Pittsburgh T-Bone Accident Lawyers Pursue Justice for You
Determined representation for side-impact crash injuries
Traffic in Pittsburgh can be formidable, especially due to the small number of intersections where the lion’s share of the city’s accidents occurs. Dangerous crossings, such as the West End Bridge at West Carson Street and the other side of the bridge at the Route 65 off ramp, rack up accidents and serious injuries. One of the most devastating types of accidents at intersections is the side-impact collision, otherwise known as the T-bone. This type of crash occurs when the two vehicles square up against each other at a right angle, forming a capital T. If you have been injured in a T-bone crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. At Phil DiLucente & Associates, LLC, we have advocated for crash victims for decades. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to determine who was at fault, so we can aggressively pursue justice in your behalf.
Common causes of T-Bone car crashes
Most side impact crashes are due to driver error, which can include any of the following:
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Backing out of a driveway without looking
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Left turns or U-turns across traffic lanes
- Driving while intoxicated or impaired
Occasionally, mechanical defects, such as faulty brakes, can play a role. Sometimes low visibility or glare can obscure a driver’s vision, so the car crossing in front is hard to detect. Inclement weather and wet or icy streets can make it difficult to stop in time.
Some intersections are unreasonably unsafe for the traffic that passes through. They are poorly designed or constructed and/or have inadequate signage or signals. In such instances, the government entity that oversees the intersection may be liable for damages.
Whatever the cause of your crash, you can rely on our car accident lawyers to investigate and determine where the fault lies.
Injuries in side-impact vehicle accidents
When a vehicle is struck forcefully on the side, there is less protection for driver and passengers than if the vehicle were struck from the front or behind.
The impact can cause violent torqueing of the victim’s neck and spine, resulting in whiplash, neck injuries and spinal cord trauma. The side of the vehicle can collapse, impacting passengers and causing chest, abdominal and pelvic injuries, as well as limb injuries.
It’s important to note that every side-impact crash is a head-on collision for one of the vehicles. Depending on the performance of the airbags and crumple zones, there will usually be less severe injuries in the head-on vehicle. The passengers in the impacted vehicle typically suffer more harm.
Side-impact collisions with trucks
Large commercial trucks can cause an immense amount of harm. A semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds loaded. Traveling at even a moderate speed, the truck can slice through a passenger vehicle with ease. A passenger car that T-bones a semi is likely to be trapped under the tractor’s undercarriage and crushed. Because heavy trucks require a greater distance to stop, sudden braking may not make much of a difference.
For these reasons, a crash with a commercial truck invariably causes more severe injury and property damage. Truck accidents can also be harder to settle, since trucking companies defend claims aggressively to avoid high payouts. Under these circumstances, you need to retain the services of an experienced truck accident attorney immediately.
Contact our Pittsburgh T-bone crash attorneys to schedule a free consultation
Phil DiLucente & Associates, LLC represents victims of side-impact vehicle accidents in the Pittsburgh area. For a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney, please call 1.800.GET.PHIL or contact us online.
