Side-impact/T-bone car accidents in Torrington can cause substantial property damage and serious injuries. When you’re involved in a side-impact crash, contact the attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC.
Our legal professionals have decades of experience representing people injured in motor vehicle collisions. We can help you explore your legal options and advocate vigorously on your behalf so that you receive maximum compensation for your losses.
In a side-impact crash, one vehicle collides with the side panel of another vehicle. This sometimes happens when traffic lanes merge, and the sides of two vehicles collide as both try to occupy a single lane. Other times, a car drifts out of its lane and sideswipes a parked car or one traveling in an adjacent lane.
More commonly, the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another—this is a T-bone accident. These often happen when a driver making a left turn does not stop for an oncoming vehicle, or when one car goes through a stop sign or light and hits a vehicle traveling through the intersection. T-bones also happen frequently in parking lots, when one driver does not notice a vehicle pulling out of a space and collides with it.
It’s usually clear which driver caused the accident, but sometimes both drivers bear some responsibility. Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h allows a driver with partial responsibility for an accident to collect compensation if they were not the primary cause of the wreck. The amount a driver could collect in these circumstances depends on how much fault is assigned to them. It’s important to work with an attorney who can ensure you don’t bear an unreasonable portion of the blame for a T-bone collision in Torrington; or any at all if the circumstances warrant.
Side-impact crashes can be very dangerous. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost a quarter of traffic deaths occur in side-impact accidents. The side panels of passenger vehicles have the least reinforcement and make vehicle occupants vulnerable, especially those sitting on the side of the impact.
Injuries can vary depending on the vehicles’ speed, the relative sizes of the involved vehicles, where the occupant was seated, and their position at the time of impact. Some of the more common injuries people in Torrington suffer in side-impact crashes include:
Many survivors of side-impact accidents also experience serious psychological injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When you work with a lawyer from D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, we will monitor your medical progress closely. This ensures you receive compensation for all your injuries, including any lingering symptoms or permanent impacts on your work, lifestyle, and overall quality of life. If your injuries require ongoing care, we can demand that your compensation include funds to cover future medical expenses and healthcare ancillary services.
Various deadlines apply to those who wish to file a claim for compensation after a sideswipe accident in Torrington. Seeking legal advice from our team at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, soon after the wreck can ensure that you don’t inadvertently miss a deadline that could affect your rights.
For example, the state or local government may have some responsibility for car accidents. A local government might be liable if:
A unit of government could also be liable if one of the involved drivers is a public employee or was driving a government-owned vehicle. Injured people have only a short time to give official notice of a claim to a government agency, or lose their right to sue.
When a government agency is not involved, you have two years to file a lawsuit seeking compensation after a car accident. Most motor vehicle crash claims never go to trial. Still, the threat of a lawsuit can compel an insurance company to engage in good-faith negotiations to achieve a reasonable settlement. Waiting to engage an attorney could reduce your negotiating power.
When you’re injured in a wreck that was someone else’s fault, you shouldn’t bear the financial burden alone. The other party is responsible for paying their fair share of your losses.
Contact a legal professional at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, when you are involved in a side-impact/T-bone car accident in Torrington. We have the skills and resources to advocate for your rights. Schedule your free remote or in-person consultation today.
