T-Bone Collisions: Car Versus SUV

 Posted on March 18, 2016 in Personal Injury

Car accidents occur daily on our nation’s streets. Several factors contribute to how they occur, and fault can be directed at drivers and the circumstances in which drivers find themselves. What is most disheartening, however, are the accidents that could have been prevented and the accidents which end in death or devastating injuries.

Side impact crashes, also known as “angle” crashes or T-Bone crashes, occur when a car is impacted on its side, with both cars forming a “T” formation. Even at low speeds, the injuries can be fatal. Traumatic brain injury, severe whiplash, internal injuries, and broken bone just touch the surface of the consequences victims sustain.

Side Impacts/Angle Crashes

The increase of SUVs on the roads are now putting drivers in sedans at greater risk of mortality. In fact, the National Institute of Health estimates that “a passenger car driver in a side impact collision is ten times more likely to be killed than the driver of the SUV, regardless of the vehicle’s role.”

The reason why many injuries and very serious injuries result from a T-bone collision may be due to the lack of side impact protection in vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that side impact protection alone would reduce fatal side-impact head injuries by 45 percent, which could save up to 1,000 lives per year.

When comparing sedans with SUVs and similar vehicles—minivans, pickup trucks—some experts say that smaller vehicles have some maneuverability advantages and larger vehicles are more prone to rollovers. Contrary to this, others say smaller vehicles can also sustain more damage and offer less structural protection. Moreover, SUVs fair better in multi car accidents. Whatever your stance, safe driving practices trump everything else.

T-bone accidents generally occur at intersections with or without a light signals or stops sign for one driver and not the other. Seventy percent of the broadside accidents noted in the NHTSA study database occurred during daytime at signalized intersections. In other words, the primary driver did not have the right of way and the secondary party did. Unexpected lane changes and pulling into an intersection too soon can also contribute to a T-bone collision.

Compassionate and Experienced Legal Assistance

Distracted drivers, speeding drivers, and those under the influence of drugs and alcohol continually place others at risk when sharing the road. Although additional protection has been used to reinforce the sides of vehicles, drivers and passengers are still at risk. Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices have a practice area dedicated to car accidents and are prepared to review your case and advise you on your options. Please contact our skilled DuPage County car accident attorneys today for a complimentary consultation to determine the merits of your case. In your time of need and recovery, we can help.

Sources:

http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217542/

http://forbes.com/2007/07/26/cars-dangerous-twenty-forbeslife-cx_bh_0726cars.html

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/ESV/esv18/CD/proceed/00022.pdf