Side-Impact Truck Accidents in Greeley
Side-impact crashes, also known as T-bone crashes, happen when one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. Because the doors and sides of vehicles have less reinforcement than the front or back, these accidents could cause severe injuries to passengers in the vehicle that is hit.
If you were involved in a side-impact truck accident in Greeley and suffered injuries, you could seek compensation for your losses. A seasoned truck wreck attorney could help you seek justice for your losses and hold the negligent party accountable.
Causes of T-Bone Truck Crashes
Most side-impact accidents happen at intersections when one vehicle goes through a stop sign or stop light and collides with a vehicle passing through the intersection. T-bones crashes also could happen when a Greeley motorist makes a left turn against oncoming traffic.
When a truck is involved in a side-impact collision, other factors could be in play. Trucks have notoriously long deceleration time, and depending on their weight and speed, it could require more than 100 feet to come to a complete stop. If a car stalls or stops in an intersection, a truck might not be able to stop in time to avoid hitting it.
Trucks have enormous blind spots along each side, especially when turning. If a motorist does not stay clear of the side blind spots, a truck could collide with the smaller vehicle’s side while making a turn.
Comparative Negligence Could Affect Damages
In order to pursue compensation after a wreck, the injured person will need to prove that another party’s negligence caused the accident. In Colorado, the injured person’s conduct could impact their damages. When a lawsuit goes to trial, Colorado Revised Statutes §13-21-111 requires a judge or jury to determine how much responsibility each party bears. If the injured person is at least half responsible for the accident, they cannot collect any compensation at all. If the other parties combined are at least 51 percent liable, the injured person can collect damages. However, the judge will reduce the amount the injured person receives by a percentage that equals their degree of responsibility.
As noted above, side-impact truck accidents sometimes happen because a motorist moved into a truck’s blind spot or obstructed a truck’s path. In such cases, a jury or judge might decide whether the motorist was partially responsible for the accident. A Greeley accident attorney could present evidence proving that negligence on the part of the trucker, their employer, and/or another party was the primary cause of the side-impact accident.
Compensation Available After a T-Bone Truck Accident
Injured accident victims who prove that other parties are primarily responsible for their injuries may collect monetary damages for past, present, and future losses. Damages could compensate for all the injured person’s out-of-pocket costs relating to the accident, including medical care, rehabilitation costs, lost income, incidental expenses, mental health treatment, and property damage.
In addition, damages compensate for the injured person’s temporarily or permanently diminished quality of life. These non-economic losses include mental anguish, physical pain, disability, disfigurement, lost enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. A Greeley attorney could provide more clarification about which damages might be available in a particular t-bone truck wreck case.
Rely on a Greeley Attorney to Handle Your Truck T-Bone Accident Claim
If you were hurt in a T-bone accident involving a truck, seek help from a competent legal professional immediately. Trucking companies often have teams of lawyers defending them against negligence lawsuits, and their attorneys might try to shift blame for the accident onto you, reducing their liability.
A local attorney who represents people involved in side-impact truck accidents in Greeley is familiar with their tactics and knows how to respond effectively. Call today to make an appointment with a seasoned legal professional.
