Michigan T-Bone Accident Attorney

Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C., is a prominent no-fault insurance law firm that has been protecting clients’ rights to fair compensation for over 30 years. Our fine track record extends to a wide variety of car accidents, including T-Bone, or broadside, accidents. According to the Insurance Information Institute, T-bone accidents made up more than 20 percent of traffic accidents in the United States from 2009 to 2019. If you are a Michigan resident that has suffered a serious injury in a T-Bone accident, contact our experienced car accident attorneys for a free consultation.

Although Michigan’s no-fault insurance has been a safety net for traffic accident victims for a long time, we are well aware of how tightfisted insurers can be, and how likely their adjusters are to deny or minimize claims. As if that weren’t bad enough, changes to no-fault law have made it even more difficult for victims of catastrophic injuries to obtain the substantial resources they need to move forward. This is why you need the accomplished law team at Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C.

How Our T-Bone Accident Attorneys Can Help

Michigan is a no-fault state. That means if you have your own insurance (or are covered by someone else’s insurance), you may be entitled to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits for medical expenses, work loss, personal attendant care, and replacement (household chores) services. PIP does not cover noneconomic damages (i.e., pain and suffering). However, you may be entitled to sue for such damages. This will depend on the facts of the case and the existence (and amount of) any applicable liability insurance policy.

At Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C., we know how life-altering physical pain and emotional trauma can be and are acutely aware of the expenses involved in long-term care. Our personal injury attorneys will negotiate the best possible no-fault settlement, and, if the circumstances warrant, file a lawsuit on your behalf. We can also investigate whether you have a claim for pain and suffering damages (known as a third-party claim). You can depend on Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C. personal injury team to see you through. We have the skill and determination to fight aggressively for your rights, and the proven strategies to maximize the settlement you receive. Most cases are handled on a contingency contract. This means that we will not charge you any attorneys’ fees until we recover for your injuries.

How do T-bone accidents occur?

T-bone accidents occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another (forming the T for which the collision is named). Given the nature of these accidents, it’s clear that T-bone accidents always (or almost always) result from someone’s negligence (or possibly even recklessness). These crashes most often happen at intersections when one driver ignores a red light or a stop sign, plowing into the other vehicle crossing the intersection. If both drivers are obeying the law, they will not collide.

Underlying causes of T-bone accidents are the same as those of any other traffic accidents, and include:

Drunk driving
Driving while under the influence of drugs
Driving while sleepy
Speeding
Tailgating
Distracted driving (e.g. while texting, adjusting the radio, etc.)
Disobeying traffic signals (e.g. running red lights, stop signs)

Our experienced personal injury attorneys know that there are too many ways T-bone accidents can (and do) happen. Tragically, when they do happen, T-bone accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.

Injuries Commonly Associated With T-Bone Accidents

When one vehicle hits the side of another with force, metal will crumble and glass will shatter. If the car that is hit is impacted on the driver’s side of the vehicle, or on an occupied passenger’s side, the person hit will most likely be severely injured. The victim often hits the side window or windshield or is crushed by the car’s proximate door. Injuries common in T-bone accidents include:

Deep lacerations of the face
Internal bleeding
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Whiplash or other musculoskeletal damage
Organ damage or loss
Fracture of the hip, limbs or vertebrae
Spinal cord injury (SCI)

Depending on the circumstances, the above injuries may result in prolonged recovery, permanent disability, or fatality. Permanent disability may include:

Cognitive impairment
Loss of sight or hearing
Facial disfigurement
Inability to walk
Paralysis
Seizures
Chronic pain

What happens if you were partially at fault for the T-bone accident?

The law recognizes the possibility that there may be shared responsibility, even for a T-bone accident. If, for example, the other car went through a red light and crashed right into you, but you were intoxicated or had forgotten to put on your headlights, the court may decide that there is culpability on both sides. In this case, Michigan’s comparative negligence law kicks in.

Comparative negligence laws differ from state to state. In Michigan, we work under a principle of modified comparative negligence which makes a distinction between economic damages (e.g. property damage, lost income, medical expenses) and noneconomic damages (e.g. for pain and suffering, permanent disfigurement).

You will be able to receive a portion of economic damages even if the court deems you to be partially at fault for the accident. Your award will be lessened by your percentage of fault, but you will be allowed to collect even if you are more than 50 percent at fault. In terms of noneconomic (pain and suffering) damages, however, Michigan law will keep you from receiving any such damages if the court determines that you were more than 50 percent responsible for the accident.

It is important to remember that, no matter what the details of the accident, once you become our client, Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C.’s law team has your back. No matter what, we will use our well-honed persuasive skills to obtain the best possible outcome.

Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys Today — We Will Handle Everything

Even if you survive a T-bone crash and fully recover, you may suffer years of pain, surgical procedures, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), work loss, and inability to resume normal activities. If all of this has resulted from someone else’s negligence, that individual has to be held accountable.

At Miller, Tischler & Vislosky, P.C., we will help you do just that. We will fight with all our power to defend your right to all the compensation you need to restabilize your life and move forward into the most comfortable, secure future possible. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation!