A broadside collision, commonly known as a T-bone accident, occurs when the front of one vehicle crashes directly into the side of another vehicle, forming a “T” shape at the point of impact. These devastating crashes represent one of the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents on Michigan roads today.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 25% of all passenger vehicle fatalities involve side-impact collisions, with roughly 9,700 people killed in side-impact crashes annually in the United States. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 23% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths occur in broadside crashes, making them the second most deadly type of collision after head-on crashes.
Broadside accidents most often occur at intersections when one driver disobeys traffic control devices like stop signs or red lights, or fails to yield the right-of-way. These collisions can result in catastrophic injuries or death to drivers and passengers due to the limited protection offered by vehicle doors compared to front and rear crumple zones.
Why Broadside Collisions Are So Dangerous
T-bone accidents are particularly deadly for several critical reasons that distinguish them from other types of crashes:
Limited Side Protection
Unlike frontal or rear-end collisions where vehicles have substantial crumple zones, bumpers, and protective structures, the sides of vehicles offer minimal protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing reveals that only a thin door, reinforcing bar, and window separate occupants from the striking vehicle—typically just 12 to 18 inches of space between impact and the passenger compartment.
Modern vehicles do incorporate side-impact airbags and reinforced door beams, but these safety features became mandatory in the U.S. only in 2009, and their effectiveness is limited when facing high-speed impacts from heavier vehicles like trucks and SUVs.
High-Speed Intersection Impacts
Broadside collisions frequently occur when one vehicle enters an intersection at full speed, often because the driver failed to notice a red light or attempted to “beat” a yellow light. With little to no time for evasive action, the striking vehicle’s full momentum and weight transfer directly into the unprotected side of the other vehicle.
Research shows that side-impact collisions account for approximately 35-40% of passenger fatalities and serious injuries in European studies, despite being less common than frontal crashes, specifically because of the severity of impact forces involved.
Secondary Collisions and Rollovers
One often-overlooked danger of broadside crashes is the chain reaction they create. When struck from the side, vehicles are frequently:
- Knocked off course into oncoming traffic
- Spun violently in unexpected directions
- Forced sideways into stationary objects like utility poles, trees, or guardrails
- Pushed onto roadside slopes or ditches where rollover becomes likely
These secondary impacts compound the initial trauma and significantly increase injury severity for all occupants involved.
Close Proximity to Impact Zone
In a T-bone collision, the occupant on the struck side sits mere inches from the point of impact—far closer than in frontal or rear collisions. This proximity means the occupant absorbs more of the crash forces directly, even with modern safety systems deployed.
Common Causes of Broadside Collisions in Michigan
Understanding what causes T-bone accidents can help prevent these devastating crashes. The most frequent contributing factors include:
Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
Disobeying traffic control devices is the leading cause of broadside accidents. When drivers run red lights or roll through stop signs, they violate the right-of-way of other motorists who are lawfully proceeding through the intersection. According to Michigan Compiled Laws section 257.649, drivers must stop at stop signs, and under section 257.611(1), drivers must obey all traffic control devices including traffic signals.
Dangerous Left Turns
Left-turning vehicles are particularly vulnerable to causing or being involved in T-bone collisions. Under Michigan Compiled Laws section 257.652(1), drivers making left turns must yield to all oncoming traffic that is close enough to constitute a hazard. Common left-turn scenarios leading to broadside crashes include:
- Misjudging the speed of oncoming vehicles
- Failing to see motorcycles or smaller vehicles
- Turning during a yellow light without ensuring the intersection is clear
- Being distracted during the turn maneuver
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving continues to be a major contributor to broadside collisions. Drivers texting, talking on phones, eating, adjusting navigation systems, or otherwise taking their attention from the road often fail to notice traffic signals, stop signs, or vehicles with the right-of-way.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the severity of broadside collisions. Drivers who speed through intersections have less time to respond to changing traffic signals and are more likely to cause catastrophic damage when impact occurs.
Impaired Driving
Drunk or drugged driving severely impairs judgment, reaction time, and ability to observe traffic control devices. Impaired drivers are significantly more likely to run red lights, fail to yield, and cause serious broadside collisions.
Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
Michigan law clearly establishes right-of-way rules at intersections. Under Michigan Compiled Laws section 257.649(1), if you have already entered an intersection, you have the right-of-way and other traffic must yield. Additionally, section 257.649(2) states that when two vehicles enter an intersection simultaneously, the driver on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
Where Do T-Bone Accidents Most Commonly Occur?
While broadside collisions can happen anywhere two traffic paths intersect, certain locations see significantly higher rates of these dangerous crashes:
Intersections
The vast majority of T-bone accidents occur at intersections where perpendicular roads cross. The Federal Highway Administration refers to intersections as “planned points of conflict” because they inherently create situations where vehicles traveling in different directions must navigate the same space. High-risk intersection types include:
- Four-way intersections with traffic signals
- Two-way stops at arterial road connections
- Uncontrolled intersections in residential areas
- Highway exit and entrance ramps
Parking Lots
Parking lot T-bone accidents are extremely common due to the maze-like layout of aisles and limited visibility. Common scenarios include:
- Vehicles backing out of parking spaces into passing traffic
- Drivers failing to stop at parking lot stop signs
- Collisions at the ends of parking aisles
- Pedestrians and vehicles competing for space
Private Driveways and Access Roads
Broadside collisions frequently occur when vehicles exit private driveways or parking lots and enter public roadways without properly yielding to traffic. These accidents often involve:
- Commercial driveway exits onto busy streets
- Residential driveway incidents
- Shopping center and gas station exits
Highway and Multi-Lane Roads
While less common than intersection collisions, T-bone accidents on highways occur when:
- Drivers lose control and spin sideways into traffic
- Vehicles suddenly change lanes without checking blind spots
- Merging vehicles fail to yield
- Mechanical failures cause vehicles to veer across lanes
Serious Injuries Caused by Broadside Collisions
The nature of T-bone accidents results in a devastating range of injuries, many of which are life-altering or fatal. Common injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries are extremely common in broadside collisions due to the violent lateral forces that cause occupants’ heads to strike windows, door frames, or the B-pillar. Even with side-curtain airbag deployment, the rotational forces can cause diffuse axonal injury and other serious brain trauma.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries from T-bone accidents can result in partial or complete paralysis. The lateral impact forces can compress, fracture, or sever the spinal cord, leading to permanent disability.
