Hit on the Side? Talk to a Jonesboro T-Bone Accident Lawyer

T-Bone Accident Lawyer in Jonesboro, GA: What to Know After a Side-Impact Crash

A T-bone crash happens when the front or rear of one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming a rough letter T. If you were hurt in one, clear facts help you make your next decisions. This page explains fault, Georgia deadlines, common injuries and how a claim moves forward. T. Madden & Associates, P.C. handles car and truck wrecks from offices in Jonesboro, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta.

What a T-bone (side-impact) crash is

A T-bone crash is a side-impact collision where one vehicle’s front or rear hits the side of another. People also call these broadside crashes or angle collisions.

The side of a vehicle has less space between the outside and the people inside. That is why side impacts can cause serious harm to the person sitting closest to the point of impact.

These crashes often happen at intersections and during turns. The red-light running research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety links red-light violations to right-angle, or T-bone, crashes.

Side-impact crashes happen on Jonesboro and Clayton County roads. They also happen on roads in Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta. This page covers both car and truck side impacts. If you are helping an injured family member, this information is for you too. For the wider picture, read the Georgia car accident guide.

Who is usually at fault in a side-impact crash?

Fault usually depends on who had the right of way and who broke a traffic rule. Common patterns include:

• Running a red or stop sign
• Failing to yield on a left turn
• Rolling through an intersection
• Changing lanes into another vehicle’s path
• Distracted or impaired driving

Fault is proven with evidence. Useful evidence includes the police crash report, traffic signal timing, damage to both vehicles, photos, dashcam or business video, and witness statements.

Police reports can contain errors. If you find one, raise it early with your lawyer. Our guide on police report errors in Clayton County covers this issue.

When a commercial truck is involved, the investigation can reach beyond the driver. Georgia law holds a person liable for certain torts committed by a servant within the scope of that person’s business, under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-2.

Injuries side impacts commonly cause

Side impacts often cause head and brain injuries, neck and spine injuries, rib and chest injuries, and hip or pelvic fractures. Contact with a door or window can cause injuries too.

Some injuries show up hours or days later. A medical evaluation soon after the crash helps connect your injuries to the crash.

Some injuries are catastrophic. These cause lasting impairment or long-term care needs, and they change the scope of a claim.

If a crash is fatal, Georgia law lets certain family members bring a wrongful death claim. A surviving spouse may bring it, or children if there is no surviving spouse, under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2.

Ask early whether a seat belt was worn. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76.1, a failure to wear a seat safety belt may be considered as evidence in a civil action. It may also reduce a recovery. Our seat belt and car accident claim page explains the question further.

Georgia deadlines and fault rules

Georgia generally requires lawsuits for injuries to the person within two years after the right of action accrues. That rule comes from O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, which sets other periods for some claims, such as loss of consortium claims, which get four years.

Georgia also uses a comparative fault rule. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, the jury or judge deciding the case sets the injured person’s percentage of fault. Damages drop in proportion to that percentage.

If the injured person is 50 percent or more responsible, that person cannot recover any damages (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). The same statute says damages are divided among liable parties by fault, not shared jointly.

The fault of everyone who contributed can be considered, even people who were not named in the suit. Evidence such as video and witness memories fades over time. Waiting can make proof harder.

How a T-bone claim moves forward, step by step

A side-impact claim usually moves through five stages: a consultation, evidence gathering, a demand to insurers, negotiation and, if needed, a lawsuit.

1. Free first consultation. Start with a free first consultation. It is confidential and carries no obligation to continue. You can request a free case evaluation online.
2. Gather records. Collect the crash report, photos, medical bills and records, insurance information, and notes on symptoms and missed work.
3. Investigate. Our team can request evidence, look at vehicle damage, and work to identify the parties who may be responsible and their insurers.
4. Demand and negotiate. The insurers receive a clear statement of injuries, losses and supporting proof.
5. File suit if needed. The case is filed in the proper Georgia court. Timing varies with the case, the injuries and the court’s schedule.

We handle these claims on a contingency fee, which means no fee unless we win. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Georgia separates general damages from special damages. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2, special damages, such as medical bills, must be proved. General damages are presumed to flow from the act and need no proof of a set amount.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1, special damages for medical and healthcare expenses may not exceed the reasonable value of medically necessary care, treatment, or services. The amount you keep after a settlement varies from case to case. Fees, costs, medical liens and other deductions can reduce it.

About T. Madden & Associates, P.C. and how we work

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia personal injury firm led by Terance Madden. The firm has been in practice since 1999.

Our lawyers include Terance Madden and Shenia Madden. Our assistants and office staff support the lawyers and our team on each case.

The firm has offices in Jonesboro (Clayton County), Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta. We represent people hurt in car and truck accidents, motorcycle and e-bike crashes, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases. We also handle slip and fall, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and negligent security claims.

Side impacts in parking lots and on private property can raise their own questions. Our parking lot crash claim guide for Jonesboro covers those situations.

Our phone line is open 24/7. Reach out at any hour to ask a question.

Common questions about T-bone crash claims

Most side-impact questions come down to deadlines, fault and costs. The answers below cover each one.