T-Bone Accident

T-Bone accidents are side-impact collisions. When a tractor trailer or big rig is involved in a T-bone accident, the consequences may be tragic. There is little material to stand between the front of a truck and either a driver or a passenger of a car. Sometimes the only barrier to the front end of the truck is the metal and plastic of a car door. If you are involved in a T-bone accident in East Tennessee, you may be facing sizeable medical bills, lost wages, and a need for alterations around your house to accommodate your disabilities. For many people, these are astronomical costs that may only be met by bringing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a truck driver who was at fault for the wreck. At the Hartsoe Law Firm, Maryville truck accident lawyer Mark Hartsoe has an accident reconstruction team on 24-hour standby that we can send out to investigate the scene of a crash.

A truck driver may be operating a vehicle that weighs up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Often, drivers are under pressure to meet delivery deadlines, or they may not be fully qualified to operate such a huge piece of machinery. Although there are side-impact safety standards for passenger cars, they are not built to withstand the impact of a commercial truck hitting the side of the car. Even a truck that is driving slowly and taps a car from the side may cause broken bones to a driver or passenger in a smaller vehicle.

T-bone accidents may happen for many different reasons, and determining who is at fault may be challenging, especially when a truck is involved. Either party may be at fault, but insurance adjustors for the truck driver and their employer will likely try to exploit Tennessee's modified comparative negligence rules and shift the blame to the accident victim. It is important to retain an attorney who understands how to establish a truck driver's liability when appropriate.

To hold a driver accountable for a T-bone accident, you will need to prove that the driver failed to operate the truck safely and thereby caused your injuries. In some cases, a T-bone accident is a result of a truck driver's violation of safety laws and regulations that were intended to guard against an accident of the type that you suffered. If that is the case, negligence per se may apply. This theory of liability tends to favor a plaintiff and may shift the emphasis of a case from fault to damages. Negligence per se may apply, for example, if a truck driver violates the hours of service rules and as a result of their fatigue runs a red light, T-boning you while you have the right of way.

Not all attorneys understand how to pursue the responsible parties in a truck accident lawsuit. A truck driver and trucking company that are to blame for a T-bone wreck will have knowledgeable attorneys and insurance adjustors on their side. It is important to retain your own legal representation from the Hartsoe Law Firm. If you were hurt as a result of a T-bone crash, Maryville truck accident attorney Mark Hartsoe can evaluate whether you may have a case and provide skillful representation. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form for your free consultation. Hartsoe represents victims who need a motor vehicle collision lawyer across East Tennessee, including in Blount, Knox, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.