T-Bone Car Accident Attorney In Vancouver, WA
A T-Bone accident occurs when one driver hits either the driver or passenger side of another vehicle, forming the letter “T” with the two cars. They are also commonly referred to as side-impact collisions. In Washington State, T-bone accidents are the second most common type of accident and the second-highest cause of vehicle fatalities after head-on collisions.
Washington State T-Bone Accident Statistics
While there were only 545 head-on collisions in Washington in 2015, they resulted in 46 of that year’s 216 traffic fatalities. In comparison, 27,443 T-bone accidents resulted in 42 deaths, 191 serious injuries, 5,429 minor injuries, and another 11,653 instances of property damage.
What Is Whiplash?
While whiplash occurs most commonly in rear-end accidents, it can also easily occur in a T-bone accident as well. Whiplash is a type of neck injury that occurs due to a forceful, rapid back-and-forth or side-to-side movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. In the case of a car accident, the body moves immediately forward or to the side due to the force of an impact with another vehicle while the neck remains momentarily in place. The force of the body moving so rapidly in one direction then causes the neck to “whip” into place to follow the body. Generally, this whipping motion causes the neck to hyper-extend, which can damage the muscles and ligaments in the neck and even the spine. It is more common for whiplash to occur in a front-to-back motion, but it can also occur in an accident that whips it from side to side.
Why It’s Important To Seek Medical Attention
Most accidents will activate the body’s stress response or what is more commonly referred to as the “fight-or-flight” mechanism. When this happens, your system will often become flooded with adrenaline, which can shut down your pain response. For that reason, it may sometimes be hours and, in rare cases, even days before the full impact of any injuries may be felt. For that reason, it is always advisable for anyone who has been involved in an accident in any way to seek medical care. In addition to whiplash, there are other injuries that can be sustained without the individual being aware.
Potential Injuries
In a T-Bone accident in Vancouver, for instance, it is not uncommon for a vehicle occupant’s head to hit a window. In some cases, an individual may hit their head so hard that it can cause a traumatic brain injury that may even be life-threatening. Meanwhile, the individual involved may simply think they have a headache and take an aspirin to treat it. Another common injury from these types of accidents is a herniated spinal disc that can actually rupture if not properly treated. Most physicians and emergency care personnel know exactly what to look for in the case of various types of vehicle accidents.
If you’ve been injured in a T-bone accident within Washington our experienced Vancouver, WA accident attorneys are here to help. We have helped individuals who have been injured on Interstate 5, highway 14, surface streets and even parking lots within Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County, Pacific County, and other areas of Washington and Oregon.
If you need the help of an experienced accident injury attorney, please contact our firm today for a FREE case review.
