What to do if You’ve Been Involved in a Side-Impact Collision

A side-impact collision has similar effects on you and your vehicle as when you are T-boned. Side impact collisions occur when the front-end of another vehicle strikes your car on its side. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is common with this type of accident due to the physics of the impact. As the force of the energy ripples through your vehicle, it can cause your body to first collapse toward the impact point. Then, an equal and opposite action occurs where your head and body whip in the opposite direction.

Some auto manufacturers have developed and installed side-impact curtains, which are airbags that inflate on impact to help avoid hitting your head on the glass. They can also help cushion the impact from the vehicle hitting your body. Additionally, they can help prevent a person from being ejected from the car.

What are the Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents?

According to research, side-impact accidents are much deadlier for smaller vehicle occupants than for occupants of larger vehicles like SUVs and vans. This is because smaller cars cannot redistribute the energy from the impact of the collision as well as larger vehicles can. The causes of T-bone collisions can include:

Failure to yield right of way at an intersection
Speeding
Failure of one driver to make a safe left-turn
Not stopping for stop signs or red lights
Icy roads, defective brakes, or another vehicle defect

The Most Dangerous Roads in Tampa

EverQuote compiled data from the NHTSA and found that Highway 4 in Tampa is the most dangerous in the United States. The community organization Plan Hillsborough’s Vision Zero program details Tampa’s most dangerous streets. The list includes:

Mango Road/CR579 (MLK Boulevard to US 92)
78th Street (Causeway Boulevard to Palm River Road)
Gibsonton Drive (I-75 to Balm Riverview Road)
15th Street (Fowler Avenue to Fletcher Avenue)
Bruce B Downs Boulevard (BBD) (Fowler Avenue to Bearss Avenue)
Sheldon Road (Hillsborough Avenue to Waters Avenue)
Lynn Turner Road (Gunn Highway to Ehrlich Road)
Fletcher Avenue (Armenia Avenue to Nebraska Avenue)

What are the Most Common Injuries from Side Impact Accidents?

Women are much more likely to suffer severe injuries from side-impact accidents. Researchers believe this is correlated to physiological differences between males and females, but there are numerous factors that contribute to the injuries suffered in a side-impact accident. For example, injuries may be compounded if there is a secondary collision after the first impact, and may include:

Traumatic Brain Injury due to impact with the steering wheel, window glass, or other items in the vehicle.
Severe trauma to the left side of the body.
Internal injuries such as collapsed/punctured lungs or other perforated organs.
Becoming trapped in the seat belt or ejected if not wearing a seat belt.
Broken neck, torn muscles, herniated spinal discs, and more from the impact and whipping effect of the head and neck.

What do I do After a Side Impact Accident?

The first step is to seek immediate medical attention, even if you believe you were not injured. The shock and trauma can desensitize you to potentially significant injuries. It may take hours, days, or even weeks for the symptoms of injuries to present themselves. Delaying medical attention could not only harm your well-being, but it can also cause hardships later on in the insurance claims process.

We advise that you contact us as soon as possible. Darrigo and Diaz Law has an expert team of Tampa personal injury lawyers that can help reconstruct the side impact event and get you the compensation you need to cover medical expenses. We encourage you to immediately reach out to us by calling (813) 774-3341 for a confidential, free, and no-obligation phone consultation.