Drivers in New York City have to be prepared for all kinds of accidents and sudden road hazards, ranging from icy driving conditions to drunk drivers. But while minor car accidents that don’t involve any injury can be shrugged off, many are dangerous and potentially lethal.
T-bone accidents are among the deadliest and most common, particularly in places like New York City. T-bone collisions are frequent because the City has many dangerous intersections where cars travel at perpendicular angles to one another.
What Are T-Bone Accidents?
T-Bone accidents occur when one car drives into another at a perpendicular or nearly perpendicular angle. In most cases, T-bone accidents involve the front of one vehicle (impact driver) hitting the side of another vehicle, although “reverse” T-bone accidents can also occur.
T-bone or side-impact accidents are some of the worst a driver can experience. Both the driver responsible for the accident and any passengers in the impacted vehicle can be severely injured as a result.
Like many other accidents, T-bone accidents can be caused by:
- Drinking and driving
- Not being aware of surroundings
- Driving too quickly
However, the majority of T-bone accidents occur at intersections when one car doesn’t pay attention to a red or green light and is impacted by another car that is following the rules of the road. For example, a single car hurrying to clear an intersection just as their traffic light turns red could cause a T-bone collision by placing itself in the path of a car accelerating across that intersection at the worst possible moment.
New York City is a place that wouldn’t function properly without the thousands of intersections that crisscross its length. But the prevalence of intersections also means that T-bone accidents are common throughout the city’s five boroughs and are something that all drivers need to be aware of.
Injuries from T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents can be particularly dangerous compared to most other types of collisions. For example, side-impact accidents accounted for about 23% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in the U.S. during 2018, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also suggests that side-impact collisions are among the deadliest types of auto accidents for children. Unfortunately, deaths from T-bone accidents have increased by about 20% over the past 20 years.
If vehicle occupants are not killed, they are often injured from T-bone accidents. Because the car that impacts another vehicle from the side often arrives at the point of collision at rapid speeds, injuries can be quite severe and include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations and severe bruising across the body
- TBIs or traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
- Spinal damage, which may lead to paralysis
Because T-bone accidents are so dangerous, individuals who experience them must often pursue compensation via lawsuits to ensure they can cover their medical expenses and return to their normal lives.
Where Do T-Bone Accidents Occur in NYC?
Data from the Police Department City of New York indicates that there are over 8,000 motor accidents each year, involving over 16,000 motorists, 962 passengers, and nearly 1,000 cyclists and pedestrians. T-bone accidents specifically are most likely to occur at intersections—especially well-traveled ones that are common sites for auto accidents in general. Intersections provide the perfect circumstances for T-bone accidents, as cars often travel at perpendicular angles to one another and only stop when observing traffic lights correctly.
Manhattan’s top five most dangerous intersections include:
- Canal and Mott St.
- E. 96th St. and 3rd Ave.
- Lafayette St. and Canal St.
- E. 30th St. and 3rd Ave.
- E. 62th St. and 1st Ave.
For context, each of the above five intersections sees between three and four collisions every year, compared to just one or two for most other NYC intersections.
Furthermore, official police data show a variety of dangerous intersections with five or more serious collisions every year. The majority of these collisions are T-bone accidents due to car locations at the time of impact. These dangerous intersections include:
- 3rd Ave. and E. 39th St.
- Allen St. and Delancey St.
- E. 35th St. and Park Ave.
- 7th Ave. and W. 141st St.
- 8th Ave. and W. 138th St.
As the data shows, T-bone accidents are more likely to occur around intersections and nearby roads compared to other streets in New York City. However, T-bone accidents can also take place when cars back out of driveways or try to get on a freeway.
T-Bone Accident Settlements in NYC
T-bone accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries, both for the at-fault driver and any victim drivers or passengers. While New York is a no-fault state by default, under the right circumstances and with the assistance of skilled car accident attorneys, T-bone accident victims can prove gross negligence on the part of the at-fault driver.
As a result, T-bone lawsuits can and do result in sizable settlements for accident victims. Lawsuit amounts generally cover:
- The cost of past and future medical bills
- Damages for physical and mental pain and suffering
- Costs for loss of income, both past and future if the victim is permanently disabled
- Damages for suffering if a victim is deceased
- And more
T-bone accident settlements can range from as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars up to millions of dollars depending on the costs associated with medical procedures and the case presented by plaintiff attorneys.
New York T-Bone Accident Lawyers
Ultimately, T-bone accident victims will only receive the compensation they need to fully recover from their injuries and expenses if they contact skilled New York auto accident attorneys. Sobo & Sobo are well-equipped to assist accident victims in building a strong case before the statute of limitations expires. Contact them today for a free consultation.
