A lawyer seldom welcomes the need to represent a client that has been injured in a T-bone collision. It can be hard to collect the necessary evidence.
What are some examples of a T-bone collision?
Such collisions usually take place at or near an intersection. One example could be found at an intersection where one driver plans to go straight, and the other driver wants to make a left-hand turn. If the driver that plans to make the turn moves into the lane of opposing traffic too early, the other driver will not be able to stop. Consequently, that one vehicle will smash into the side of the one that has entered the turn.
In the second example one driver has followed the signal or sign at an intersection, and has entered that same intersection. A second driver has failed to follow the sign or traffic signal at that same crossing. Hence two vehicles enter the same space at the same time, and they are going different directions. Consequently, the vehicle in the intersection gets struck by the one that was driven through a signal or traffic sign.
What types of evidence can be used when seeking compensation for an injury sustained during a T-bone collision?
For both of the examples given above, a personal injury lawyer in Chatham ought to go after two types of evidence. One of those comes from the mouth of one or more witnesses. A witness can say who had the right of way at the point where two streets crossed. A witness can say who ignored a traffic signal at a spot where two streets intersect.
The nature of the damage to each vehicle also indicates which of the two drivers should be declared “at-fault.” Usually, one vehicle has been damaged on the side. Damage to one vehicle’s side panels normally serves as proof that the driver of the car that caused such damage should be held responsible for the accident.
If an accident has been caused because one driver was going straight, while the other was making a left-hand turn, one special piece of evidence might be requested. The lawyer for the defendant might want to determine the speed of the plaintiff’s vehicle. If the driver of that vehicle was driving too fast to avoid the collision, then that fact would weaken the plaintiff’s case.
The importance of the lawyer’s role
As can be seen, evidence-gathering plays a huge role in influencing the strength of a given case, whether it has been made by the plaintiff or the defendant. Lawyers have gained a great deal of experience in terms of collecting evidence. For that reason, a personal injury lawyer will have a significant role to play, when speaking for someone that has been injured in a T-bone collision.