washington Street, Suite 1215. We’re in the center of The Loop neighborhood in downtown Chicago. You can reach us by bus if transportation is an issue. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we can arrange to see you at your home or another convenient location. We also discuss cases by phone and through Zoom and other online platforms.
Our lawyers are here to prepare you for each phase of your claim.
Contact our Chicago broadside/side-impact car accident lawyers today
At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we represent drivers, passengers, and families when drivers fail to obey the rules of the road or drive negligently. We’re respected by former clients, insurance adjusters, and lawyers for our dedication to our clients and our record of recoveries. Call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent car accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means our success depends on your success.