What You Need to Know About Harrisburg T-Bone Crashes

T-bone crashes are often devastating because of the minimal protection drivers and passengers have when hit at this angle. Determining who was at fault in these collisions is rarely straightforward, and injured victims are often unaware of their legal rights.

At Schmidt Kramer, our Harrisburg Car Accident Lawyers are here to fight on your behalf for the compensation you deserve. We also have decades of experience, which puts us in a great position to understand your situation and protect your legal interests.

Not sure if you have a case? Call our law offices anytime, night or day, to discuss your situation. This meeting can be done over the phone or through secure video conferencing. It is completely free and confidential.

What Is a T-bone Accident?

A T-bone accident, also known as a side-impact collision, is a type of car crash where the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another, creating a “T” shape. These collisions occur most frequently at intersections, where vehicles are crossing paths at right angles.

T-bone accidents can be particularly dangerous due to the direct impact on the side of the vehicle, which typically offers less protection than the front or rear. The force of such a collision can result in severe injuries and significant property damage.

How Do T-Bone Accidents Happen?

T-bone car crashes typically occur due to driver negligence. Common reasons why T-bone car crashes may happen include:

Failure to Yield or Stop: A driver who does not have the right-of-way may fail to yield at an intersection. Impatient drivers may also run a red light or do a rolling stop at a traffic stop sign. Vehicles turning or traveling perpendicular to their path are most vulnerable to being T-boned in this situation.
Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to stop in time or react to changing traffic signals, increasing the likelihood of a T-bone collision.
Distracted Driving: Drivers distracted by phones, GPS, or other activities may fail to notice traffic signals or stop signs, leading to side-impact crashes.
Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment and reaction times, making it difficult for drivers to obey traffic laws or avoid collisions.
Inadequate Visibility: Poor weather conditions, obstructed views, or malfunctioning traffic signals can impair a driver’s ability to see other vehicles or traffic signals. These factors increase the risk of a T-bone accident.
Mechanical Failures: Vehicle malfunctions, such as brake failures or steering issues, can prevent a driver from stopping or steering properly, leading to a T-bone crash.

What Injuries Are Common in T-Bone Crashes?

T-bone accidents can lead to a range of significant injuries, including:

Concussions

Concussions can be caused by the violent motion and force of a crash. Sudden jolts or impacts to the head can also cause these head injuries. Victims who suffer a concussion may often experience the following symptoms:

Confusion
Migraines
Dizziness and other balance issues
Headaches
Blurry vision
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Nausea and/or vomiting
Hypersensitivity to light and noise
Feeling fatigued or drowsy; unable to stay awake
Atypical sadness or depression
Foggy-headed and confused
Unable to focus

When diagnosed and treated, most concussion symptoms tend to resolve in two to three weeks. However, not getting treatment could delay a victim’s ability to recover or may even cause symptoms to worsen.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

TBIs, which are usually the result of a sudden jolt or hard blow to the head, are common in T-bone crashes. This is especially true if the victim was not wearing a seatbelt and hit the windshield or got ejected from the vehicle.

Traumatic brain injuries are a complex head injury and could impact victims’ cognitive functionality, including their memory, problem-solving abilities and motor skills. TBIs often require extensive medical evaluation and long-term rehabilitation.

Whiplash

This common injury occurs when a victim’s head is forced forward and backward rapidly, straining or tearing the neck muscles and ligaments. Whiplash can cause severe and chronic pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion in the neck. Treatment might involve physical therapy, pain management, and, in some cases, surgery.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord from a T-bone collision can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on severity and location of the injury. Spinal cord injuries often require extensive medical care, including surgery, long-term physical therapy and adaptive equipment for mobility and daily activities.

Rib Fractures

The force from a T-bone crash can fracture ribs, causing intense pain and breathing difficulties. Rib fractures often require rest and pain management, but complications such as punctured lungs can make treatment more complex.

