Las Vegas T-Bone Accident Lawyer

Top T-Bone Accident Attorney Here to Represent You

T-bone accident victims in Las Vegas looking for a Nevada law firm with experience, trial background, and proven results, the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm is what you're looking for.

With over 20 years of experience and millions recovered for clients, you'll be working with a T-bone accident attorney who will take your case seriously and fight for the largest possible settlement.

Schedule a free consultation with our firm today by calling (702) 566-3600 and learn how we can help you get compensated for your T-bone injuries and damages.

Common Causes of T-Bone Accidents in Las Vegas

Running red lights are one of the main causes of T-bone collisions in Las Vegas. Negligent drivers who run through intersections without stopping can hit vehicles that have the right-of-way. Distracted driving is another common cause, as a driver looking at their phone for just two seconds while going 40 mph would travel the length of a football field without focusing on the road, potentially resulting in the driver unknowingly running a stop sign or red light.

Other behaviors also contribute to these dangerous crashes:

• Drunk driving
• Unsafe left turns during yellow lights
• Speeding through intersections
• Driver fatigue and drowsy driving
• Poor weather conditions that reduce visibility and traction
• Malfunctioning traffic signals

Drunk driving is especially dangerous because it impairs a driver's judgment before they even realize the danger of oncoming vehicles.

Running Red Lights and Ignoring Traffic Signals

When a driver runs a red light or makes a left turn without yielding to oncoming traffic, it prevents other vehicles from reacting in time. Important evidence, such as traffic camera footage and the timing of the traffic signals, can show who is at fault.

Failure to Yield at Intersections

Under NRS 484B.253, drivers making left turns must give way to oncoming traffic if it could cause danger. When drivers fail to follow this rule, T-bone collisions can occur. Improper left turns are responsible for about 25% of all traffic violations, according to the AARP, and in Nevada could result in penalties including:

• Fines that may exceed $300
• Four demerit points added to a driver's license

Distracted Driving Behind the Wheel

According to Nevada law (NRS 484B.165), using a handheld device while driving is strictly prohibited. This includes activities like texting, browsing the web, and sending messages. Besides phone use, other actions such as eating, grooming, or adjusting GPS can also lead to distracted driving and are common causes of T-bone crashes in Las Vegas.

Drunk or Impaired Driving

Alcohol-impaired drivers are responsible for 30% of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S., according to data from 2020. In Las Vegas, there were 5,250 DUI arrests recorded in 2021, which averages out to about 14 per day.

Drunk drivers often have slower reactions and poor judgment, making it difficult for them to navigate intersections safely, leading to T-bone collisions.

Speeding Through Intersections

Drivers who speed up to make a yellow light sometimes enter the intersection after it has turned red and collide with cars crossing on green. At 40 mph, a car can travel more than 115 feet in just two seconds. This leaves little time to stop, often leading to serious injuries and damages.

Fatigued Driving

Fatigued driving can affect drivers much like alcohol does, by slowing their reaction times and causing short periods of inattention. Night-shift workers, long-distance travelers, and commercial drivers are most at risk.

This makes fatigued driving a major contributor to T-bone accidents in Las Vegas, which employs thousands of night-shift workers and attracts millions of long-distance travelers.

Reckless or Aggressive Driving

Aggressive and reckless driving behavior, such as speeding and running red lights, is a major factor in deadly crashes in Clark County. Some other dangerous driving habits that can lead to T-bone accidents are:

• Changing lanes or moving through traffic without using turn signals
• Racing on city streets
• Following other vehicles too closely

Mechanical Failures and Brake Defects

Brake failure and issues with steering systems can cause drivers to lose control, which might result in T-bone collisions. These problems raise questions about who is responsible, which can include:

• Vehicle owners
• Repair shops
• Manufacturers

Establishing fault in such cases often involves more than just the driver, as poor maintenance could involve several responsible parties.

Poor Weather and Road Conditions

Wet roads, poor visibility during storms, and sun glare during morning or evening commutes increase the risk of accidents. Construction zones with sudden lane changes, loose gravel, and road debris also make driving more dangerous. These conditions can leave drivers unprepared to navigate intersections, potentially leading to a red light violation or failure to yield, which could result in a serious T-bone crash.

High-Risk Intersections and T-Bone Accident Hotspots in Las Vegas

Flamingo Road has several areas where T-bone accidents frequently occur, especially at intersections with Maryland Parkway, Arville Street, Rainbow Boulevard, and Pecos Road. Tropicana Avenue also experiences many dangerous situations due to stop-and-go traffic at Decatur, Rainbow, and Pecos, increasing the risk of side-impact crashes.

Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard are also hazardous, with red light violations and failure to yield being major causes of collisions. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, sees thousands of vehicle accidents each year, with a majority of them occurring at these intersections.

Common Injuries Caused by Las Vegas T-Bone Accidents

T-bone accident injuries are among the most severe common car accident injuries because vehicle doors provide little protection during a side impact. The force of a broadside hit directly affects occupants, leading to various serious injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Spinal cord damage, which can result in paralysis
• Broken ribs, pelvic fractures, and collarbone breaks
• Internal organ damage and bleeding
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Lacerations from shattered glass

T-bone accident injuries like pelvic fractures often need surgery, while spinal cord trauma can lead to permanent disability. Between 2018 and 2022, intersection-related T-bone crashes caused 156 fatalities in Nevada, showing how devastatingly these collisions affect the human body.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions

T-bone accidents often lead to concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to the forceful side impact that shakes the brain within the skull. Symptoms such as nausea, pupils of different sizes, and unusual behavior might show up several hours after the accident.

In severe cases, this can result in diffuse axonal injury, where nerve fibers are torn, or intracranial hemorrhage, which could cause lasting cognitive damage and result in massive future medical expenses.

Spinal Cord Damage and Soft Tissue Injuries

Spinal cord injuries from T-bone collisions are classified as either complete, meaning there is no movement below the injury, or incomplete, where some function remains. Soft tissue injuries, such as:

• Sprains
• Muscle tears
• Whiplash

can get worse over a few days and may need physical therapy.

Broken Ribs and Chest Trauma

Broken ribs from T-bone collisions can tear important organs like the aorta, leading to serious health complications. Some common chest injuries in a T-bone car accident are:

• Bruised lungs (pulmonary contusions)
• Collapsed lungs (pneumothorax)
• Bruised heart (cardiac contusions)
• Broken breastbone (sternum fracture)

Besides the immediate risks, damage to the rib cage can cause ongoing pain for a long time.

Pelvic, Hip, and Lower Extremity Fractures

Pelvic and hip fractures often do not show all of their seriousness right away after an accident. Pain and difficulty moving may increase over the first few days, and in severe cases, loss of bladder control may occur.

Internal Organ Damage

Blunt-force trauma from seatbelts or the vehicle's interior can damage organs such as the spleen, liver, and kidneys during a T-bone car accident. You might not notice symptoms like stomach pain or dizziness right away, but waiting to get medical help could be dangerous. It might also affect your compensation claim under Nevada's modified comparative negligence rule.