T-Bone Accidents Lawyer in Murrieta
A T-bone accident is a traffic accident where the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. Therefore, when seen from above, the vehicles form the shape of a letter T. T-bone accidents can result in serious injuries, especially if one or both of the vehicles were traveling at high speeds before they collided. The Murrieta vehicle accident lawyers at Gibbs & Fuerst, LLP can help you if you have suffered serious injuries in a T-bone accident, whether you were in the striking vehicle or the struck vehicle.
Who Is at Fault for a T-Bone Accident?
At first it might seem obvious that the striking vehicle, the one at the bottom of the T, is at fault for every T-bone accident, but every accident is unique. Just as it is possible for the rear driver in a rear-end collision not to be at fault for the accident, it is possible for the driver at the bottom of the T not to be at fault, or to be only partially at fault, for the collision. Here are some possible scenarios involving fault in T-bone accidents:
- The striking vehicle is at fault. This happens when the striking vehicle has run a red light or a stop sign or misjudged a turn. It also happens when someone backing out of a parking space does not yield to a passing vehicle.
- The struck driver is at fault. This happens in situations where the striking vehicle had the right of way; one example is when a car stops in the middle of an intersection for no reason.
- Another driver is at fault. This happens when a car ahead of the two colliding vehicles makes an egregious error or unpredictable move, and the striking vehicle manages to avoid hitting the at-fault driver’s car, but collides with another car (the struck vehicle) as a result.
- The vehicle manufacturer is at fault. This is the case if the direct cause of the accident is the striking vehicle’s brake malfunction or the struck vehicle unexpectedly stalling in an intersection.
Murrieta, California T-Bone Accident Lawyer
If you get injured in a T-bone accident, you have the right to seek damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver or any other parties that bear responsibility for the accident. You can collect damages to cover your accident-related financial losses, such as medical bills and income that you missed out on by not being able to work as a result of your injuries. If your injuries are very severe, you can also request noneconomic damages for pain and suffering. Since California is a comparative negligence state, you can still recover damages if you are partially at fault for the accident, but you cannot get as much money as you could have if you had not borne any fault.
Contact a Murrieta, California T-Bone Accident Lawyer
Gibbs & Fuerst is a personal injury law firm that helps clients throughout southwestern California recover damages after being injured in vehicle accidents. Contact Gibbs & Fuerst LLP in Murrieta, California to discuss your rideshare accident case.