In our community in Henderson, Nevada, traffic accidents are happening every hour.  The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department listed accidents that occurred in Las Vegas on their website which is updated every fifteen minutes.  This is a sad but real view of the roads in our Valley.  https://www.lvmpd.com/en-us/Pages/CurrentTraffic.aspx  Sadly, members of our community and visitors are seriously injured or killed in our area as a result of auto accidents that are not their fault.  The Las Vegas Sun reports on these tragedies on a regular basis. https://lasvegassun.com/news/trafficaccidents/

Many of these accidents involve T-Bone accidents.  In fact, a tragic T-Bone accident which resulted in a fatality of a non-at fault driver occurred recently near our office in Henderson on the corner of St. Rose Parkway and Eastern.  The crash occurred in the early morning hours when a red Jeep SUV was struck with such force that both cars ignited into flames.  Tragic accidents like these need to be prevented.  All drivers should follow the traffic laws to prevent these accidents.  These next blogs will review the most common type of accidents and Nevada traffic laws passed to prevent tragic auto accidents.

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T-BONE INTERSECTION ACCIDENTS

A T-bone collision most commonly occurs when one driver disobeys the right of way laws at an intersection.   These accidents frequently occur at traffic intersections that are controlled by a stop light or stop sign. These often happen as a result of a distracted or impaired driver.  However, they also occur when a driver mistakenly believes they have the right of way when they do not.  Unfortunately, drivers may make hazardous moves that cause T-bones accidents more often then we realize. There are many reasons these accident occur including drunk driving, bad road conditions, traveling to fast, being distracted by maps, fatigue, eating while driving, failing to obey traffic lights,  or the dreaded texting while driving.

If you or a loved one is involved in a T-Bone accident, call our office today and we can answer any question you have. When a T-bone accident happens, gather as much evidence as possible at the scene including:

• Take photos – A lot of photos of the vehicles and their locations;
• Get the name and phone number of all witnesses.
• Call the police.

This evidence will be critical in determining  who is the at-fault driver.   In Nevada, the law governing intersection accidents is a follows:

NEVADA LAW TRAFFIC LAW FOR INTERSECTIONS

NRS 484B.250 Vehicle approaching or entering intersection.

1. The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.
2. When two vehicles enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.
3. When two vehicles enter an intersection at approximately the same time, one vehicle traveling on a highway which ends at the intersection and the other vehicle traveling on a through highway, the driver of the vehicle on the highway which ends at the intersection shall yield the right-of-way to the other vehicle.
4. When a vehicle enters an intersection controlled by a traffic-control signal which is installed and has its vehicular signals uncovered, but is inoperative at the time the vehicle enters the intersection, the driver of the vehicle shall proceed as if a stop sign had been erected at each entrance to the intersection and shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if there is none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if there is none, at the point nearest the intersection where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the through highway. After making such a stop, the driver shall proceed cautiously, yielding to vehicles which have previously completed a stop or are within the intersection.
5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, this section does not apply at intersections controlled by official traffic-control devices or to vehicles approaching each other from opposite directions, when the driver of one of the vehicles is intending to or is making a left turn.

 

Determining Fault in an Auto Accident?

A “T-bone” accident describes an accident in which the front end of one car collides into the side of another, creating a t shape final impact which is where the name comes from.  Collisions like these most frequently happen in intersections or when one driver fails to yield the right of way from a side street into a major roadway. Sadly, these accidents are frequently serious and can result in serious or life threatening injury for those occupants. Therefore, determining whose negligence caused  the accident is necessary for the purposes of recovering damages.

Often times, the positions of the vehicles alone is not enough to establish who was at fault for the accident. Multiple factors may come into play when determining liability for a T-Bone car accident.  There are many scenarios that can lead to a T-Bone collision including, failing to stop for a stop sign or traffic signal, or failing to yield to a permissive green on a left turn.  Therefore,  it is very important to get eyewitness statements from those who saw the collision, obtain Traffic camera footage if possible,  take photos of skid marks, and take photos of the location of any debris from the vehicles.

Important to note is that drivers may share liability for an accident. For example, one driver may have been speeding and another may have failed to yield. In this case, an investigator (usually from an insurance company) may determine both drivers were partially at fault for an accident. In other cases, a third party may be liable for injuries. For example, a municipal entity may be liable for an accident if it was the result of a defective traffic light. Additionally, the manufacturer of a car or its component parts may be responsible for damages if a vehicle defect played a role in the accident.

Does It Matter Who is at Fault ?

YES!!!!!!!!! In any auto accident, it is critical  to determine which driver is at fault for the accident in order to bring a claim against their insurance company. Nevada is an “at-fault” state when it comes to insurance claims. This means the injured victim prove the other driver’s act of negligence was the proximate cause of their injury.

In addition, Nevada is also a “comparative negligence” state. This means if someone tries to recover damages from another as the result of a Tbone accident and they are partially at fault for that accident, their damages will be reduced. For example, if  one driver is  speeding and one driver failed to yield the right of way,  the injured driver’s recovery with be reduced by his percentage of fault.

INJURIES THAT OCCUR IN T-BONE ACCIDENTS

T-bone accidents can cause very serious injuries including brain injury, Head and neck injuries, Back injuries, Pelvic injuries, Abdominal injuries, burns, bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, chest injuries and many other injuries. Sadly, some of these injuries have lifelong consequences. Sometimes, they are fatal.

What You Should Do Following a T-Bone Car Accident

Injuries form someone’s negligence in an auto accident causes extraordinary distress to every family.  At TheOneLawyer.com we can help ease the financial burden that goes along with the injuries and get you to the right doctors.  If you or someone that you love has been injured due to the negligence of another, contact our office immediately. We have over 20 years’ experience helping people recover physically and financially following these type of accidents.  If you have a question about any type of accident involving a personal injury, whether from a car accident or a slip and fall or any combination of injuries, please don’t hesitate to call us at 702-450-4868.

PRACTICING GRATITUDE – WEEKLY AFIRMATION

It is important for all of us to be  grateful for things in our lives that we tend to take for granted on a daily basis.   Our lives are filled with stress and hardship daily.  Without gratitude, we can be easily overwhelmed.  Today, I am grateful for  my beautiful niece. If we all practice gratitude more regularly, we will all be calmer and kinder humans. Each of my blogs will contain something I am grateful for and at this time next year, they will be listed. I hope that you will also have a long list by the end of 2023. I hope that by reflecting on gratitude, I will find the positive of everyday, even the days that are stressful and overwhelming. We fight hard with corporations for our clients every day and we are grateful you have chosen TheOneLawyer.com to fight you and your family after an accident.  We are here to  help you recover the injuries resulting from an accident. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.