The Dangers of Broadside Crashes on Delaware Roadways

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In a “T-bone” crash, one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. Unfortunately, the side doors of passenger cars do not contain the crumple zones that the front and read-end of vehicles are equipped with. Crumple zones are designed to absorb a significant amount of the energy of the impact of a collision and to protect the passenger cabin. When another car crashes into the side of a vehicle, the passengers receive a lot of the impact and their injuries tend to be serious.

For example: the Delaware State Police report that there was a crash at about 11:37 am on September 7th on westbound Linden Hill Road between a Chevrolet Equinox and a Honda CRS. As the Equinox proceeded from the stop sign into the westbound lane of New Linden Hill Road, a Honda CRS was traveling westbound on New Linden Hill Road. The Equinox entered into the path of the CRS. The Driver of the CRS was unable to avoid the collision causing the right front of the CRS to crash into the driver’s side rear doors of the Equinox. All drivers and passengers were wearing seatbelts. The driver of the Equinox did not suffer any injuries, but both passengers were treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital. One of the passengers was pronounced dead a short time later according to First State Update.com.

In August, a T-bone crash killed a 90-year-old man from Florida in an accident that occurred in Farmington. The driver was traveling eastbound on Jay Road with a female passenger when he failed to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle traveling southbound. The Florida man’s vehicle then broadsided the eastbound vehicle. The female passenger suffered serious injuries and transported to a hospital, while the driver of the southbound vehicle suffered a minor injury. Neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the crash according to the Journal Sentinel News.

Driver error is usually the cause of most broadside crashes

In our two unfortunate examples, the driver’s error is what led to the crash. There are many circumstances which create the opportunity for broadside crashes to occur such as:

• Running a red light or failing to stop at a stop sign and crashing into the vehicle with the right-of-way
• Making a left turn across a lane of traffic in front of another vehicle and the oncoming vehicle does not have time or space to stop
• Failure to yield the right-of-way to the oncoming vehicle

The one commonality in these examples is driver error, which a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) study attributed the cause of 94% of car crashes.

Injuries from T-bone collisions

Some of the common injuries that occur in broadside crashes include:

• Head and neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Lacerations

Those who survive broadside crashes are likely to have significant injuries that will have a lasting impact on their futures with ongoing medical needs. Working with a skilled Delaware car accident attorney to help you pursue compensation for your injuries will ensure that your interests are being protected.

At Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman, our car accident lawyers in Wilmington, Seaford and Newark work diligently to win compensation for our clients who have been injured because of another driver’s negligence. We serve clients throughout the state. Please call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form now to schedule a free consultation.