Side impact collisions can be extremely dangerous particularly for vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle that absorbs the impact from the front end of the other car. Dangerous side impact collisions (also called “T-Bone accidents”) are common in intersections when drivers disregard traffic signals, stop signs or right of way rules. When a car runs a red light or stop sign or violates right of way rules by turning in front of a vehicle that is proceeding straight, the result can be catastrophic injury. Another common location for side impact crashes is around driveways and parking lots. When vehicles back out of the driveway or a parking space, the front end of one vehicle may slam into the side of another.
Side impact collisions are especially dangerous because the area around the doors of a vehicle typically lack the structural integrity to absorb the same degree of force as the front end or rear of a vehicle. This can cause the side of the vehicle to essentially collapse in on a vehicle occupant resulting in permanent devastating injuries. Because of the severe nature of the injuries that are common in side impact collisions, it is important to summon law enforcement personal to an accident scene so that critical evidence can be preserved.
While enormous strides have been made in motor vehicle safety, the task of reducing side impact collisions injuries has been less successful. While there has been a substantial reduction in fatal front impact fatalities during the last two decades, the number of fatal side impact crashes has continued to rise. This period has seen a twenty percent increase in side impact fatalities. One of the reasons has been an increase in the popularity of SUVs and larger vehicles that cause more carnage when they collide with the doors of another vehicle. Although side window airbags and other supplementary air bags can reduce these risks, many vehicle manufacturers have been slow to make such air bags standard equipment.
Side impact collisions present an especially high risk of severe injury to children. There is typically only about eight inches of steel protecting a child in the backseat during a side impact collision. T-Bone crashes account for almost a third of all motor vehicle accident related fatalities involving children. The importance of side window air bags is reflected in the fact that the lion-share of these fatal injuries to children are caused by trauma to the head. Side airbags that protect the head, chest and abdomen lower the risk of fatalities in side impact collisions by approximately 37 percent based on data provided by the the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi side impact accident attorneys represent injury victims throughout Mississippi. If you or your child is injured in a T-Bone collision, our experienced Mississippi side impact injury attorneys may be able to help you obtain compensation for injuries or wrongful death suffered in a T-bone collision. Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.