The front and side of a passenger vehicle are designed to absorb impact and protect occupants when there’s a collision. The side of a vehicle is not. As a result, T-bone car accidents have the potential to be the most catastrophic type of collision.

Statistically speaking, T-bone car accidents account for 22 percent of car accident occupant deaths every year.

If you’ve been seriously injured or lost a close family member in a T-Bone accident in Sacramento, don’t hesitate to reach out to the award-winning legal team at Singleton Schreiber for help. You may be entitled to compensation for your financial losses and harder-to-value suffering. Our Sacramento car accident lawyers can help you demand the life-changing financial award you deserve.

T-Bone Accidents in Sacramento

Singleton Schreiber is a recognized leader in personal injury litigation. Our top-rated California trial attorneys have successfully won over $2.5 billion in damages for clients like you. Discover the impact we can have on your T-bone accident case by calling our Sacramento law office today. Your first consultation is free.

What is a T-Bone Car Accident?

A T-Bone car accident, which is also known as a broadside collision, occurs when the front end of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle. When this happens, the two vehicles have a shape that’s reminiscent of a “T.”

Generally speaking, the only protection vehicle occupants have in a T-Bone collision is offered by side impact airbags. In fact, side impact airbags reduce the risk of a driver’s death by 37 percent in a crash. However, side airbags aren’t mandatory in most vehicles. When a vehicle doesn’t have side airbags, the potential for catastrophic or fatal injuries is quite high.

When Are T-Bone Accidents Most Likely to Happen?

According to California crash data, 1,251 broadside collisions were reported in Sacramento in 2023. These crashes caused at least 1,970 injuries and 10 fatalities and accounted for 35 percent of all auto accidents in the city that year.

While several factors can contribute to T-Bone car accidents in Sacramento, some of the most common causes include:

Running Red Lights or Stop Signs

T-Bone collisions can occur when a driver intentionally or unintentionally runs a red light at a Sacramento intersection. When the driver runs the red light or stop sign, they may drive right into the side of a vehicle that’s attempting to move through the intersection. It’s common for drivers to move through an intersection illegally when they’re distracted, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or because they’re drowsy.

Unsafe Left-Hand Turns

Broadside collisions can also occur when a driver fails to assess oncoming traffic while making a left-hand turn or miscalculates how much time they’ll need to make a turn safely.

Unsafe Parking Lot Maneuvers

T-Bone collisions can also occur in Sacramento parking lots. A driver might not realize that another vehicle is backing out of a parking spot and drive directly into the side of the vehicle as they drive through the parking lot.

Braking Errors, Especially During Bad Weather Conditions

Drivers may be unable to stop safely when a traffic light turns red or when another motorist runs a red light. There are times when brakes fail due to a vehicle defect, slippery road conditions due to bad weather conditions, or drivers are distracted by their cell phones.

How Do You Know Who’s Responsible For Causing a T-Bone Accident?

T-Bone car accidents in Sacramento usually occur because someone makes a mistake or violates California state traffic laws.

The best way to determine liability is by conducting a prompt and thorough investigation into a broadside collision. At Singleton Schreiber, our Sacramento car accident attorneys carefully evaluate property damage, tire tracks, video footage, vehicle maintenance records, witness statements, and other important pieces of evidence as we work to understand exactly why and how a T-bone accident occurred.

Once we know the cause, we can determine whose negligence contributed to the T-Bone collision and help our clients actively pursue a life-changing financial award from the negligent party and/or their insurance company.

What Compensation Can I Recover If I’ve Been Injured in a T-Bone Accident?

California gives victims of T-bone car accidents the opportunity to seek compensation from a negligent party and/or their insurance company.

California has strict minimum insurance requirements, which can compensate an injured victim for both economic and non-economic damages, including:

Current medical bills, including hospitalization, surgery, medication, and medical equipment
Reasonably necessary medical expenses in the future
Property damage
Rehabilitation and therapy
Nursing care
Lost wages and disability
Reduced earning capacity
Funeral expenses
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of consortium
Disfigurement
Inconvenience
Reduced quality of life
PTSD
Chronic physical pain

There are also times when punitive damages might be awarded to the victim of a T-Bone car accident in Sacramento. If a settlement can’t be reached, a jury can award punitive damages if the car accident lawsuit goes to trial and there’s clear and convincing proof that the T-Bone accident was caused by the defendant’s gross negligence or intentionally harmful actions.

Singleton Schreiber Wants to Help You Maximize Your Recover After a T-Bone Car Accident in Sacramento

Whether you’ve suffered broken bones, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, an amputated limb, traumatic brain injuries, or the wrongful death of a family member, you deserve to be compensated if someone else caused your T-Bone car accident in Sacramento, California.

You’ll only have a short period of time to formally seek compensation from a negligent driver, a vehicle manufacturer, or an insurance company. If you miss the two-year statute of limitations, you’ll lose the right to demand the justice you deserve.Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers are here to help you fight for the maximum financial award you need to move forward with your life.

At Singleton Schreiber, we’re recognized as Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Plaintiffs' Attorneys Trailblazers by the National Law Journal. We’re award-winning litigators who’ve helped clients win billions of dollars after life-changing accidents.

Now, our local lawyers and national resources are ready to make a difference in your life after a crash, too. Contact our Sacramento, CA, law office to set a time for a free consultation. We’re here to help 24 hours a day.