Depending on the severity of the crash, any type of car accident could potentially cause serious injuries or even death to those involved. When you combine the weight of a vehicle, which is upwards of 2,000 pounds, with high speeds on the road, the results can be tragic. While advances in automotive technology and design have helped to make car crashes less dangerous for passengers, there is still on part of all vehicles that remains particularly vulnerable — its side. This is true no matter where in America you are driving, including Las Vegas, Nevada.
Understanding T-Bone Collisions
T-Bone crashes, also referred to as broadside or side-impact collisions, occur when one car crashes head-on with the side of another car. It is important to understand that the front and back of vehicles are designed with crumple zones and have extra space to absorb the energy of an impact, the side of a vehicle does not. Indeed, a passenger in a vehicle has little more than the car’s door to protect him or her from a crash. When the point of impact in a car accident is from the side of the vehicle, these crashes are especially dangerous for passengers.
When it comes to Nevada car accidents, it is just as important for drivers to understand where crashes happen as it is to understand how crashes happen. This is particularly true for T-Bone collisions because they are so dangerous for passengers. Not surprisingly, these types of accidents typically happen at intersections.
Causes of T-Bone Collisions
In order for a T-Bone collision to happen, the vehicles involved in the crash must be driving in directions perpendicular to one another. This scenario is always the case at an intersection. Nevada, like many states across the nation, has a serious problem when it comes to intersection car accidents. In fact, there were more than 300 traffic deaths that occured at Nevada intersections just between 2012 and 2016. 75% of these traffic-related deaths happened in Clark County. Additionally, more than 2,200 individuals were injured as a result of intersection traffic crashes. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) reports that a large majority of the crashes were T-Bone collisions.
There are several reasons why intersections are so dangerous. These is because drivers:
- Run red lights: When this happens at an intersection, the impact of the crash causes the vehicles involved to ricochet into other vehicles that are close by, causing even more damage;
- Fail to yield the right of way: When this happens at a stop sign, it is due to drivers ignoring traffic laws or are confused as to whose turn it is to go;
- Take unprotected left turns: When a left turn is made on a solid green light or a flashing yellow light, danger can result when there is not enough time to complete the turn due to oncoming traffic.
We can Help
The Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Matt Pfau Law Group have helped hundreds of car accident victims in Nevada. Motor vehicle accidents, particularly T-Bone collisions, can take a heavy toll on the victims and their loved ones. After a Nevada car accident, contact us to learn about your legal rights under the law.
