Person driving car

Common Injuries Associated with T-Bone Accidents

According to the New York State Health Department’s website, based on statistics from 2012 to 2014, seven Nassau County residents died in traffic crashes, and another 111 residents required hospitalization. Although not specified in the data, some of these wrecks were undoubtedly T-bone collisions at intersections or merge points.

Similar to rear-end collisions and head-on collisions, a side-impact T-bone crash can leave you or your loved one with a variety of injuries of varying severity. These range from minor scrapes and bumps to severe, debilitating injuries that leave you with lifelong complications.

Ways to be Hurt in a Nassau County Side Impact Crash 

Few vehicles have robust and sufficient safety devices to protect you and other occupants in a T-bone crash. As a result, the same injuries you might suffer in other types of crashes can be inflicted in a T-bone wreck. These include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries, Neck Injuries, and Whiplash

Whiplash-type injuries occur when your head moves rapidly in one direction and then another. This violent and sudden movement can cause brain damage and injury to your spine and spinal cord. A concussion can result from slamming your head against a car’s B pillar, window, windshield, or steering wheel in a collision.

Symptoms that follow a head injury can range from mild but persistent headaches to dizziness, nausea, and vomiting that will not easily resolve. Cognitive impairment, changes in behavior, memory loss, seizures, and blackouts may follow if a head injury is severe or you do not receive medical care quickly.

Shoulder Injuries

In a side-impact collision, the force and direction of impact will often send you and your car traveling in a direction other than straight ahead. You may be spun around, roll over, or skid and slide at an angle. All of these unnatural movements put a strain on the shoulder that is being restrained by your seat belt and can cause damage to that joint.

Shoulder injuries impair your ability to use and move your arm and can limit your ability to work. Treatment for a shoulder injury may consist of immobilizing the injured shoulder, physical therapy, the use of medical devices, and rest. It might be difficult for you to return to work right away, especially if you have a physically demanding job. Surgery may also be required for extensive shoulder injuries.

Broken Bones

The same forces that can whip your head back and forth and cause bruising to your shoulder may break bones in your legs, arms, ribs, or elsewhere, as well. This is especially likely to occur if your arm or leg becomes pinned while the rest of your body is moving about in a crash. 

Broken bones are painful injuries that require medical care to treat. If your leg bone is broken, you will need a wheelchair or crutches to get around. If it is your arm that is broken, you will likely need some work accommodations and help around the house while you heal from your injuries.

What to Do Following a Nassau County Car Wreck

Whatever the nature of your injuries, if you were T-boned by another car or truck and suffered harm, you may have the legal right to recover damages. These rights include the ability to bring a claim against the driver of the car that hit you and to obtain compensation for medical and other costs. 

Your Nassau County accident recovery team at Kohan Law Group is ready to get to work right away on your case. We can conduct case evaluations virtually or in-person, whichever is more convenient for you. 

Contact our Nassau County law firm and ask about your free personal injury case evaluation today.