Internal Organ Damage

T-bone collisions may damage internal organs like the spleen, liver or kidneys. Such injuries might necessitate immediate surgical intervention to address internal bleeding or organ dysfunction, and recovery can be extensive.

Fractures and Dislocations

The impact of a T-bone accident can lead to broken bones or dislocated joints in the arms and legs. Fractures and dislocations often require immediate medical attention, including realignment and immobilization, followed by rehabilitation to restore functionality.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Due to the sudden and forceful impact, injuries such as bruises, sprains and strains can occur. While soft tissue injuries are often seen as less severe, they can still cause victim’s significant pain and long-term discomfort. Many soft-tissue injuries may require physical therapy to heal fully.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Survivors of severe T-bone accidents may develop PTSD, characterized by symptoms like flashbacks, severe anxiety and emotional distress. Treatment often involves therapy, counselling and sometimes medication to manage symptoms.

Depression and Anxiety

The trauma of a T-bone accident can cause victims to experience depression and anxiety. Ongoing physical pain, lifestyle changes and emotional strain can make these conditions worse. Some crash victims may need the support of a mental health professional.

Fatalities

T-bone accidents can cause fatal injuries due to the intense force of the impact, and because the side of the vehicle provides minimal protection to occupants. The loss of life in these accidents has profound effects on families and can lead to complex legal proceedings.

How Is Fault Determined for a T-bone Car Crash?

Several key factors must be considered when assessing who may be responsible for a T-bone accident. An at-fault driver could be liable for a crash if he or she:

Disobeyed traffic laws: Drivers who run a red light or fail to obey a stop sign could put a driver at fault for a crash. Also, if a driver violated the right of way rules, he or she could be held responsible.
Engage in reckless behaviors: Behaviors such as speeding, driving under the influence or using a phone while driving may lead to a crash.

What Type of Evidence Could Be Used to Determine Fault for a T-bone Car Crash?

After a T-bone car crash, you will need evidence to determine how the incident occurred and who may be liable. Evidence that could be used to determine fault for a car crash may include:

Witness Statements

Eyewitness accounts can provide critical insights into how the accident occurred. Witnesses may help clarify details such as which vehicle was in the intersection first or if one driver was speeding.

Car Crash Scene Evidence

An accident reconstructionist could use evidence at a car crash scene to determine what happened. Some of the evidence that may be found at a car crash scene may include:

Skid Marks and Vehicle Damage: The positions of vehicles, skid marks and damage patterns may help indicate how the collision occurred, and which driver might be at fault.

Traffic Cameras and Surveillance Footage: In some cases, traffic cameras or nearby surveillance cameras may have recorded the accident, providing solid evidence of fault.

Documents

After a car crash, various forms of documentation can be used to connect your injuries to a crash and to determine how the crash happened. Some of these documents may include:

Police Reports: Officers who arrive at the scene will document their findings in a police report. This report includes statements from drivers and witnesses, as well as an officer’s assessment of the accident.
Medical Records: Medical records help establish the extent of injuries and can indirectly indicate the severity of the accident.
Vehicle Repair Records: Damage assessments and repair estimates can provide insight to crash scene investigators about the force and angle of the collision.

Contact Schmidt Kramer to Discuss Your T-Bone Accident

After a car crash, it is important for you to seek immediate medical attention to aid your physical recovery. Visiting a doctor or going to the emergency room helps to link your injuries to the crash that caused them.

We encourage you to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon after a car accident as possible At Schmidt Kramer, our experienced lawyers are here to guide you through the legal process. There are no upfront costs for our services. Our firm does not get paid unless we help you obtain favorable compensation.

Experienced Lawyers. Fighting for You (717) 727-2550.

