Traffic crosses from multiple directions at intersections. Most drivers pass through without a second thought. But when someone ignores the rules and slams into the side of your vehicle, everything shifts. The impact can strike inches from your seat. Side doors offer little protection against the weight of a speeding vehicle or one driven by a distracted driver.
If a side-impact crash leaves you injured, a Long Island T-bone accident lawyer from Dell & Dean, PLLC, will protect your rights. Our team brings decades of trial experience and a reputation for treating every client like family. We won’t just represent you—we’ll stand by you from start to finish.
What Makes T-Bone Accidents So Dangerous?
T-bone accidents, also known as side-impact collisions, happen when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Unlike head-on or rear-end crashes, these collisions often leave little between the point of impact and the driver or passenger inside the vehicle that was hit.
Most vehicles lack strong side protection. That makes the door area a weak point during a collision. Victims often suffer traumatic injuries like:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Pelvic fractures
- Rib and lung damage
Some victims never return to work. Others face months of rehab or a lifetime of reduced mobility. The emotional impact also lingers long after the physical pain fades. An accident is not just about one moment, it’s about everything that changes as a result of the crash.
Many T-bone collisions happen in intersections when one driver runs a red light, fails to yield, or misjudges the speed of oncoming traffic. In other cases, a distracted or intoxicated driver blows through a stop sign without ever slowing down.
Who Is At Fault for a T-Bone Collision?
Fault in a T-bone crash depends on which driver entered the intersection with the legal right of way. The driver who broke a traffic law, ignored posted signs, or drove recklessly will typically carry legal responsibility for the crash.
Common fault-based actions include:
- A driver runs a red light
- A left-turning vehicle fails to yield
- Someone speeds through a yellow light
- A motorist drives under the influence
- A distracted driver enters the intersection while looking at a phone
Sometimes, both drivers claim they had the green light, or one vehicle blocks the other’s view. In these cases, physical evidence and video footage become even more important. Traffic camera recordings, witness statements, police reports, and vehicle damage help clarify what happened.
A Long Island T-bone accident lawyer will gather those materials and build a claim based on facts, not assumptions.
What If Both Drivers Share Some Fault?
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule. That means you can still recover compensation even if you share some blame. However, your compensation will decrease by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you’re 20% responsible and your total compensable losses equal $100,000, your award will drop to $80,000.
Insurance companies often use this rule to shift more blame onto the injured person. They will argue that you sped up at a yellow light, made an unsafe turn, or failed to notice the other car. Your lawyer will push back with clear evidence and protect your right to a fair result.
How a Lawyer Will Build a Strong Case
You may remember the impact, the ambulance ride, or the hospital lights. But those early memories won’t carry the full weight of your claim. A Long Island T-bone accident attorney will step in with the resources and strategy to build a case that holds up.
Depending on the details of your case, that process could include:
- A lawyer can collect traffic and body cam footage from the scene
- The legal team can interview eyewitnesses and first responders
- Investigators can examine vehicle damage and assess the angle of impact
- In-house experts and doctors can review medical records and injuries
- Attorneys can examine traffic signal timing and intersection design
Your lawyer may also bring in an accident reconstruction expert to model the crash and show how it unfolded. Small details—like skid marks or damage angles—can often clarify what words or memory cannot.
What Damages Can You Pursue?
A strong claim will account for more than hospital bills. You can pursue compensation for every way the crash disrupted your health, income, and future. That may include:
- Emergency and ongoing medical care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost income or reduced earning capacity
- Mobility aids or home modifications
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental health support
Your lawyer will work with medical specialists, occupational therapists, and economic experts to calculate a fair amount of compensation for the losses you’ve endured. They’ll also anticipate future costs tied to your recovery, including surgeries, mobility assistance, and long-term care.
What to Do After a T-Bone Crash
If you’re able, gather evidence at the scene:
- Take photos of both vehicles, the intersection, and skid marks
- Ask witnesses for names and contact info
- Record your own observations while they’re fresh
Get medical care right away. Even if your injuries seem minor, internal trauma may take hours or days to show up. A medical report will also create the first documented link between your injuries and the crash.
Then, avoid speaking with insurance adjusters until you’ve talked with a lawyer. They may seem helpful, but their job involves protecting the insurer, not you.
Why Choose Dell & Dean, PLLC?
At Dell & Dean, PLLC, we treat every client like a member of our extended family. Our Long Island T-bone accident lawyers will bring medical insight, courtroom experience, and a full legal team to your case. We speak multiple languages, we staff in-house experts, and we commit our full attention to every person we represent.
We won’t pressure you to settle quickly. We won’t treat your case like a number. We’ll take the time to understand what this crash did to your life, and we’ll build a legal strategy that reflects that. Call us today to speak with someone who will take your story seriously and help you decide what comes next.
Dell & Dean, PLLC, represents personal injury victims throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as the boroughs of New York City and the surrounding areas.
