T-Bone Collision Lawyer in South Carolina

T-Bone Collision Lawyer in South Carolina

A T-bone collision happens when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming a "T" shape at impact. It's also called a side-impact or broadside collision. This is different from a head-on collision, where two vehicles strike each other front to front, though both can cause equally severe injuries. Often, it takes only a moment's distraction for one driver to cause this kind of crash. If you've just been through one, here's what you need to know and how our South Carolina car accident lawyers can help.

What to Do Right Now

1. Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel like you can walk away. Some injuries from a side-impact crash don't show symptoms right away.
2. Call the police so an official report gets filed.
3. Take photos of both vehicles, the intersection, and any traffic signals or signs, if you're physically able.
4. Get witness contact information. T-bone crashes often come down to who had the right of way, and witnesses can be critical.
5. Don't give a detailed statement to the other driver's insurance company before talking to an attorney.

Do You Need a Lawyer, and What Does It Cost?

T-bone crashes almost always come down to one question: who had the right of way? That makes them more contested than a lot of other car accidents, since both drivers often walk away convinced the light was green or the other person should have yielded. Without independent evidence, that dispute can drag on, and it's exactly where a lawyer earns their keep, tracking down traffic camera footage, building the timeline, and keeping the insurance company from settling the disagreement in their own favor.

We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover money for you. Our firm believes in frequent, clear communication. We never want our clients left wondering where their case stands or what steps we are taking in our efforts to secure a full, fair recovery. We are your advocate and are always available through phone and email.

How Much Is a T-Bone Collision Case Worth?

Every claim is different, so we can't promise a specific number. How large your settlement is depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost wages, and how clearly fault can be established. We believe full justice means being made whole, not just having your medical bills covered, so South Carolina law entitles you to both economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish

For a full breakdown, see How Much Is My Car Accident Worth. You can also browse our case results to see examples of what we've secured for past clients.

One example from our own case results: a Mack truck ran a red light and struck our client's SUV in Orangeburg County. Our client suffered a serious head injury requiring 11 staples, along with lasting neck, shoulder, and wrist pain. After our team uncovered the truck driver's history of drug use and the trucking company's negligent hiring practices, the case settled for $5 million.* Read the full case result.

Side-impact crashes involving commercial vehicles, like the case above, often produce injuries severe enough that the at-fault driver's insurance alone isn't enough to cover them. If that happens in your case, your own underinsured motorist coverage may be able to make up the difference.

*The results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the clients' cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client's case.

Are T-Bone Accidents Deadly?

T-bone crashes often result in much more severe injuries than other types of car wrecks. With a frontal or rear-end collision, the front and rear of the car act as a buffer. When you're struck from the side, there's far less structure to protect you, and passengers seated on the struck side often face the greatest risk. In the most severe cases, a T-bone collision can be fatal, leading to a wrongful death claim. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, side-impact crashes account for about a quarter of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths in the United States.

How Do T-Bone Accidents Happen in South Carolina?

T-bone accidents most often happen at busy intersections, typically when a driver violates another driver's right of way. Common causes include:

• Running a red light or stop sign
• Making a left-hand turn without the right of way
• A driver speeding or misjudging the distance of oncoming traffic
• Poor weather conditions, which increase risk without excusing the at-fault driver's responsibility to drive safely

Common Injuries Caused by T-Bone Accidents

Because your car's side offers far less protection than its front or rear, T-bone crashes frequently cause catastrophic injuries, such as:

• Organ damage and internal bleeding
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Amputations

These aren't just medical terms on a chart. A broken hip or a brain injury can mean months away from your job, help needed with things you used to do without a second thought, and a strain on the people around you who step in to fill the gap. If you've been injured in a side-impact collision, seek medical attention right away, even if you feel okay.

Who's at Fault in a T-Bone Collision?

The driver who violated the other's right of way, whether by running a red light, missing a stop sign, or making an unsafe turn, is usually the at-fault party. But fault isn't always straightforward:

• The at-fault party may be a driver directly involved in the crash, or a third party. For example, a driver might make an unsafe left turn, causing another driver to swerve and hit a third car.
• Insurance companies frequently dispute who had the right of way, especially without independent witnesses.

To establish fault, we may use:

• Photos of vehicle damage and the intersection, and even cell phone records where relevant
• Witness statements
• Traffic camera footage, when available
• Accident reconstruction experts, who can analyze exactly how the collision happened

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Under SC Code § 15-38-15, you can still recover compensation as long as you're found to be 50% or less at fault for the crash, though your compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you. If you're found to be 51% or more at fault, you're barred from recovering anything.

Common Questions About T-Bone Collision Claims

Talk to a South Carolina T-Bone Collision Lawyer

If you've suffered a severe, life-changing injury in a T-bone crash in South Carolina, we're ready to talk through what happened and what your options look like. You and your family do not have to handle this alone. Our team is here to listen to your story and help you seek a full, fair recovery.

Call us at (803) 790-2800 (Columbia) or (843) 427-2800 (Myrtle Beach), or fill out our online contact form. We'll get back to you promptly.