T-bone collisions can happen anywhere from busy intersections to small rural roads. These collisions can be severe and result in catastrophic injuries, especially when a large truck is involved. If you pursue a claim, you likely want to know what these cases resolve, including T-bone accident settlements.
T-bone truck accidents and settlements will vary based on individual circumstances. If you sustained injuries in a collision with a large truck, speak with the experienced KY trucking accident lawyers at Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today.
Why T-Bone Accidents Are Typically Devastating
Several factors often lead to the devastating injuries and damage seen in a T-bone accident. Vehicle occupants have only the vehicle door between them and the other vehicle. In a rear-end collision, you have multiple layers protecting you, and the impact is necessarily right next to your body. With only a window and door to protect you, it’s easy to see why T-bone truck accidents are hazardous.
Occupants have a greater chance of striking the door, window, or other structural elements in T-bone truck accidents. Some vehicles have side-impact airbags, but not every model comes standard with them. Or the lateral movement can push your vehicle into another car or object, causing further injuries.
Average T-Bone Accident Settlements
Unfortunately, there is no average resolution amount in these types of collisions. Settlements for T-bone truck accidents vary because no two accidents are exactly alike. Different factors impact your case value, which is why it’s impossible to give a compensation range.
Below are the factors that can affect the average payout of your T-bone accident settlement.
Injury Type and Severity
The first factor that impacts your potential settlement is injury type and severity. The more severe your injuries are, the more your case might be worth. Soft tissue injuries that heal with conservative treatment in two or three months won’t be worth as much as a spinal cord injury that leaves the victim permanently paralyzed.
Liability
Liability is a major determining factor in T-bone truck accidents and settlements. Kentucky is a pure negligence state, which means you can collect a portion of your damages even if you were partially at fault for the collision.
If a jury finds you 50% at fault, you can still collect 50% of your total damages. You can have two accidents with very similar injuries resolve for vastly different amounts if the injury victim was partially at fault.
Total Amount of Damages
Your overall damages can also impact settlements for T-bone accidents. Your damages consist of financial losses, such as:
In limited scenarios, you could be entitled to receive punitive damages. Courts reserve punitive damage awards for cases involving gross negligence or intentional actions, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Potential Insurance Coverage
Applicable liability coverage can also impact your potential settlement. In most situations, collisions involving large trucks will have defendants with high liability limits. That is because a trucking company typically owns these trucks, and they may be financially responsible for any accidents caused by one of their drivers.
Damages exceeding available policy limits are more common in accidents involving two passenger vehicles or ones involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents
Like many other types of collisions, T-bone truck accidents almost always involve negligence on one or more parties. Here is a look at some of the most common causes of T-bone collisions:
- Distracted driving, such as texting, changing the radio station, looking at the GPS, eating or drinking, etc.;
- Traffic violations, such as speeding, improper turn, or running a red light or stop sign;
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Driving while fatigued;
- Adverse weather and road hazards; and
- Defective vehicle components, such as faulty brakes or tires.
Many collisions involve more than one of these elements. For example, a truck driver might be speeding in adverse weather and suddenly find they cannot stop at the red light due to malfunctioning brakes.
Because Kentucky is a pure negligence state, the defendant’s insurance company will be looking for any opportunity to assign a percentage of fault to you. The more blame they can put on you, the lower the payout in settlements for T-bone truck accidents.
How to Maximize Potential T-Bone Truck Accident Settlements
Your actions immediately following a collision can impact your potential settlement. If you can do so safely and are not severely injured, try to obtain photos of the scene. Take pictures of the damage to all involved vehicles and trucks. Take photos of skid marks, debris, and any other factors that could be significant evidence.
Was there a stop sign blocked by overgrown landscaping or something else that contributed to the accident? These essential details may differ if someone goes to the scene days or weeks later.
If you do not require emergency transport to the hospital following the accident, you should still seek immediate medical treatment. You should not wait to seek treatment as you could have internal injuries that are not physically visible.
Also, the defendant’s insurance company will use any delay in treatment against you. If you wait too long, the insurance company will likely allege that you were not seriously injured or something else caused your injuries.
You should document everything and keep a pain journal. If your case has been pending for a year or more, you may not remember all the small details. Keeping a pain journal can help refresh your memory if you need to give a deposition or attend mediation.
Be cautious of any communication with the other driver’s insurance company if an attorney does not represent you. If the claims representative asks you to give a recorded statement, you should not consent to one without a lawyer. The defendant’s insurance company hopes you will say something they can use against you in the liability investigation.
Contact Our Kentucky Trucking Accident Lawyer Today
If you sustained injuries in a truck accident caused by another party’s negligence, you have legal rights. T-bone truck accidents can be complicated to pursue, which is why you should hire an experienced Kentucky trucking accident attorney.
Attorney Seth Gladstein has over 20 years of experience with personal injury matters. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, so he is skilled with insurance liability negotiations. Don’t risk your potential settlement by representing yourself. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can assist you with your T-bone accident settlement.
