Injured in a T-Bone Auto Accident in Wichita?

Our car accident lawyers can investigate your car wreck and help you handle your injury claim

Car accidents in Wichita occur in many ways. And among the most common types of accidents are T-Bone accidents, which are also sometimes called side impact or broadside accidents. Statistics show that as many as 25% of collisions involve side impact.

You need to know what to do after being involved in these types of collisions. With Kansas no fault laws, and multiple calls from multiple insurance adjusters after a T-Bone collisions, you can make mistakes when trying to handle the various aspects of the claims on your own. That’s why it’s important to understand the legal options available to you after a broadside collision. Our experienced car accident lawyers can help with clear explanations of the law and strong advice on how to maximize your case value.

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

A T-Bone car wreck involves a vehicle crashing straight into the side of another vehicle, forming a T-shaped collision. These auto accidents often occur at intersections but can occur at other locations, including parking lots or vehicles exiting driveways. Sometimes the area of impact is not perfectly in the middle of the side of the vehicle and the point of impact may be further to the front or rear of the vehicle.  Side impact air bags can protect drivers and passengers from being hurt but injuries still occur, especially if the vehicle that hit the side of a car was speeding.

Injuries can occur the vehicle occupants no matter whether the vehicle was hit on the left or right side, although more  serious injuries may result if the impact was closest to the side where you were seated.

Why Do T-Bone Accidents Happen?

T-Bone accidents occur because the vehicle operator was negligent and failed to follow the rules of the road. Sometimes, the driver who crashes into the side of another vehicle is at fault. Other times, it’s the driver struck on the side by another vehicle who is at fault. Either way, such accidents always involve negligence of one driver not following the rules of the road. The negligence may be due to:

• Running a red light and crashing into the side of a car
• Failing to yield right of way from a stop sign, resulting in a side impact accident
• Backing out of a driveway failing to keep a proper lookout, crashing directly into the side of another vehicle
• Distracted or drunk drivers not paying attention, resulting in a T-bone accident
• Speeding driver going too fast

It’s important that your crash is carefully investigated – by the police and by a lawyer working for you. That way, you can demand the money you deserve for your accident-related expenses.

Who Determines Fault for T-Bone Auto Accidents?

It is common that police render opinions on fault.  It is common that insurance companies render opinions on fault—sometimes apportioning fault between the drivers under Kansas comparative fault laws.  If there is a dispute on fault, eventually a judge or jury decides the fault. Kansas has a fault-based insurance system, even though we also have no fault laws that provide benefits from your own insurance. That means the at-fault party is responsible for compensating injury victims for all accident-related expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering (and other noneconomic damages).

The at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying for injury claims filed by people injured as a result of the at-fault driver. That insurance company may try to dispute fault, dispute your damages, or simply attempt to lowball or delay your recovery for your  damages.

This is why it’s important to have an experienced legal team on your side, gathering evidence in support of your injury claim.

Most T-Bone auto accidents are the result of a negligent driver failing to yield  right of way from a stop sign, a traffic signal, or even at an open intersection.

 For stop signs, the law in Kansas is:  “The  laws of Kansas provide that every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop. . . After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard and to any pedestrian within an adjacent crosswalk”  Pattern Instructions of Kansas 121.31

For traffic signals, the law in Kansas is:  “The driver of a vehicle approaching a steady red light or red arrow must stop . . .until there is a signal to proceed.  The driver must yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway if that vehicle would be an immediate hazard while the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways.”  Pattern Instructions of Kansas 121.10 (D)

For open intersections, the law in Kansas is: “The laws of Kansas provide that when two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right.” Pattern Instruction of Kansas 121.28.

Each car wreck has unique facts and it is important to have legal representation so that we can protect you from the insurance companies and their unfair tactics of trying to avoid paying on valid cases.

Our Firm Has the Experience, Resources, And Knowledge to Get You The Results You Deserve in Wichita and Kansas. Call Now!

It really is best to get advice as soon as possible after a T-Bone car wreck as  our advice can make a big difference in your case value. In Kansas, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit after your wreck.  You only have five years if you are pursuing an uninsured motorist claim. Two years might seem like a long time. But depending on the size of your legal claim, the complexity of your accident, and many other circumstances, obtaining money for your accident claim can be a long process.

It’s important to understand that critical pieces of evidence might not exist two years after your crash. Accident debris may be destroyed or lost. Traffic camera footage of your accident (including security camera footage) is often only kept for days or months. Witnesses who could help your case may disappear.

Our experienced T-Bone accident attorneys at Brian and Brian at PISTOTNIK LAW in Wichita understand the urgency and the importance of giving advice to help maximize your auto accident injury claim. We have over 65 years of experience helping many injury victims demand the money they rightfully deserve after their broadside accident. To learn more about how we can help you, simply contact us and schedule a free case evaluation at our Wichita law firm. We can review the details of your T-Bone auto accident and explain all legal options available to you.