T-Bone Motorcycle Collision Lawyer in Dallas, TX
A T-bone accident is one of the most likely to occur two-vehicle motorcycle accidents. It is also known as a “broadside” or “right-angle” collision because one vehicle slams head-on into the side of another.
In motorcycle accidents, T-bone collisions typically occur when a motorist violates a motorcycle’s right-of-way while making a turn or pulling away from a stop. Often the driver is attempting a left-hand turn that requires crossing a lane. The motorist usually causes the accident because he or she has failed to look ahead adequately for oncoming vehicles before proceeding.
If this describes a motorcycle accident that left you or a loved one badly injured, you should seek legal advice immediately – before you discuss the accident with an insurance company or sign anything offered by an insurance adjuster.
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our legal team represents people injured in motorcycle accidents in communities in North Texas. Over the years, we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for thousands of clients. You may be owed much more than an insurance company offers you initially if they offer anything at all. Talk to us before you settle for less.
How Common Are Sideway Motorcycle Collisions?
An analysis of motorcycle accidents over a five-year period by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute says that, in one in 10 motorcycle crashes at intersections, the contributing factor was failure to yield right of way while turning left.
It says broadside collisions involving one vehicle turning left and one vehicle traveling straight in the opposite direction accounted for a quarter of intersection crashes.
“By far the most crashes happen when one vehicle is turning left while the other vehicle is passing an intersection traveling straight due to failure to yield right of way,” the report says.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says there were 2,598 fatal two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle and another type of vehicle in a recent year. In 1,098 of these crashes (42%), the other vehicles were turning left while the motorcycles were going straight, passing, or overtaking other vehicles when T-bone accidents happened.
A T-bone or broadside accident typically occurs because one driver:
- Fails to yield right of way at an intersection, particularly when making a left-hand turn
- Fails to look ahead and to the left and right when pulling away from a stop sign or stoplight, or out of a driveway, parking lot or alley
- Fails to control the vehicle’s speed
- Engages in distracted driving
- Engages in impaired driving
Common Injuries in a T-Bone Motorcycle Accident
Motorcyclists know they are vulnerable to serious injuries if an accident occurs. In a collision, a motorcyclist may be injured by the initial impact of the crash and in a secondary impact after being thrown from a motorcycle.
Injuries we typically see among motorcyclists involved in T-bone accidents include:
- Broken bones, particularly in legs, hips and feet
- Neck, back and spinal cord injuries, which may include paralysis
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Facial injuries, including loss of teeth
- Arm and shoulder injuries
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
- Severe burns
- Severe skin abrasions (known as road rash).
Serious injuries in a T-bone motorcycle accident require emergency medical care and hospitalization and may require one or more rounds of surgery. Recovery may include physical or occupational rehabilitation therapy. In the worst cases, the motorcyclist may be disabled and unable to return to work.
After a serious motorcycle accident, the injured rider and/or the rider’s loved one needs to contact a qualified t-bone motorcycle accident lawyer. The accident victim may be facing tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills as well as lost income if he or she cannot work.
A motorcyclist seriously injured in a T-bone accident caused by another motorist should be made financially whole by the at-fault motorist. Kraft & Associates, P.C., can help pursue full compensation from those responsible for the accident.
Determining Who is at Fault in a T-Bone Motorcycle Accident
A serious motorcycle accident in the Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex will be investigated by police, primarily to determine whether a law has been broken. After a broadside accident caused by an intoxicated driver, the impaired driver may face criminal charges. But a criminal prosecution does not address the injured motorcyclist’s financial losses. To obtain compensation for your losses, the injured motorcyclist must pursue an injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance and file a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
Unfortunately, an insurance company may dispute a motorcycle accident claim, especially one involving a serious injury, to avoid making a large payout. When this happens, you have to back up your claim with evidence demonstrating the driver’s fault, as well as documentation of the cost of your T-bone motorcycle accident injuries and other losses related to the accident.
A broadside motorcycle accident lawyer at Kraft & Associates, P.C. can assist you in pursuing a T-bone accident settlement. We’ll work to protect your rights and interests. We will zealously fight for justice for you.
A Kraft & Associates, P.C., attorney working on your behalf will be ready to:
- Thoroughly investigate your accident
- Establish legal responsibility for your injuries,
- Make a full accounting of your present medical bills and accident losses and anticipated future losses, including your pain and suffering
- Negotiate to recover the compensation you deserve.
A motorcycle accident victim in Texas may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past income losses and future losses due to diminished earning capacity
- Property damage, including motorcycle repair or replacement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium and loss of spousal services
- Emotional distress.
If the defendant in a lawsuit was grossly negligent or engaged in willful conduct that caused the accident, the legal claim may also seek punitive damages. Punitive damages are an additional payment intended to punish the defendant for outrageous behavior and deter others from such behavior.
Most of the time, we can negotiate a T-bone accident settlement without going to court. When successful, this saves time and allows you to move forward with your life more quickly. The decision to settle is always our client’s decision. We will not hesitate to take a lawsuit to trial and stand up for you when an insurance company will not do what is right by you.
Your Immediate Best Response to a T-Bone Motorcycle Accident
The first priority following a motorcycle accident is to get medical care for your injuries. Even if your injuries do not at first appear to be serious, you need a medical exam to ensure that you do not have potentially dangerous injuries that are not yet exhibiting symptoms. In addition, medical records from an examination and treatment document your injuries and help establish the basis of a personal injury claim.
If you have been injured, phone 911 from the accident scene and follow the instructions of emergency responders when they arrive. As you await an ambulance, if you or a companion is able, you should take the following actions that could help your personal injury claim:
- Take photos of the accident scene, including your motorcycle and the other vehicle and their proximity, your injuries, any skid marks or other debris in the road, anything that could have blocked the view of approaching traffic, and anything else that will help tell the story of the accident.
- Get names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.
- When a police officer arrives, get the officer’s name and the number of the police report. Refrain from making any statements about who caused the accident. Police will get the driver’s and your names, addresses, telephone numbers, insurance information and license numbers. The officer may give you each a copy of the other’s information. It will also be on the police report. Make sure you know how to get this information and the police report.
- Contact an experienced Dallas T-bone motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible and before you sign anything offered by the other driver’s insurance adjuster.
Get Help from an Experienced T-Bone Motorcycle Collision Attorney
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our legal team investigates and litigates motorcycle accident injuries, including injuries suffered in T-bone, broadside or right-angle motorcycle accidents. Our T-bone collision attorneys represent motorcycle accident victims as well as families who have lost loved ones in side collision motorcycle accidents.
We urge you to seek legal guidance immediately after you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident. Let the law offices of Kraft & Associates, P.C., advise you about your rights and your legal options after a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent motorist.
We are an established and professional law firm with friendly lawyers and staff who are easy to talk to. We serve clients in Dallas, Fort Worth and throughout the metroplex. We do not charge a legal fee for our legal services unless we obtain a settlement or jury award for you. To learn more, contact us today to set up a free consultation.