T-Bone Accidents: Why Side-Impact Collisions Are So Dangerous

8,000 people in the USA die each year due to T-Bone accidents. The fatality risk often rises when children are in the car’s back seats during side impacts compared to other crash types.

Are these stats shocking? T-bone accidents are the most deadly and unpredictable crashes on the road. Some people call it a side-impact while others know it as a broadside collision.

It occurs when one car’s front side collides with or hits the other car’s side. Both vehicles create a “T” shape. These types of crashes usually occur at intersections and lead to serious injuries or even death.

In every 10 major car accidents, one occurs because of a T-bone incident. It’s dangerous as it’s behind a quarter of all vehicular fatalities.

The chances of casualties are higher in side impact as it leaves occupants with little protection. Rear-end or head-on collisions come after it. Even the advanced safety features in modern vehicles can’t help with it.

The reasons behind the collision are various, from speed and car design to its size. So, we need to thoroughly understand why T-Bone accidents are so dangerous. The reasons behind their happening and the injuries they can cause. We will help you learn how to protect yourself from such collisions and what you should do if you unfortunately meet one. 

What Is a T-Bone Collision

This accident occurs when a car with its front bumper hits the other car’s door side. The two colliding bodies form a “T” shape. They mostly happen at intersections because of

• Red-light violations
• Failure to yield 
• Misjudge or don’t understand the other car’s speed 

The accident occurs when the struck vehicle is moving perpendicularly across an intersection and the striking vehicle fails to stop in time or ignores traffic rules altogether. This collision results in big disasters because the colliding area of a struck vehicle is structurally weaker than the front of the striking vehicle. It also offers less space to absorb the energy of the collision.

Why Side-Impact Crashes Are Dangerous

The sides of cars have no crumple zone, which makes T-bone accidents more dangerous. The engine compartment absorbs much of the impact in frontal crashes, while the trunk and rear structure do similar work in rear-end accidents. The protection is zero when a car hits the door of the chauffeur and passenger with its bumper. Only a thin layer of metal and possibly a side airbag are there for protection. There is only a mere inch of space between the striking car’s bumper and the passenger.

Side-impact collisions account for nearly 25% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in the U.S each year, as per data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Reasons T-Bone Accidents Are So Risky:

• Most cars don’t have strong barriers on the sides, which offer less protection during a collision.
• The crash often happens just inches away from the driver or passengers, causing severe injuries and often death.
• It doesn’t give time to move or protect yourself, as the T-Bone collision happens fast.
• The vehicle strikes with the front or rear bumper, concentrating all its force on a small part of the struck vehicle. This increases the damage level.

How and Where T-Bone Accidents Happen

Cars cross each other at intersections with little knowledge of the oncoming vehicle’s behavior.

Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents:

• Running red lights
• Failure to stop at stop signs
• Turning left without checking oncoming traffic
• Distracted driving, like texting or not paying attention
• Speeding through intersections
• Drive while drinking alcohol
• Under drugs influence

Injuries Caused by T-Bone Accidents

The lack of protection from the sides of cars and sudden events causes disastrous side-impact collisions. These serious incidents cause big injuries to both drivers and passengers. Even sometimes they put the lives of those sitting on the side who get hit at risk.

Common Injuries:

• People’s heads are badly hit by the side pillar or a door window in accidents. Such a collision results in head injuries, which further causes brain trauma.
• The sudden jolt can damage the spine and cause spinal cord injuries. The patient mostly gets lasting problems.
• The force can also cause broken ribs with internal bleeding or even damage to organs.
• Thin metal sides of the vehicle crush inward. It causes serious injuries to the hips and pelvic area. It also causes damage to the knees or thighs..
• The neck also snapped back suddenly in low-damage T-bone accidents. The Whiplash leads to pain and stiffness.

Follow The Strategy to Avoid Side-Impact Collisions

It’s not possible to completely save yourself from the risk. You can’t control other chauffeurs. You only take steps to lower your own risk.

• Always stop at red lights and stop signs.
• Slow down your car at intersections.
• Don’t think the other person will slow down or stop their car, so drive safely.
• Carefully make left turns by double-checking the road and traffic. Phones and music are big distractions; avoid them. Don’t eat while driving.
• Find and upgrade to vehicles with strong side-impact ratings
• Drive carefully in bad weather or low visibility.
• Install or use dash cams that can prove fault
• Use advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts
• If you want a new vehicle, choose one from modern vehicles that come with side airbags, reinforced door panels, and crash sensors. 

The administrators also take steps to lower the number of collisions, like 

• Improving road design
• Adding a protected left-turn lane
• Installing smart traffic lights to detect approaching vehicles

Injured in a T-Bone Collision? What’d Be Your Next Step? 

1. Check injuries
2. Call emergency services immediately
3. Move away from traffic for safety if possible
4. Call the police to get an official report
5. Take photos of both vehicles and injuries. Also, click photos to record near road signs and damage. 
6. Ask for information to record from the other driver and any witnesses
7. Seek medical care because some internal injuries show no symptoms immediately, but are deadly later.

Seek Legal Help

If someone you love suffers from a T-bone collision, or you are an unfortunate part of it, immediately contact a Houston T-bone accident lawyer to learn about your rights. Such disastrous accidents cost you big medical bills and lost earnings in case of vehicle damage. The long-term care also causes substantial financial problems. You have the right to defend yourself and claim your compensation.

Conclusion

T-bone accidents are horrible due to their sudden nature and the little protection the car sides offer. The fatality rates are enough to imagine the disaster these collisions cause in the form of serious injuries and even death.

Risks are less if you follow traffic laws and spread awareness. It’s not only important for your life but also for every soul on the road, so drive safely.