T-Bone Car Accident Lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area
Few crashes are as terrifying as a T-bone collision. Also known as side-impact crashes, these accidents occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another, forming the shape of a “T.” They often happen at intersections and can result in life-changing injuries and even fatalities.
If you’ve been injured in a T-bone accident anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may be facing substantial medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your recovery and your future. At The Hassell Law Group, our award-winning personal injury attorneys have over 90 years of combined legal experience zealously advocating for victims of car accidents. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we’re ready to put our experience, knowledge, and resources to work for you.
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You don’t have to face the insurance companies on your own. Let us help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of T-Bone Collisions
T-bone accidents are usually the result of negligence, often involving drivers who ignore traffic rules or make reckless decisions. On the Bay Area’s crowded roadways, the most common causes include:
- Running red lights or stop signs – A leading cause of deadly intersection crashes.
- Failing to yield – Especially when making left turns across oncoming traffic.
- Distracted driving – Texting, using GPS, or other inattentive driving.
- Drunk or drugged driving – Impaired drivers often fail to obey traffic signals.
- Speeding through intersections – Increases the severity of crashes and reduces the speeder’s reaction time.
- Poor visibility – Obstructed view, blind spots, foggy/poor weather conditions, and dark roadway conditions contribute to increased risk of accidents.
Regardless of the cause, victims of side-impact collisions have the right to hold negligent drivers accountable, and we are here to help.
Serious Injuries from Side-Impact Car Crashes
Unlike rear-end collisions involving bumper protection, side-impact accidents often involve a vehicle striking the passenger compartment directly. With little protection between the oncoming car and the driver or passenger, the resulting injuries can be serious or catastrophic.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur from the violent force of the impact or from the head hitting a window, door, door frame, or dashboard.
- Spinal cord injuries – Blunt or violent force may lead to partial or complete paralysis.
- Broken bones – Particularly in the ribs, hips, pelvis, and arm.
- Internal organ damage – From the force of the impact or the body striking the interior of the car.
- Whiplash and soft tissue damage – Even at moderate speeds, neck and back injuries are common.
- Wrongful death – Tragically, T-bone collisions can and do result in fatalities.
Prompt and thorough medical care is critical, even if you don’t feel pain right away. Some injuries may take hours or days for symptoms to appear.
Who Is Liable in a T-Bone Accident?
Liability in T-bone accidents often hinges on who had the right of way. In most cases, the negligent driver is the one who:
- Ran a red light or stop sign.
- Failed to yield during a left turn.
- Entered an intersection when it was not clear or safe to do so.
However, fault isn’t always simple. In some cases, both drivers may share liability if each contributed to the crash. Other times, third parties may also bear responsibility – for example, if a worker is delivering auto parts to an auto repair shop and causes a T-bone collision, both the employee and their employer are liable.
Under California’s comparative negligence law, even if you’re partly at fault, you can still recover compensation. Your percentage of responsibility reduces the amount you receive. For example, if you were found 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your damages.
Our experienced Bay Area T-bone accident lawyers will investigate the accident, obtain and review police reports, interview witnesses, review traffic camera footage, and reconstruct the accident to prove liability where needed.
Compensation Available to Victims
Victims of T-bone accidents may be entitled to significant compensation for the harm they’ve suffered. Recoverable damages often include:
- Medical expenses – From emergency care to surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment.
- Lost wages – For time missed from work while recovering.
- Loss of future earning capacity – If injuries prohibit or limit your ability to work in the future.
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress – Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, and reduced quality of life.
- Wrongful death damages – Funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support for the families of those killed in an accident.
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, especially when serious injuries are involved. Having an attorney who knows how to position your case for the best result, how to negotiate, and is prepared to go to trial can prove critical to obtaining maximum compensation.
What to Do After a T-Bone Car Accident
The steps you take after a T-bone collision can protect your health and strengthen your legal claim. Here’s what to do:
- Call 911 immediately – Report the crash and request medical help if you are at all injured. Obtain a police report. Police will do a report if injuries are claimed.
- Seek immediate medical attention – Don’t assume you’re fine; get evaluated right away.
- Collect information – Gather driver names, insurance details, and contact information for witnesses.
- Take photos – Photograph vehicle damage, injuries, and the intersection.
- Avoid admitting fault – Don’t apologize or speculate about who caused the crash.
- Call The Hassell Law Group – Let our skilled attorneys handle the process of making a claim for compensation and the insurance companies.
Why Choose The Hassell Law Group
When you’ve been injured in a serious auto crash, the lawyer you choose can make all the difference. Here’s why Bay Area accident victims turn to us:
- Proven results – We’ve won ongoing continuous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for accident victims.
- Award-winning attorneys – Recognized as top lawyers by Best Lawyers, TopVerdict, and National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
- Success rate – We win. We’ve helped countless injured clients recover compensation.
- Client-focused representation – We provide compassionate, personalized support every step of the way.
We’ve been trusted advocates for Bay Area families for decades — and we’re ready to stand up for your rights.
Recent Case Results
Our track record speaks for itself. Here are a few of our notable results:
$12.5 Million+ Confidential Settlement Result for a woman who was severely injured in a T-bone collision caused by a commercial truck driver.
$5,000,000 settlement for an injured woman in her 70s and her husband who was killed in a head-on collision caused by a negligent driver.
$4,900,000 result for a client in his mid-50s who was seriously injured when his vehicle was T-boned by a cement truck.
$4,677,244 court judgment in San Mateo County in a serious motorcycle accident where the motorcyclist was hit by a car driving on the wrong side of the road.
$4,500,000 settlement for a client in her 60s, a pedestrian, who was hit by a vehicle while crossing in the crosswalk in San Francisco.
$2,525,000 result for two pedestrians involved in an accident caused by a loose trailer pulled by a commercial vehicle.
While every case is unique, these results demonstrate our ability to take on challenging cases and achieve successful outcomes.
FAQs About T-Bone Car Accidents
Who is usually at fault in a T-bone accident?
Often, the driver who ran a red light, failed to yield, or ignored traffic rules.
What if both drivers claim they had the right of way?
An investigation into who had the right of way can be conducted which can include witness interviews, evaluating physical evidence, and video footage and can help establish fault.
Can passengers file claims after a T-bone accident?
Yes. Passengers may have strong claims against the at-fault driver, and sometimes both drivers.
How long do I have to sue after a T-bone accident in California?
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, unless your claim involves a public entity, in which case you have only 6 months from the date of the accident to file a claim.
Contact Our San Francisco Bay Area T-Bone Accident Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a T-bone collision, don’t wait. Insurance companies move quickly to try to reduce what they have to pay out. They want to protect their bottom line. At The Hassell Law Group, we’ll stand up for your rights and work to protect your future and optimize your compensation.
Call us today at (415) 334-4111 for a free consultation. We proudly serve San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, San Mateo, and communities throughout the Bay Area.
We’ll handle the legal battle while you focus on healing.
The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice, and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.