Missouri Side Impact Collisions
Side impact collisions, known also as T-bone accidents, or broadside crashes, can be incredibly serious or even deadly.
These accidents have a high percentage of fatalities and serious injuries because there is far less protection on the sides of a vehicle, as opposed to the front and back of a vehicle, which have bumpers for protection and impact absorption.Side impact collisions are second only to head on crashes in fatalities. Some cars do have side airbags, which can certainly help, but do not provide enough protection to keep occupants from becoming injured in most side impacts that occur at high speeds.
Unlike some rear end collisions that can occur at relatively low speeds at stop lights, side impact collisions very often happen at high speeds. For instance, if a car runs a red light or fails to stop at a stop sign and another car is approaching, the resulting collision could be very severe.
Injuries in side impact collisions
Some of the serious injuries that can occur are broken bones, crushed body parts, organ damage, lacerations, brain injuries, spinal injuries, soft tissue damage, quadriplegia, or even death. When people think of whiplash they usually think of it being caused by a rear end collision. But side to side whiplash can occur in a side impact collision as well. This injury can affect the brain and cause a variety of other issues. Some of these injuries caused by side impact collisions may just require some initial medical treatment and time to heal. But other serious injuries may be permanently disabling and could affect the rest of someone’s life.
The size of the vehicles makes a difference in the severity of the injuries. When a large vehicle like a truck or SUV smashes into a smaller vehicle the damage and injuries that result will most likely be devastating. This increases exponentially if the vehicle is even larger like a commercial tractor trailer, bus, semi, or other huge vehicle that outweighs a car 3 or 4 times over. If speed is added to the equation, unfortunately, this accident often results in death.
Your legal rights
As you can see, these accidents can be horrific and the effects catastrophic. If you or a loved one has been in an accident and injured in a side impact crash, or if a family member has been killed, contact a Missouri car accident attorney. In these situations you have legal rights and are entitled to compensation for injuries and other damages relating to the accident. An accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence can be successfully handled by an experienced personal injury attorney.
Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after an accident is important when it comes to protecting your rights. Conversations you have with insurance adjusters or any official statements you make can negatively impact your case. Your attorney can advise you how to handle these situations, collect evidence and information from any witnesses, and help you to obtain compensation from the at-fault party.
To schedule a free consultation contact the trusted car accident lawyers at The Hoffmann Law Firm.
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