a man making a phone call after being in a car accident

The 5 Main Causes of T-Bone Accidents

By Jamie Howell
Partner

Although modern car designs and the invention of side-impact airbags have made them a bit less dangerous than they used to be, t-bone accidents are some of the most dangerous car crashes we see on Northern Mississippi roadways. 

During our decades in practice, the attorneys at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman have discovered that there are five main causes of t-bone accidents. 

1. A driver ignoring the rules of the road. 

A lot of t-bone crashes occur because some drivers fail to follow the rules of the road. There are people out there who routinely run red lights, roll through stop signs, and choose not to yield. Each time they do this they risk causing an accident. 

Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman often uses evidence of the other driver’s traffic violations to prove our client was not at fault and maximize the amount of money they can recover for their injuries. 

2. A driver is speeding. 

Speeding is related to point number 1 since following the speed limit is a rule of the road, but deserves its own bullet because it is a major cause of t-bone accidents. Speeding makes it more difficult to control a vehicle, and significantly increases the time it takes to stop a vehicle.

And let us not forget that some speed limits are set with road design and safety in mind. Traveling too fast on these roads is asking for an accident to happen. 

3. Driving under the influence. 

Drinking and driving are a dangerous combination, which is why Mississippi law makes it illegal for any person to operate a motor vehicle who is under the influence of liquor or other substance that impairs his or her driving ability. Nevertheless, far too many drivers choose to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or other intoxicants. 

Our experienced team of drunk driving attorneys hold irresponsible drivers accountable for the harm they cause when they get behind the wheel. 

4. Distracted driving. 

Too often, t-bone accidents occur because a driver is not paying attention to the task at hand. Instead of focusing on the road, the driver is messing with their phone, eating, messing with the radio, adjusting the temperature, or preoccupied with the actions of the other people in the vehicle. 

Distracted driving is a serious issue in Northern Mississippi, and Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman continues to see an uptick in t-bone and other accidents caused by it. 

5. Poor weather conditions.

Sometimes everyone on the road is being careful, but the road conditions are simply too dangerous for anyone to avoid an accident. Wet weather, cold weather, and hot weather can all cause vehicles to act up, and may impact the roadways themselves. 

The Lawyers That Listen

No matter the cause, t-bone accidents can lead to a range of serious injuries. When the worst has happened, the Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman team is here to listen to your side of the story, and figure out how to get you the compensation you deserve. During our decades in practice, we have recovered millions of dollars for our clients in Shelby County, Tennessee, and Desoto and Tate counties in Mississippi. Please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation. 

About the Author
Jamie W. Howell, Jr. is a Partner at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1988 and the Tennessee Bar in 1993. Mr. Howell is admitted to practice in all courts in Mississippi and Tennessee, including Federal Court, the Fifth and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Howell's areas of practice include wrongful death, personal injury, criminal defense, Social Security Disability cases, and general civil law. For his first five years of practice, he was an associate attorney with Gilder Law Firm. After spending his next six years as a sole practitioner in DeSoto County, Mr. Howell joined forces with Jefferson D. Gilder to form Gilder & Howell, P.A. in June 2000. He is now a shareholder at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, which combined the talents of Gilder & Howell, P.A., and Chatham – Pittman. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Mr. Howell through our contact form.