Broken Bones and Fractures
The impact side occupant commonly suffers broken bones including:
- Fractured ribs and sternum
- Broken arms, wrists, and hands from bracing against impact
- Shattered hips and pelvis
- Fractured legs and ankles
- Facial fractures from side window contact
Herniated Discs and Back Injuries
The violent lateral forces in broadside collisions frequently cause herniated discs and other serious back injuries as the spine is compressed and twisted simultaneously.
Internal Organ Damage
The proximity of occupants to the impact zone means internal organs—particularly the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs—are at high risk of contusion, laceration, or rupture from the crash forces.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
While commonly associated with rear-end collisions, whiplash injuries are also frequent in T-bone accidents as the head is violently jerked sideways, straining or tearing neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Determining Fault in Michigan Broadside Collisions
Establishing fault in a T-bone accident is crucial for pursuing compensation for injuries and damages. In Michigan, fault typically rests with the driver who:
- Failed to obey traffic control devices (stop signs, red lights, yield signs)
- Violated right-of-way laws
- Made an unsafe left turn
- Drove recklessly or negligently
- Was distracted, impaired, or speeding
The Importance of Duty and Reasonable Care
Under Michigan law, every driver has a legal duty to operate their vehicle with ordinary care—the same level of care a reasonably prudent person would use under similar circumstances. Simply having a green light does not absolve a driver of their duty to proceed cautiously and watch for hazards.
If a driver carelessly enters an intersection without maintaining proper lookout, they may share liability even if they technically had a green light. Michigan follows comparative negligence principles, meaning multiple parties can share fault based on their respective contributions to the accident.
Evidence Critical to Proving Fault
Thorough investigation and evidence gathering are essential to establishing liability in broadside collision cases. Critical evidence includes:
- Police accident reports and officer observations
- Traffic signal and stop sign positioning
- Skid marks, yaw marks, and tire marks showing vehicle paths
- Gouge marks and impact debris locations
- Witness statements from other motorists and pedestrians
- Traffic camera footage
- Business surveillance video
- Vehicle damage patterns and severity
- Electronic data from vehicle “black boxes”
- Cell phone records showing distraction
- Toxicology reports revealing impairment
Your Legal Rights After a Michigan Broadside Collision
If you or a loved one has been injured in a T-bone accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for:
No-Fault Insurance Benefits (PIP)
Michigan’s no-fault insurance system provides Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits that cover:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Wage loss replacement (up to three years)
- Replacement services for household tasks you cannot perform
- Attendant care services for catastrophic injuries
Third-Party Liability Claims
Beyond no-fault benefits, you may pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault driver if you suffered:
- Serious impairment of body function
- Permanent serious disfigurement
- Death (through a wrongful death claim)
Third-party claims can recover:
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Excess economic losses beyond PIP benefits
- Loss of consortium for spouses
Why You Need an Experienced T-Bone Accident Lawyer
Broadside collision cases involve complex legal and factual issues that require experienced legal representation:
Thorough Crash Investigation
Our personal injury attorneys conduct comprehensive investigations including:
- Accident scene examination and documentation
- Obtaining all available video footage
- Interviewing witnesses
- Consulting with accident reconstruction experts
- Reviewing traffic signal timing records
- Analyzing vehicle damage patterns
- Securing electronic evidence before it’s lost
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often attempt to:
- Shift blame to the injured party
- Minimize injury severity
- Pressure victims into quick, inadequate settlements
- Deny valid claims based on technicalities
Having an experienced attorney protects your rights and ensures insurance companies treat you fairly.
Maximizing Your Compensation
An experienced broadside collision attorney understands how to:
- Accurately value all current and future damages
- Document injuries thoroughly with medical experts
- Prove serious impairment of body function when necessary
- Negotiate effectively with insurance adjusters
- Take cases to trial when fair settlement is not offered
Contact The Joseph Dedvukaj Firm Today
At The Joseph Dedvukaj Firm, our experienced Michigan car accident attorneys have been fighting for broadside collision victims for over 30 years. We have recovered more than $300 million in settlements, judgments, and verdicts for injured Michigan residents, including landmark multimillion-dollar awards in serious injury cases.
We understand the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll that T-bone accidents inflict on victims and their families. Our team provides compassionate, aggressive representation to hold negligent drivers accountable and secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Every case includes:
- Free initial consultation
- Comprehensive case evaluation
- Thorough investigation and evidence gathering
- Aggressive negotiation with insurance companies
- Trial-ready representation when necessary
- Personalized attention from experienced attorneys
Don’t face the insurance companies alone. Contact us today to discuss your broadside collision case and learn your legal rights.
Call 866-HIRE-JOE (866-447-3563) or toll-free at 248-352-2110 for your free consultation. You can also contact us online to schedule your appointment.
We serve clients throughout Michigan including Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, Warren, Southfield, Pontiac, and surrounding communities. Our BBB A+ rated injury law firm is ready to fight for your rights.