Des Moines T-Bone Car Accident Injury Lawyers

Des Moines T-Bone Accident Injury Attorneys: Getting the Results You Deserve

Have you been in a T-bone car accident in Des Moines or outstate Iowa? Our car accident attorneys are ready to help – call or email today for a free consultation. If you retain our services, you never pay a dime until we make a recovery for you.

What is a T-bone accident?

A T-bone car accident, in its simplest form, is simply a crash in which one car strikes another car perpendicularly thus, roughly, forming the shape of a T.

T-bone crash can be one of the most dangerous types of car accidents in which you can be involved and victims often suffer serious injuries such as whiplash, fractures, head and brain injuries and even wrongful death.

An impact need not be precisely in the middle of one car and the exact center point of another car to be classified as a T-bone accident. Rather, “T-bone” is more of an umbrella term that is used to describe an accident in which any part of the side of a car is struck by the front of another car. Clearly, depending on what the point of impact is, not every collision such as this will truly make a “T” shape but the phrase is still a useful reference when discussing a car accident.

For reasons that are somewhat self-explanatory, many T-bone accident occurs at an intersection. Therefore, it is important to drive with heightened awareness when nearing or crossing through an intersection even if the traffic control devices are in your favor. As many of us heard when learning to drive, “It’s not your driving I’m worried about, it’s the other guy!”

T-bone Brain Injuries

As noted above, T-bone accidents cause a myriad of injuries. However, brain injuries tend to be more common in T-bone accidents than in other types of car accidents. Unlike a rear-end crash, in which occupants of a car have their heads snapped forward and back, in a T-bone car accident, occupants of the car that is struck have their heads whipped side to side.

This lateral movement can cause a passenger’s head to strike a window or support pieces within the cabin of the car which often leads to brain injuries such as concussions or worse.

The risk of serious injury from a side impact crash makes sense when you consider that seatbelts and headrests, while hugely beneficial in a rear-end crash or head-on collision, are of relatively little help in a T-bone crash.

Contact a Des Moines T-bone Car Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a T-bone or any other type of car accident in Iowa, contact one of our personal injury attorneys in Des Moines. We will happily provide a free consultation.

Vehicle Damage After a Car Accident

Although personal injuries are common after car accidents, your vehicle can suffer some serious damages as well. When this is the case, it can quickly become confusing as to who will pay for those repairs. Do you just take your car to a shop and pay for the damages out of pocket? Do you call your insurance and see how they can help? In most cases — and this could change depending on your state — you can figure out who will pay for damages depending on who was at fault for the accident, how much damage their insurance will cover and what kind of insurance you have and how much damage yours will cover. Our Des Moines T-Bone accident injury attorneys can help with these issues, but in the meantime, the following is a brief overview:

Who Pays?

Which circumstances would you find the driver who hit you responsible for your vehicle’s damages? Two circumstances where the at-fault driver could pay are:

•      If they are caught driving negligently
•      If you are in an at-fault state

So, if you are not in a no-fault state, you must prove that the other driver caused the accident due to negligence if you wish to receive any damages from their insurance. That said, if you are in a no-fault state and you are involved in the accident, your car insurance company is typically stuck with the bill to pay for partial or full damages.

How much will they pay?

Whether you live in a fault or no-fault state, an insurance company (either yours or the at-fault driver’s) will only pay up to a certain amount of vehicle damages depending on its policy limit.

In some cases, the repairs necessary for your car could exceed the actual value of your car. Unfortunately, when this is the case, your car will be declared “totaled”, meaning it is a total loss and they will usually pay you whatever the fair market value of your car is.

Can I use my collision coverage?

Collision coverage is also an acceptable means of covering the damage of your car if the other driver’s insurance is not able to cover the cost. Thus, if the other driver was found to be at fault for the accident and their insurance policy allowed them to cover the full cost of your damages, you would not need to use your own collision coverage.

If you were the one who caused your vehicle damage, you might want to pay for the repair out of pocket. Although you could technically make a claim against your own collision coverage, this could raise your car insurance premium, costing you more money long term.

What if insurance won’t cover my damage?

If the insurance company (whether it is yours or the at-fault driver’s) gives you a quote that won’t cover the costs of your vehicle’s damage, you can either accept their payment or file a suit. If you choose to file a suit, it is best to do so with an attorney who is familiar with car accident cases and regularly deals with suits against insurance companies. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our Des Moines T-Bone accident injury attorneys from Des Moines Injury Law.com, call our office today.

Client Review

“I am an attorney located in San Diego and needed a referral in Iowa. Brad was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He spent about 15 minutes of his time to point me in the right direction. He made me feel comfortable and was very pleasant to talk to. Thank you, Brad!”
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