Why T-Bone Accidents Are so Dangerous

Whether you are heading to the local wholesale club or your favorite dine and dash spot, chances are, you pass through traffic lights and stop signs along your route. Even when you take your time and follow Washington road rules, an intersection can increase the potential for a side-impact collision. If you sustained injuries because an impatient or negligent driver sped through an intersection against the light, you might have grounds for a claim.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 143,000 injuries and 846 fatalities occurred due to drivers running red lights in 2019. Today’s passenger vehicles have numerous safety features, such as seatbelts, bumpers and airbags. While these options protect occupants from front and rear collisions, they offer little to no protection when someone collides with the side of your car. As a result, you might experience catastrophic injuries.

Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent paralysis, nerve damage and death. The severity of the damage depends on the location along the spine. In a T-bone crash, the upper body, including the chest, is most at risk. Damage to the mid-back often leaves victims dependent on a wheelchair. Injuries to the upper back may leave victims paralyzed below the neck, which requires around-the-clock care for the remainder of their lives.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

If your head hits the window or frame of the vehicle in the crash, it could cause a brain injury. Depending on the angle and force of the impact, damage may range from a mild concussion to a skull fracture. You might experience bleeding in the brain tissue, memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. Your behavior and physical capabilities may change significantly after a crash.

Traumatic Aortic Rupture

This life-threatening injury often occurs as a result of side-impact collisions. Trauma to the chest results in tears in the aortic wall tissue. Victims with partial tears may survive the crash with immediate treatment, which can include replacing the damaged section of the aorta with a graft.

Side-impact crashes that occur at intersections can have life-altering consequences. A settlement may help you pay for hospital bills and the long-term care necessary for recovery.