T-bone collisions, which are also known as side-collisions, happen when one vehicle is moving forward but is struck from the side. This kind of crash is most common at intersections or in locations where someone may back out into traffic, since two vehicles may cross paths.
There are some things you can do to avoid T-bone crashes, so you can minimize the risk to yourself and your passengers. Here are five tips to remember.
Avoiding a T-bone crash
To avoid a crash, follow these four steps.
- Always come to a full stop
When you approach a red light or stop sign, always come to a full stop. While many people perform rolling stops at stop signs, those stops may lead to crashes as drivers aren’t prepared to stop completely.
- Don’t assume that others are paying attention
Another thing to remember is that you can’t assume that others are paying attention. You may have the right of way at an intersection, but don’t rely on your knowledge and forget about looking at what other drivers are doing. A simple hand signal or flash of your lights could help make sure you both get through the intersection safely.
- Slow down, even when the lights are green
While a green light does mean you can go safely ahead, you will still want to slow down as you approach the intersection. You should still look both ways and be prepared to stop if someone runs a red light in another direction.
- Don’t run yellow lights
Next, don’t run yellow lights. While you might think that running a yellow light is fine, you don’t want to rely on that yellow light staying yellow as you pass through it. Thinking you have time but not actually having enough time could lead to you running a red light and getting hit.
These are four tips to help you avoid a T-bone crash. If you do get hit by a driver who wasn’t paying attention or who ran a red light, call for help and remember that you may have a right to a personal injury claim.