Free Case Review

No Upfront Fees

Testimonials

The legal team was very professional and met my needs I would highly recommend them
Monte cargile
Very great experience working with you guys continue the great service timely response communication well understand
jackie duffus
Schmidt Kramer is simply definition of hardworking, they are trustworthy and get best claim you could never think of.
After being in an automobile accident , Scott Cooper came highly recommended to me. I found Scott and his team very kind and considerate. Scott took time to explain the whole process to me and got me a settlement in a timely manner. I couldn't ask for best representation.
Ruthie Lupfer
Great Experience and Great results.. I recommend!!
Aaron Marquis

Recent Results

$10,043,952.13 Personal Injury
Schmidt Kramer, P.C.partner Gerard C. Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.
View Results
$4,034,000.00 Personal Injury
Yesterday a Judge in Union County (Lewisburg, PA) awarded a couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting.You might ask yourself, how does a turkey hunting accident end up with that type of verdict? In order to understand the verdict you would have to know our clients. They are good people who had their life wrecked. Plus, you would have to know the defendant, who should not have been hunting with a gun because he was prohibited after a previous criminal conviction.It is a good verdict, because the Judge was able to do two things with his decision. First, he communicated to two very good people that their losses were something that those of us on the outside could appreciate and value. Mike Hobbins (our client) is a 51 year old guy who lost his sight because a convicted felon --who should not have even possessed a gun-- went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger. The Judge accepted the financial loss Mr. Hobbins' suffered, but listened closely to the evidence of less tangible losses. When Mike broke down on the stand, because his daughter would end up walking him down the aisle at her wedding, as opposed to how it was supposed to go, the Judge was listening. When Mike could not keep it together, because of how emasculating it was for him not to be able to provide financially for his family, the Judge was listening. It was facts like these that the Judge cited to support the $2,000,000 award for non-economic damages. Second, the Judge wanted to send a message. Union County is a hunting county. Many of the residents hunt there, and people from outside the area come to Union County to hunt. It was my impression, from the Judge's statements as he rendered his decision, that he wanted to send a message to the people in Union County to protect them in their sport. The rules in place to restrict people convicted of crimes not to have a gun are not to be broken. Hunting is serious and you have to identify your target before you shoot. When you turn your back on the rules that are set to provide safety in a sport, you risk being an example. Here, the $1,000,000 punitive damage award sends that message loud and clear.When it really comes down to brass tacks, the right action was taken against a Defendant who may never truly appreciate what kind of impact his reckless choices caused.At Schmidt Kramer, we are injury lawyers. That means we work with people who were hurt in car accidents, who were hurt by the neglect of nursing homes, or those that were seriously injured because of the reckless, thoughtless acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. While the verdict yesterday is not one that is representative of every case we do, it does show that serious and dedicated representation can bring good results.Joe ChapmanJanuary 18, 2013
View Results
$2,200,000.00 Auto Accidents
On Monday, January 6, 2014, Schmidt Kramer accident lawyer Scott Cooper obtained a verdict on behalf of his client who is the widow of a man who died in a fiery crash on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County. The awarded verdict of $2.2 million was in a nonjury proceeding before a federal judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. That verdict includes $100,000 in punitive damages assessed against the owner of the trucking company.Kamilah Claxton won summary judgment in November after the defendants, Sukhwinder Singh and the trucking company for which he worked, failed to file a brief in opposition to Claxton's motion, which was made in September. The verdict in Claxton v. Singh was issued after the court held a non-jury assessment of damages earlier this month."Mr. Sukhchan Singh, the employer, is liable on the basis of respondent superior, but was also grossly negligent in failing to maintain his vehicle in compliance with state and federal law, particularly with regard to having required safety inspections and correcting defects in its braking equipment," said U.S. District Judge William W. Caldwell of the Middle District of Pennsylvania in his opinion accompanying the verdict."He was also grossly negligent in entrusting his vehicle to Sukhwinder Singh, an inexperienced truck driver who had failed the written test and driving test multiple times before finally earning his commercial driving license," Caldwell said.
