Richmond T-Bone Accident Attorneys

Knowledgeable T-Bone Accident Lawyers for Clients in Richmond, Virginia

Traffic lights and signage are there to keep the roads safe, and indeed, most people follow the rules of the road. It can be terrifying to look out your side window and see another driver barreling toward you, often in violation of a light or stop sign. The resulting collision can cause serious injuries, leaving you burdened with towering bills. A Richmond, Virginia T-bone accident lawyer can look into the cause of the crash and help you seek appropriate compensation.

At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we fight hard and move fast to help clients recover from car accidents. We have decades of experience navigating insurance laws in Virginia, so you can trust us to fiercely advocate for your rights.

Figuring Out the Cause of a T-Bone Crash in Virginia

A T-bone crash happens when the front end of one vehicle strikes the side of another, often forming a right angle at the point of impact. These crashes commonly occur at intersections, where one driver fails to yield, misjudges the timing of a light, or turns into the path of oncoming traffic. Determining exactly how a T-bone crash happened often requires piecing together several sources of information, including:

• Traffic signal timing and whether a light was red, yellow, or green at impact
• Witness accounts of which vehicle entered the intersection first
• Skid marks, debris patterns, and vehicle damage
• Traffic or surveillance camera footage near the intersection
• Data pulled from the vehicles involved, when available

Intersections involve multiple drivers making decisions at the same time, so more than one party can sometimes share responsibility for a T-bone crash. A thorough review of the evidence above can help clarify what actually happened.

T-Bone Accident Injuries May Be More Serious Than You Think

The sides of a vehicle offer far less protection than the front or rear, since there is less crumple zone and structure to absorb the force of impact. As a result, occupants in a T-bone crash can suffer injuries that are more severe than what might be expected from a collision at a similar speed. Head injuries, spinal injuries, broken ribs, and internal injuries are common, particularly for passengers seated on the side of the vehicle that was struck.

Adrenaline can cover up pain in the hours following a crash, and conditions such as internal bleeding, a concussion, or soft tissue damage may not produce clear symptoms right away. Seeking medical evaluation promptly after a T-bone crash, even when your injuries seem minor at first, can help protect both your health and the strength of your claim down the road.

What to Do When Liability Is Disputed in a Richmond T-Bone Accident Claim

It is common for both drivers involved in a T-bone crash to claim they had the right of way, especially when there is no independent witness or camera footage available. Under Virginia's contributory negligence rule, an insurance company only needs to show that you bear some small percentage of fault to deny your claim entirely, which gives adjusters a strong incentive to dispute liability whenever possible.

When fault is contested, gathering evidence quickly becomes essential. Our attorneys can send preservation letters to prevent relevant evidence from being lost or overwritten while the claim is under investigation. In any car accident claim, we come prepared to challenge any claims of fault from the insurance company.

Contact Our Richmond, VA T-Bone Accident Lawyers

Some insurance companies count on injured people accepting a quick settlement just to move past a stressful situation. At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we do not settle a claim simply to close the file. We take the time to understand the full extent of your injuries and losses before accepting any offer, and we are prepared to take a case to trial when a fair settlement is not on the table. Call 804-500-9796 or contact our Richmond, VA T-bone accident attorneys to schedule a free case review.