Were you hurt in a collision because another driver hit the middle of your car? Known as a T-bone accident, this can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially when you’re not at fault for the crash. However, you’re not alone, and legal counsel can help.
When you contact a Staten Island T-bone accident lawyer, you can rely on your lawyer to look into the details of the accident, collect evidence on your behalf, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue fair compensation according to New York laws.
At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have 50 years of combined experience. In that time, we have recovered $100 million for our clients. We’re ready to advocate for your rights and serve as your Staten Island car accident lawyer.
Right-of-Way Rules Often Matter in a T-Bone Crash in Staten Island
A Staten Island personal injury lawyer can use that evidence when building your claim. Rather than relying only on statements from the drivers, the investigation can focus on objective evidence that shows what each vehicle was doing immediately before impact.
Right-of-way violations are often important in T-bone collision claims because many side-impact crashes occur at intersections. New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law contains several rules governing which driver has the right to proceed.
For example, New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1142 addresses vehicles that enter into an intersection controlled by a stop or yield sign. A driver approaching a stop sign must stop and then yield to a vehicle if said vehicle has done either of the following:
- Entered the intersection
- Approached closely enough to create an immediate hazard
The statute also contains rules concerning drivers approaching yield signs. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1172 separately requires drivers approaching stop signs to stop at the appropriate location before entering an intersection. Traffic signals matter, too.
Under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1110, drivers generally must obey official traffic-control devices unless an authorized exception applies. A T-bone collision at an intersection can therefore involve evidence showing that one driver engaged in any of these behaviors:
- Went through a red light
- Failed to stop at a stop sign
- Did not yield when required to do so
- Entered the intersection when another vehicle had the right of way
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How T-Bone Collisions Can Affect Your Injury Claim
A T-bone collision happens when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. Because there is less space between a person and the point of impact than there is with a front or rear collision, side-impact crashes can cause significant injuries.
For an injured person, though, the shape of the collision is only part of the legal picture. The important question is why the vehicles collided and whether another driver violated a traffic law or otherwise acted negligently.
Your T-bone truck accident in Staten Island can be handled and look at the circumstances surrounding the crash. These are examples of evidence that your investigation will likely include:
- Police reports
- Photographs
- Vehicle damage
- Witness accounts
- Traffic-camera footage
- Surveillance video
- Vehicle data
- Medical records
- Other evidence that helps establish what happened
The goal is to connect the evidence to the legal elements of a personal injury claim. In a typical negligence case, that means establishing that the other driver owed you a duty to operate the vehicle safely, failed to meet that duty, and caused your injuries and resulting losses.
New York Uses Comparative Fault in Injury Cases
Being partly responsible for a collision after getting T boned in Staten Island doesn’t mean you’ll automatically lose your right to seek compensation. This is because New York follows a comparative-fault system under Civil Practice Law and Rules § 1411.
In general, a claimant’s damages are reduced according to the claimant’s share of culpable conduct. There is an important rule for motor vehicle injury cases covered by New York’s no-fault law.
Under CPLR § 1411, a claimant whose culpable conduct is greater than the culpable conduct of the person or persons from whom recovery is sought can be barred from recovery in an action subject to Insurance Law Article 51. Here’s what an insurer might argue against you after you are T-boned in Staten Island:
- You were speeding.
- You failed to watch the roadway.
- You entered an intersection improperly.
Your Staten Island T-bone accident lawyers can examine whether the evidence supports those allegations and determine how any alleged fault affects the claim. The point is not simply to insist that another driver was responsible.
If you’re wondering, “How much is a T-bone accident settlement worth in New York?” talk to your attorney ASAP. Your Staten Island T-bone accident attorneys can establish responsibility with evidence and address any allegations against you before they are accepted as fact.
No-Fault Insurance Can Cover Your Economic Losses
New York’s no-fault system is an important part of many motor vehicle injury claims. Insurance Law § 5103 provides for first-party benefits for covered people injured through the use or operation of motor vehicles under the circumstances described by the statute.
New York Insurance Law § 5102 defines “basic economic loss” to include the following:
- Certain necessary medical expenses
- Rehabilitation-related expenses
- Lost earnings subject to statutory limits
- Other reasonable and necessary expenses
This is separate from your T-bone accident attorney in Staten Island filing a lawsuit in pursuit of damages from the driver who caused the crash. Your no-fault benefits and your personal injury claim serve different purposes.
After a T-bone car accident in Staten Island, your lawyer can help you understand how the different insurance claims fit together, monitor communications with insurers, and address disputes over available benefits.
Call Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers for Advice From Staten Island T-Bone Accident Attorneys
Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers approaches personal injury representation with an emphasis on communication, urgency, and preparation. To foster this environment, we give each of our clients direct access to their Staten Island T-bone accident attorney.
Everyone on our team can communicate with clients in Spanish as well as English, making it that much easier to speak with us in the language of your choice. If traveling to the office is difficult, our lawyers firm can come to you.
As a law firm that handles cases on a contingency-fee basis, you won’t have to worry about any attorney fees because they will be collected from the recovery verdicts and settlements that we secure for you.
Call us today for help. Come in as a client, leave as a friend.