Side Impact Collisions

The knowledgeable Maine side impact collision attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates are dedicated to helping victims injured by the negligence of others. We have successfully handled all types of cases involving side impact collisions that severely injure drivers and passengers. Our firm provides the highest quality legal representation to injured victims and bereft family members across Maine.

Side impact or “T-bone” collisions occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another. These collisions are particularly serious because they can crush the driver and passengers. Most side impact collisions occur at intersections when one driver fails to yield. This happens when a driver runs a red light, or collides with a car blocking the intersection. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, side impact collisions cause 8,500 deaths each year. Children are especially vulnerable if they are sitting in the front seat. Many are killed by the overwhelming force of the deploying airbag. Current vehicles provide distinct driver and passenger side airbags to protect against injury in such collisions.

Common injuries caused by side impact collisions include:

• Coma
• Fractures
• Lacerations
• Broken bones and teeth
• Traumatic brain injury a/k/a ‘TBI’
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Spinal cord injuries
• Partial or total paralysis
• Permanent disfigurement

While side impact collisions are often seen in action films and commercials, these accidents are not done by stunt professionals in real life. The effects, however, are similar. The perpendicular impact can crush the car at rest or cause it to flip over. Many times, the force of the collision pushes the car into neighboring vehicles, causing a chain reaction accident. In other cases, the passenger is ejected from the vehicle and made vulnerable to being run over by other cars. Side impact collisions are responsible for massive pile-ups at intersections across the country. Even at low speeds, they can cause debilitating injuries. The future cost of caring for people who become disabled from such collisions can be very expensive.

Most side impact collisions are caused by negligence. Maine personal injury law holds negligent drivers responsible for the harm they cause. In this type of accident, either party could be at fault. The driver getting “T-boned” could have run a red light, exposing the vehicle to traffic traveling with the green light. In this case, the driver who failed to stop may be at fault for the accident. A speeding or distracted driver could also blow through a stop sign, barreling into the side of another car. Here, the party responsible for the traffic violation is at fault. On freeways, the accident may be caused by a jackknifed truck or a car that spins out of control. In any accident case, drivers owe each other a legal duty to safely operate their vehicles. Negligent drivers who breach that duty are liable for any damage or injury caused by the accident.

Victims of side impact collisions are entitled to a variety of damages from the negligent driver. First, they are entitled to any medical expenses, from the emergency care they received at the scene of the crash to any continuing treatment as the injury requires. Second, they are entitled to any income lost as a result of their inability to work. Finally, injured parties are entitled to damages for pain and suffering. If the side impact collision results in death, the negligent driver may be liable to surviving family members for the same damages, including reasonable funeral expenses, medical costs, lost income, and compensation associated with the loss of relationship with the deceased.

If you were injured in a side impact collision, contact the experienced Maine side impact collision lawyers at Peter Thompson & Associates today. We have prevailed in a wide range of accident cases, recovering substantial verdicts and settlements for injury victims throughout Maine. We have also obtained million-dollar awards for family members deprived of loved ones in accidents caused by negligence. Our firm is equipped with in-house investigators and top medical experts that thoroughly investigate the damage caused by side impact collisions. We can help you identify all liable parties and hold them accountable for causing your harm. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we are dedicated to helping you achieve the compensation you deserve. Call 800.804.2004 for a free consultation or contact us online.

• 2010 case study - Rockland