Side Impact Accidents

The types and seriousness of injuries sustained in a car accident can depend on a variety of elements, from the kind of impact to the make of the car and its safety features. When a collision involves a lateral impact, there is sometimes little protection for the people involved. The car accidents at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assist victims from Miami and the surrounding communities who have been injured in a side impact crash. We represent individuals in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as throughout Florida, helping them seek the compensation they deserve from responsible parties.

Side impact collisions, also known as T-bone accidents or broadside collisions, occur when one vehicle hits another on the side. Because of a vehicle’s design, these crashes are especially dangerous for passengers, as opposed to being involved in a front or rear-end collision, where there are significant barriers to the impact, given the length of a car’s hood or trunk. These kinds of accidents are common at intersections including stoplights and traffic signs, often where one car fails to yield the right of way. If a vehicle is hit on its side by another car going at a high speed, the results can be devastating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2011, a side impact was involved in almost 3,000 car accidents leading to fatalities.

Side impact crashes are usually due to one or more drivers’ carelessness in operating their vehicles. These accidents can be due to a number of factors, including high speeds or a distracted driver, and they often indicate negligence. If you have been hurt by a negligent driver, you may pursue a personal injury suit to collect damages for your harm. To establish negligence, you must show:

• The defendant driver owed you a duty of reasonable care;
• That duty was breached;
• The breach caused your injuries; and
• You sustained actual damages.

All drivers have a duty to other motorists to act as a reasonable and prudent person would behave in similar circumstances. Thus, a driver who speeds through an intersection or is using his or her phone while driving, leading to a side impact collision, would most likely be found negligent. After establishing negligence, a plaintiff may recover damages for any injuries sustained in an accident. These damages include past and future medical bills, loss of income or earning capacity, and pain and suffering. In Florida, personal injury claims must be filed within four years from the date of the accident.

Unfortunately, these serious side impact collisions can lead to fatalities. In the event that you have lost a loved one due to another’s negligent actions, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit to seek damages for burial and funeral costs or loss of consortium. These claims have strict time limitations and must be filed within two years of a victim’s death.

Side impact crashes can lead to significant, sometimes life-altering injuries. The skilled motor vehicle collision attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help Miami residents determine what steps may be necessary to preserve your rights following a devastating accident. You can reach us by calling 877.499.4878, or you can contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.