Houston T-Bone Truck Accident Lawyers

T-bone accidents, also called side-impact collisions, occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Many of these accidents take place at intersections when a truck driver fails to check for other vehicles or blows through a stop sign.

At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, we know that the injuries sustained in this type of accident are often severe and debilitating. If a truck driver or trucking company was responsible for your T-bone accident, our Houston truck accident attorneys will work vigorously to hold them liable for their actions.

According to 2018 statistics gathered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 24 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in two vehicle-crashes with a large truck were side-struck by the truck. Any T-bone accident will likely be much more severe when it involves a large truck. The force of an 80,000-pound vehicle against the side of a small car can eject unrestrained occupants and cause debilitating injuries.

You shouldn’t have to carry a financial burden resulting from an accident you didn’t cause. Our award-winning legal team of Houston personal injury attorneys has the experience and resources needed to uphold your rights and recover the full compensation you need.

Call Gibson Hill Personal Injury at (713) 659-4000 for a free consultation with one of our Houston T-bone accident lawyers and find out how we can help you with your case.

Protect Your Rights After a T-bone Truck Accident

It’s important to take action as soon as possible after the accident. Gibson Hill Personal Injury can gather crucial evidence while it’s still available to prove someone else was at fault for your injuries. However, there are certain steps you could take before leaving the accident scene to help protect your right to compensation in an insurance claim or lawsuit:

Report the crash. T-bone accidents involving commercial trucks almost always cause injuries and property damage. If you suffered any injuries, you should call 911 and wait for an officer to arrive. Once they complete their investigation, they will inform you when it is okay to leave. Be sure to request a copy of the police report, as it may provide important evidence in your case.

Gather insurance information. Ask the truck driver for their name and insurance details. You should also get the name and contact information of the trucking company.

Collect evidence. Take photos of the damage to all vehicles and anything else at the scene related to the crash, such as skid marks, traffic lights, and weather conditions.

Look for witnesses. If there are bystanders who saw the crash happen, write down their names and phone numbers. They could confirm with the insurance company who was at fault.

Seek treatment. Go to a doctor to evaluate your injuries. Follow their instructions regarding follow-up treatment, imaging tests, and other appointments they recommend you attend.

Seek legal representation. Hire a Houston T-bone accident lawyer to spearhead your case and fight for comprehensive compensation.

While we’re working on your case, you should continue treating your injuries. Don’t skip appointments or allow too much time to pass in between them. Insurance companies will use gaps in treatment as evidence that you didn’t get hurt in the accident or that it’s just a minor injury.

They will not be on your side during the claims process, unfortunately, and will look for any valid excuse to issue a denial or provide a low settlement. Their ultimate goal is to save money, not cover your expenses.

Gibson Hill Personal Injury won’t allow them to take advantage of you or treat you unfairly. We will fight for your rights and secure the maximum compensation you deserve. Whether we’re handling your insurance claim or lawsuit, there are some things you shouldn’t do to avoid a negative outcome to your case.

Don’t sign any forms from the truck driver’s insurance company. The language can be confusing, and you could end up signing away your rights to the maximum available settlement. Your Houston T-bone accident lawyer will review everything and help you fill out anything that’s required.

Don’t handle your case without hiring an attorney. Even though you could pursue a claim or lawsuit unrepresented, you will likely encounter roadblocks that you don’t know how to handle. We understand state laws and legal procedures involved in truck accident cases. When you hire us, you will have a better chance of recovering higher compensation than if you choose to handle it independently.

Don’t accept any amount of responsibility for the accident. Texas follows a proportionate responsibility rule that could diminish your compensation by the percentage of fault you share. For example, if your total losses are $100,000 but you were 25% to blame for your injuries, you would only be entitled to a maximum of $75,000.

Common Causes of T-Bone Truck Accidents in Houston

T-bone accidents commonly occur in intersections. Truck drivers may run a stop sign or speed through traffic signals and crash into the side of a vehicle that’s entering the intersection. If they’re traveling at excessive speeds, the collision could lead to severe injuries for the occupants of the smaller car.

Reckless driving, distractions, and disobeying traffic laws create a dangerous situation for every driver and passenger around the commercial truck. T-bone collisions are often the result of:

• Ignoring a red light or stop sign
• Speeding
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Fatigued driving
• Driver error or inattention

Your Houston T-bone accident lawyer will determine the cause of the crash and whether the truck driver should be held accountable for your injuries. If you suffer ongoing pain, permanent disability, or other long-term effects, you could pursue the maximum compensation from the insurance company to cover your past and future costs. You should not be financially responsible for your treatment.

How to Pursue Compensation After a T-Bone Accident

Under the Texas fault system, the driver at fault for an accident becomes financially responsible for the victim’s medical bills, property damage, and other losses. Their auto insurance company could provide a settlement covering these losses, including the estimated cost of future treatment, lost wages, and other necessary expenses.

Some of the types of compensation you may be entitled to include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Medical bills
• Out of pocket expenses
• Mental anguish
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Property damage
• Disfigurement
• Physical impairment

Federal law requires that all truck drivers carry liability insurance with minimum limits to cover the expenses resulting from an accident they caused. These limits depend on the cargo being transported and the weight of the commercial truck.

• $300,000 minimum limit for non-hazardous cargo on a truck that doesn’t exceed 10,001 pounds
• $750,000 minimum limit for non-hazardous cargo on a truck over 10,000 pounds
• $1 million minimum limit for oil
• $5 million minimum limit for other hazardous materials

These limits should adequately cover your total losses. However, if the truck driver doesn’t have insurance or high enough limits, you could turn to your auto insurance company for compensation. Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) is an optional coverage on all policies. If you didn’t choose to reject it, you should have at least the minimum required limits available.

When you file a UM claim, you can pursue the following losses:

• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Out of pocket expenses

Gibson Hill Personal Injury will request a copy of all available insurance policies to determine how much coverage we can seek on your behalf. We will ensure we uncover all legal options that allow you to win the monetary award necessary to recover from your injuries and move forward, so you don’t have to continue suffering the consequences of another person’s actions.

Why Choose Gibson Hill Personal Injury?

Unfortunately, accident victims who choose not to seek legal representation might not know about strict deadlines and state laws they must follow. They could face an obstacle they don’t know how to deal with and end up losing their case. Our Houston T-bone accident lawyers have extensive experience handling cases like this. You have a much better chance of winning if you hire us than if you choose to pursue legal action yourself.

We have built a reputation in Houston and the state of Texas for our dedicated legal team, dependable customer service, and favorable results. We work closely with our clients to tailor our services to their specific needs. You won’t be just another number to us. We will treat you like family as we work to resolve your case.

Our team is available 24/7 to speak with you whenever you need us. At Gibson Hill Personal Injury, we understand how overwhelming the aftermath of a T-bone accident can be. When you’re forced to face expensive medical bills, ongoing treatment, and reduced quality of life, you want someone in your corner to help you get through it. We’re here to answer your questions, provide support, and guide you through the legal process.

Contact One of Our Houston T-Bone Accident Lawyers

Gibson Hill Personal Injury takes cases on contingency. That means we don’t charge any upfront fees or costs. If we recover compensation in an insurance claim or lawsuit, we will take a percentage for our legal fees. If we lose, you won’t have to pay. We know you’re already dealing with financial strain after the accident and don’t want to add any more burden to your life.

We offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call us at (713) 659-4000 if you were injured in a T-bone truck accident in Houston, and we’ll answer all of your questions and explain your legal options. We’re here to help.