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A side impact, or T-bone truck accident are extremely dangerous and could cause severe and even fatal injuries to all parties involved. The party responsible for the accident could be held liable for damages. When a T-bone collision occurs, a seasoned truck accident attorney could help you hold the responsible truck driver accountable.
Following a collision, you should retain the services of a York County side impact truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. A skilled truck accident attorney at Schiller & Hamilton could evaluate your claim and advise you on all of your legal options.
Common Side Impact Truck Injuries
When it comes to the severity of side impact truck accident injuries, two important factors increase the risk of these injuries being significant. A skilled York County attorney could help anyone involved in a side impact truck accident understand the risk factors resulting in a crash.
The most important factor is the limited ability for the side of a passenger vehicle to absorb an impact. Technology has advanced significantly in motor vehicles, which has greatly increased the ability of a car to absorb a front or rear-end collision. Side impacts are different. The doors of passenger cars only provide a few inches of metal and plastic to protect a motorist from an oncoming commercial truck.
The second important factor is that these accidents usually involve a truck traveling at or near full speed. Whether the crash results from a truck driver ignoring a stop sign or entering a roadway unsafely, these injuries are often severe. Examples of these injuries could include:
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Burns
- Amputation
- Lacerations
- Joint or ligament damage
- Internal bleeding
When Both Drivers Share Fault
Given that many of these accidents occur in intersections, it is not unusual for both the truck driver and the motorist they collide with to share in the fault for a crash. For example, if both drivers disregard a stop sign, each of them could face some responsibility should the two vehicles collide.
When both parties share fault in an accident in York County, a doctrine known as modified comparative fault applies per South Carolina Code of Laws Section 15-38-15.
Modified comparative fault will not automatically prevent a motorist from recovering compensation in a side impact truck crash case if they share in causing the accident. However, the statute will bar any driver that is more than 50 percent at fault for the crash from obtaining a damage award.
If the motorist is found to be less than 50 percent responsible for the accident, state law requires a jury to reduce the amount of damages awarded by the percentage the plaintiff is liable. By working with a York County attorney, a plaintiff in a side impact truck accident lawsuit could argue to the jury that they were not responsible for the accident in any way.
Call a York County Side Impact Truck Accident Attorney
Despite the severity of your injuries, recovering compensation in a side impact truck crash lawsuit is never certain. A successful claim requires building a winning case, which can be difficult without the right legal counsel.
A York County side impact truck accident lawyer has the skill and experience necessary to help your case. Call today to get started.