Dangers of Side Impact Car Accidents

Not all car accidents are the same. In fact, there are certain types of collisions that carry a much higher risk of causing significant damage, including serious bodily harm to the driver and any passengers. For example, a side impact car accident is generally considered to be much more catastrophic when compared to a fender-bender or low-speed collision. A side-impact car accident occurs when one car or truck hits the side of another vehicle (either with the front or side of their vehicle), potentially at a high rate of speed. Unfortunately, side impact car accidents are fairly common in the state of Minnesota.

If you or a family member was the victim of this type of collision, it is important to assess your legal options and whether you may have the right to receive compensation for your car accident injury claim. To gain a better understanding of your legal options, contact an experienced side impact car accident lawyer at Tyroler Injury Law today to schedule a no-cost, confidential case review. If another motorist may have caused the side impact car accident, a personal injury attorney with Tyroler Injury Law at (651) 259-1113 will work with you to pursue the financial restitution you are owed as a result of the accident.

Common Causes of Side Impact Car Accidents

Determining liability in a side impact car accident that took place in Minnesota depends on a multitude of factors. Side impact car accidents are typically divided into three distinct categories:

  1. T-Bone Accident – This type of side impact car accident occurs when two vehicles approach each other from non-opposing directions and collide with each other. This collision is referred to as a  “T-bone” accident since the moment of impact between the vehicles often creates a T-shape.
  2. Sideswipe from the Same Direction – This type of accident occurs when the side of the first vehicle hits the side of another vehicle while traveling adjacent to it. A sideswipe from the same direction often occurs when one motorist makes a hasty or incorrect turn or attempts to change lanes without checking each side to see if their maneuver would result in colliding with another vehicle.
  3. Sideswipe from the Opposite Direction – This type of accident occurs when two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions and a vehicle suddenly crosses the center line and collides with another vehicle. The sudden veering into the opposite lane could be caused by a distracted motorist, a mechanical issue, a motorist under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or another form of reckless or negligent driving.

No matter what the cause or circumstance of your side impact car accident, you may have the right to receive compensation for your injuries, medical costs, lost wages, loss of future income, pain and suffering, property damage and more.

Examples of Serious Injuries Resulting from a Side Impact Car Accident

Unfortunately, it is quite common for a motorist involved in a side impact car accident to suffer serious and debilitating bodily injuries.  The severity of injuries is typically associated with the fact that the siding of many vehicles lack the same level of impact absorption when compared to the front and rear of a vehicle. Examples of serious injuries stemming from side impact car accidents include:

  • Broken bones
  • Fractured ribs
  • Fractured pelvis
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Concussion or more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Head and neck lacerations to the head and neck
  • Punctured lung
  • Aortic dissection
  • Internal organ damage
  • Nerve damage
  • Death

If you experienced any kind of injury related to a side impact car accident, consider visiting with an experienced car accident attorney at Tyroler Injury Law to learn more about your legal rights.

Examples of Financial Restitution That Can Be Recovered Through a Side Impact Car Accident Injury Claim

When a motorist is seriously injured in a side impact car accident, their life could be turned upside down. In the blink of an eye, they could face catastrophic and debilitating bodily injuries that necessitate weeks or months of physical therapy, a significant amount of time missed from work (which may mean a dramatic decline or total loss of income), time missed with their children, an inability to help around the home, and other significant issues that can cause a diminution in their quality of life. If you or a family member is struggling with injuries caused by a side impact car accident, you may be able to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses, including:

  • Reimbursement for medical expenses
  • Reimbursement for the cost associated with any long-term therapy or treatment
  • Reimbursement for lost income or loss of future income
  • Compensation for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience stemming from the side impact car accident

Determining Liability in a Side Impact Car Accident

In order to obtain financial restitution through a side impact car accident injury claim, there needs to be evidence that another motorist was liable for causing the collision. If you were partly at fault for causing the accident, do not fret. According to Minnesota law, Minnesota is a comparative fault state, which means that a victim can still receive compensation even if they were partially at-fault for the side impact car accident. Determining liability when both parties may be partially at-fault can be a complicated legal endeavor. Visiting with an experienced side impact car accident attorney can help you better understand the amount of compensation you may have a right to receive under the law.

Schedule a No-Cost, Confidential Case Review with a Side Impact Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a family member was seriously injured in a side impact car accident caused by another motorist, contact a personal injury attorney with Tyroler Injury Law to determine your legal options. Depending on what happened, it may be possible to pursue justice and receive compensation for your injuries and losses resulting from a side impact car accident injury lawsuit.  Contact Tyroler Injury Law at (651) 259-1113 to learn more about your legal rights and ensure they remain protected.

Attorney Rachel Sperling Leonard

Attorney Rachel Sperling Leonard

A partner of Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, Ms. Sperling Leonard practices exclusively in personal injury and wrongful death claims. Specifically, she specializes in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, dog bites, dog attacks, slip and falls, trip and falls, sexual assaults/abuse and other assaults. Some representative cases of Ms. Sperling Leonard’s in the last few years include: a $1 million settlement for an individual injured in a car crash, a $750,000.00 for a man injured when he slipped and fell, a $455,000.00 settlement for an individual injured after falling, and multiple $250,000.00 settlements for individuals injured in motorcycle and auto accidents, among many others. She frequently turns insurance company denials into fair-value offers.
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