Side-Impact Accidents

If you or a loved one was in a vehicle that was struck from the side, you know how frightening it can be when the other car intrudes on your vehicle. Side-impact crashes, or T-bone collisions, are among the most deadly of all car accidents. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that these crashes produce roughly 25 percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths in the U.S. each year.

Side-impact collisions usually are caused by the dangerous choices that a motorist makes to ignore traffic signals or to enter a road or intersection when it is unsafe to do so. The driver who makes the careless choice or who breaks the rules should be held legally responsible for all of your losses.

The law firm of Frank M. Eidson, P.A., can help if you have been harmed or lost a loved one in a side-impact collision in Orlando, Winter Park or elsewhere in Central Florida. Contact us today to speak with a car accident attorney who will give personalized attention to your case from beginning to end. Our initial consultations are always free.

How Do Side-Impact Accidents Happen in Florida?

You can pursue a claim for damages after a side-impact accident if it was directly caused by something that another motorist did wrong. Side-impact accidents frequently occur due to a driver:

• Running a stop sign or red light at an intersection
• Making an illegal left turn without noticing an oncoming vehicle
• Pulling out of a driveway or parking space without paying attention.

T-bone accidents such as these may happen because a motorist made a choice to disobey the rules of the road or to do something that no reasonably careful motorist would do. In some cases, the driver makes this choice while on the job. If that occurs, the driver’s employer may also be liable for covering your losses.

Establishing a T-bone Accident Claim

To make a claim for damages, you will need to prove the other motorist was unreasonably careless or broke the rules of the road. You will also need to show how badly you were hurt.

Side-impact collisions often cause very serious injuries because side airbags are only minimally effective and because the side of a vehicle has no ability to crumple like the front of a car does. This means that motorists inside of the car may feel more of the impact.

The results of this side-impact collision can often include injuries such as:

• Head injuries including traumatic brain injury
• Injuries to the chest
• Injuries to the pelvis and abdominal region
• Fractured ribs
• Contusions on the lungs
• Injury to the diaphragm
• Spinal cord injuries, especially affecting the C-spine
• Damage to the aorta or pulmonary vessels
• Internal organ damage.

Frank M. Eidson, P.A., has experience representing victims of these accidents, including one case in which our firm obtained a $1.2 million settlement on behalf of a client who required two back surgeries due to the injuries suffered in a T-bone collision.

We believe that the motorist responsible for your injuries in a side-impact crash should compensate you for all of your losses, including medical costs, lost wages, reduction in the ability to earn wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress or the wrongful death of a loved one.

Contact a Side-Impact Accident Attorney Serving Orlando and Winter Park

An experienced car accident lawyer can help you at every step of your case, from gathering evidence to negotiating a settlement or going to court.

Since 1989, Frank M. Eidson, P.A., has worked hard to secure compensation for auto accident victims and their families. To learn more about how we can assist you in your side-impact collision case, contact us today.