T-bone accidents are a dangerous type of car accident. They occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle, creating a T-bone shape when the two vehicles collide. Intersections are a common site of T-bone accidents, usually after a driver runs through a stop sign and crashes into a car traveling across the perpendicular road. Unfortunately, due to the immense force of a T-bone collision, these accidents can often result in severe injury or death.
According to a recent news article, two people were hospitalized after a T-Bone crash in St. Albans, Maine. The accident occurred after two vehicles, which held five total occupants, crashed at an intersection. Two people were transported to the hospital, and both cars were totaled.
What Are the Causes of T-Bone Accidents?
T-bone accidents frequently occur at an intersection when a driver runs through a stop sign or red light or fails to abide by another traffic signal, such as a yield sign. Drivers may ignore a traffic sign for several reasons. First, they may be distracted or attempting to multitask, such as talking on the phone while driving. To avoid a T-bone collision, keep your eyes on the road and avoid making any calls while operating a vehicle. Second, a driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so avoid drinking and driving at all costs. A T-Bone collision may also occur at night if drivers cannot see a traffic signal ahead of them. If you are driving at night, be sure to use your headlights so you have a clear view of a stop or yield sign before you approach an intersection.
Who Has the Right of Way in Maine?
Maine requires its drivers to abide by all traffic signs, including stop signs, yield signs, and red lights. In Maine, the driver approaching an intersection has the right of way over a vehicle approaching from the vehicle’s left. A driver at an intersection who intends to turn left must yield right of way to a vehicle approaching from the right. This rule applies if the other vehicle is so close to the intersection that turning left would constitute an immediate hazard. When two vehicles are approaching from opposite directions, both vehicles must stay to the right to avoid a head-on collision.
When evaluating cases that involve a failure to yield the right of way, Maine courts may also consider the distance of both vehicles from the intersection point, the speed at which the vehicles are traveling, and the other rules of the road in evaluating a driver’s liability. However, if a scenario on the road indicates a probable collision, a driver who can avoid the collision must exercise forbearance, such as waiving his or her right of way, to prevent the accident from occurring. The rules surrounding the right of way at an intersection can play out in ways that may prove complicated. An experienced Maine personal injury attorney can help you gather evidence and identity the factors a court may consider when assigning fault for a Maine T-Bone car accident.
Have You Been Injured in a Maine T-Bone Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or died in a Maine T-Bone accident, contact the Maine personal injury attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates today. Our compassionate and skilled attorneys possess years of experience litigating claims in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, and other personal injury cases. Through our competent and experienced representation, we have secured significant compensation for our clients. To schedule a no-obligation, free initial consultation, contact our office at 1-800-804-2004.