View Results
$1,200,000.00 Personal Injury
A Dauphin County jury has awarded a $1.2 million verdict to the parents of a 5-year-old who had an anoxic brain injury and stopped breathing after he had a tonsillectomy.2012-06-26 10:00:00 AMDate of Verdict: June 19. 2012Court and Case No.: C.P. Dauphin County No. 2009-CV-14003-MMJudge: Scott EvansType of Action: Medical malpracticeInjuries: Anoxic brain injuryPlaintiffs Counsel: Terry S. Hyman, Schmidt Kramer, HarrisburgPlaintiffs Experts: Dr. Anna H. Messner, liability; Lucille Packer, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Palo Alto, Calif.; Terry P. Leslie, vocations and earning capacity, Lancaster; Dr. Hilary B. Berlin, pediatric psychiatry, Great Neck, N.Y.Defense Counsel: Andrew H. Foulkrod, Darlene K. King, Foulkrod Ellis, Camp Hill, PADefense Experts: James C. Reilly, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Wilmington, DEComment: A Dauphin County jury has awarded a $1.2 million verdict to the parents of a 5-year-old who had an anoxic brain injury and stopped breathing after he had a tonsillectomy.The entire verdict came against Dr. Andrew M. Shapiro, the doctor who plaintiffs Reginald Graham and Tykeisha Metz alleged chose to have the boy monitored at a pediatric ward. The plaintiffs argued Shapiro failed to tell nurses caring for the baby about, and how to care for, the boy's enhanced risk for respiratory failure.The jury came back on June 19 and awarded Reginald Graham and Tykeisha Mets $500,000 in non-economic damages and $686,170 in loss of future earning capacity, according to the plaintiffs counsel.According to the statement, the baby's mother brought him to Shapiro because she was "'afraid that he might stop breathing during his sleep,'" the plaintiffs' pretrial statement said. Shapiro performed a sleep study and observed the baby's Apnea Hypopnea Index to be 43 — four times higher than what's considered severe. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were performed.According to the plaintiffs, the baby's sleep study results put him at an increased risk for post-operative respiratory complications. Despite this, they argued in the statement, Shapiro ordered the pediatric nurses at the Harrisburg Hospital general pediatric ward to observe the boy as they would any other patients — about once every four hours.The pretrial statement said that one in four children who have an AHI in the 40s and oxygen desaturation below 80 have some type of respiratory problem. The younger the child, the greater the risk of a respiratory problem, the statement said.According to the statement, Shapiro took off the child's pulse oximeter, the finger-mounted device used to measure blood oxygen, and ordered a heart and respiratory rate monitor. The child was 11 months old at the time.The plaintiffs pled that the baby was last seen at 4 a.m. There was no record of his oxygen saturation for the next hour and 45 minutes. He stopped breathing a 6:40 a.m., and his brain was without oxygen long enough to cause demonstrable injury on an MRI."Immediately prior to his surgery, [the child] was a normal child, who could say mama, eat finger foods, and was just on the verge of walking," the statement said. "After his code, [he] was like a newborn. He could not lift his head or sit up. He could not talk. He could not move."In his pretrial statement, Shapiro argued that he recognized the child's pre-operative sleep study showed he was driven to breath by decreased blood oxygen saturation, which he said was typical in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.He argued the American Academy of Otolaryngology dictates that admission to the intensive care unit is not the standard of care. In the statement, he said nurses did not observe signs of respiratory distress. No alarms sounded until the child arrested, the statement said.He said the baby likely arrested as a result of hypoglycemia and/or an acute aspiration, which he argued would not have been identified by blood oxygen saturation.— Ben Present, of the Law Weekly
View Results
$1,024,040.80 Auto Accidents
Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death case on behalf of the widow of a police office who was killed in a car accident in the line of duty for $1,024,040.80. The claim against the other driver was amicably resolved before suit was filed for the entire available policy limits for the other driver. The case took place in Adams County, PA.
View Results

Understanding Harrisburg T-Bone Accidents: What You Need to Know

Table of Contents