Side-impact accidents involve the front of one vehicle impacting the side of another vehicle. These vehicle wrecks are often called T-bone collisions because the shape the vehicles make. Due to the lack of protection offered on the sides of cars, the occupants often suffer severe harm in these accidents.
If you or a loved one were harmed in a T-bone accident, you could benefit from speaking with an Altoona side-impact collision lawyer. A qualified car wreck attorney could help hold the negligent party liable for the damages you have suffered as a result of the accident.
Side-impact crashes often occur when one vehicle is making a turn in front of an oncoming vehicle or trying to cross to the other side of an intersecting lane. These collisions typically are due to a failure to yield the right of way.
Running a red light could also result in a T-bone collision, while failing to check blind spots could cause a sideswipe accident. An Altoona lawyer could investigate the circumstances surrounding the side-impact wreck and build a case against the at-fault party.
Due to the lack of protection sides of vehicles offer occupants, T-bone collisions can result in catastrophic injuries to motorists and passengers. When the vehicle is struck from the side, passengers’ heads may make contact with the side window, the headrest or the columns of the vehicle, resulting in traumatic brain injuries. There can also be neck and back injuries because the spinal column is jolted from the side, throwing it out of alignment.
An Altoona attorney could seek two types of compensatory damages in a side-impact crash claim. They are what are called economic and non-economic damages. The purpose of compensatory damages is to compensate the injured party for the losses he or she suffered as a result of the accident.
Economic damages are the losses that are quantifiable, such as lost wages and future lost earning capacity. These damages also include medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the collision.
Non-economic damages are the intangible losses like pain and suffering, inconvenience, embarrassment, scarring, and disfigurement as a result of the collision. These damages are more difficult to calculate, so it is important to have an experienced lawyer to help.
Immediately after the accident, drivers should move their vehicles, if possible, to a safe location to avoid an additional crash from oncoming vehicles. They should then contact medical personal, speak with police officers, and exchange information – including driver’s licenses and insurance cards. This is critical because if a claim is going to be made, attorneys must know who the other driver is and how to locate him or her in order serve a lawsuit. The person driving the vehicle might be different than the person listed on the insurance card.
It is also imperative for the claimant to seek medical treatment and make sure that the injuries are diagnosed and a treatment plan formed. A civil claim requires medical treatment in order to be viable.
A skilled attorney could handle issues with insurance companies so that recorded statements cannot be obtained by the defense and later used against the plaintiff. An attorney will also prevent the defense from obtaining irrelevant medical records. Additionally, an attorney could collect and preserve important evidence to strengthen the claimant’s case.
An Altoona side-impact collision lawyer could help you seek fair compensation for past and future losses resulting from the accident. Do not hesitate to contact experienced legal counsel. Call the office of Marcus & Mack today to schedule your free case consultation.
