Side-impact collisions in Georgia are some of the most serious wrecks on our roads. Even when they occur at low speeds, these crashes can be deadly. Side-impact collisions are also called broadside or T-bone wrecks.
A side-impact accident occurs when the front of an oncoming vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle.
Although automakers have improved side-impact protection in their cars in recent years, there’s only so much they can do. The side of a car offers less protection to drivers and passengers than the front or the rear.
In a side-impact collision, the victim’s head often remains still as the body is pushed to the side. The sudden jarring motion frequently results in neck injuries.
Due to the limited protection offered by the sides of a vehicle, these crashes often involve “intrusion” as the front of a car, truck, or van pushes into the passenger compartment of another vehicle.
Occupants may suffer a direct hit. Areas like their abdomens, thighs, and pelvises are vulnerable in side-impact crashes. Spinal and head injuries are common. For this reason, T-bone crashes are more likely to be deadly than rear-enders.
Of course, any car, truck, or motorcycle accident in Georgia can be extremely serious for all parties involved and accidents associated with lower fatality rates like rear-enders and sideswipe accidents may still claim lives.
How Many Side-Impact Collisions Are Deadly?
Figures for 2017 published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found side-impact accounted for 24 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths. Every year, about 8,500 people die in these wrecks.
More than half of all road deaths were attributable to head-on collisions, according to the IIHS.
This survey confirms side-impact collisions in Georgia are often very serious. For every death, many more people sustain major injuries.
Where Do Side-Impact Collisions Occur?
Side-impact collisions occur where vehicles meet each other at right angles. Unsurprisingly, almost three-quarters of T-bone accidents occur at intersections when a driver fails to stop at a stop sign or a red light.
A number of factors determine the seriousness of a side impact crash. They include:
- The speed of an approaching vehicle;
- The weight of the vehicle;
- Whether one of the vehicles intrudes into the other;
- The relative size of the vehicles involved in the crash;
- Safety features on the vehicles;
- The collision points;
The victims of side-impact collisions in Georgia often suffer serious injuries. If you or a family member has been hurt in a collision of this nature it’s important to recover as much as you can. Please contact the Law Office of Michael West today.