Side-impact crashes — where one vehicle's front strikes the side of another — are among the most dangerous collision types because the door panel offers little structural protection. The door, a few inches of metal, is all that stands between the occupant and the striking vehicle. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and internal injuries are common outcomes even at moderate speeds.
How fault is determined in Arizona
Arizona is a fault-based state. The driver whose negligence caused the crash is financially responsible. Most t-bone collisions happen at intersections, and the most common cause is one driver running a red light or stop sign — violating A.R.S. §§ 28-645 or 28-855. Left-turn collisions are also common: A.R.S. § 28-772 requires the left-turning driver to yield to oncoming traffic, so a turning driver who misjudges an oncoming vehicle's speed is presumptively at fault. Distracted driving, speeding, and impairment all contribute to t-bone crashes and factor into the fault analysis.
Shared fault is possible
Arizona's pure comparative fault rule (A.R.S. § 12-2505) means both drivers can share responsibility. If the striking driver ran a red light but the other driver was speeding through the intersection, fault can be apportioned between them. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. In some cases, a municipality whose intersection design contributed to the crash may also share liability. See our post on Arizona comparative negligence law.
Evidence matters most in disputed t-bone cases
Both drivers often claim they had the green light. Traffic and red-light cameras can resolve this definitively — but that footage is often overwritten in 24 to 72 hours. Witness statements, police reports, skid marks and vehicle resting positions, event data recorder data, and accident reconstruction all help establish who was where and what speed each vehicle was traveling at impact.
What a t-bone accident claim can recover
Arizona law allows recovery for medical expenses past and future, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Because side-impact crashes frequently cause serious injuries, future medical costs — ongoing treatment, surgery, rehabilitation — are often a significant portion of the claim.
The filing deadline
Arizona gives most personal injury victims two years to file from the accident date (A.R.S. § 12-542). See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations for exceptions.
Our car accident attorneys handle claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.