Indianapolis T-Bone Accident Lawyer

T-bone accidents can be catastrophic. They often result in serious injuries to those involved. These injuries may require extensive medical treatment and could leave you out of work for an extended period, making seeking compensation through an insurance claim essential.

If you were in a T-bone car accident in Indianapolis, having a lawyer on your side who knows how to prove that someone else was at fault and pursue the compensation you deserve is vital. Contact the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson for a free consultation with a member of our legal team and to learn more about your rights and the insurance process.

What Is a T-Bone Accident?

A T-bone accident is a type of side-impact collision in which the vehicles are perpendicular at the point of impact, resembling the letter “T” when viewed from above. These collisions typically occur at intersections, as that’s the most common place for vehicles traveling in perpendicular directions to come into contact.

Intersections where T-bone accidents occur include four-way stops, those controlled by traffic signals, those found in parking lots, and those where driveways or side streets connect to main roads.

Who Is at Fault for a Side-Impact Collision in Indianapolis?

Who is at fault for a side impact collision in Indianapolis depends on the circumstances of the crash. When you work with an Indiana T-bone accident attorney, they will investigate the accident and gather the evidence necessary for determining fault.

In most cases, fault will lie with at least one of the two motorists involved in the auto accident. For example, the driver traveling straight may be at fault if they ran a stop sign or red light, leading to the collision. Or, the driver turning may be at fault if they failed to yield the right-of-way and turned in front of oncoming traffic, leading to the collision.

However, other parties could also be at fault for these serious accidents. Consider a situation in which a T-bone accident occurs due to faulty traffic signals. In such a case, the government entity responsible for maintaining the traffic signals may be liable. Another example is if a third motorist contributes to the collision by cutting off one of the drivers involved, causing them to take evasive action that results in the car crash.

What To Expect If You Were Found Partly At-Fault

Indiana’s modified comparative fault law will apply if you are found partly at fault for the T-bone accident that caused your injuries. Under this law, a plaintiff’s awarded compensation may be reduced by a percentage equal to the degree of fault a judge or jury assigns them. So, if a judge or jury finds you to be 30 percent at fault for the accident, you could only recover 70 percent of your awarded compensation.

Additionally, the modification to Indiana’s comparative fault law adds a 50-percent threshold to the amount of fault a plaintiff can be assigned and still recover compensation. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover compensation through litigation.

While the state’s modified comparative negligence rule explicitly applies to lawsuits, auto insurance providers still look to it when calculating their settlement offers. If the insurance adjuster believes you are 20 percent at fault for the accident, they will consider that when making a settlement offer.

The best way to minimize the degree of fault attributed to you and maximize your compensation after an accident is to work with an experienced Indianapolis T-bone accident lawyer. They’ll gather the evidence needed to support your claim and negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on your behalf.

Factors That Can Impact Your T-Bone Claim

Several key factors can impact your T-bone claim, which a side impact collision accident lawyer can explain. These factors include:

• Driver Negligence: If the other driver’s actions were clearly negligent, such as if they ran a stop sign or red light, it could make your claim much easier to prove, especially if there is traffic camera footage to support it. However, failure to yield can be more complicated to establish and may result in longer negotiations.
• Injury Severity: The more severe your injuries are, the more your case will typically be worth. This is because more severe injuries tend to require more expensive medical treatment, healing takes longer, and a victim’s ability to work is impacted longer.
• Insurance Policy Limits: The minimum required liability coverage insurance in Indiana is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. If the value of your losses exceeds the at-fault party’s auto insurance policy limits, it could impact your financial recovery.
• Comparative Fault: The degree to which you share fault for the T-bone accident can significantly affect your compensation due to Indiana’s modified comparative negligence rule.

Available Damages in Indianapolis

The compensation available for your Indianapolis T-bone car accident injuries covers several types of losses, including the following:

• Medical Expenses: Past and future surgeries, hospital stays, prescription medications, medical devices, physical therapy, and medical treatments
• Lost Wages: Past and future lost wages and work benefits, including retirement account contributions and health insurance, caused by your injuries’ impact on your ability to work
• Permanent Disability: The impact of your permanent disabilities on your daily life and the accommodations you must make for them, such as modifying your home or vehicle to be accessible
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional suffering caused by your injuries, including chronic pain conditions, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Property Damage: Property lost or damaged in the accident, including your vehicle, which may have been totaled in the collision

Contact Our Legal Team Today

If you were in a T-bone car accident in Indianapolis, contact the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson for a free consultation with a member of our legal team. Attorney Kelley J. Johnson has years of legal experience and works with expert witnesses in various specialty areas to help her clients receive the medical and legal support they need.