A side-impact car accident can change your life in an instant. One second, you might be heading home through Portland, Bangor, or Lewiston. Next, another vehicle slams into the side of your car, where there’s far less metal and structure to absorb the blow. The impact can feel like a trapdoor opening beneath you, especially if you or a loved one suffers a head injury that may not be fully understood until hours or days later.
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, our Maine car accident lawyers know how often these collisions leave people dealing with far more than just vehicle damage. A side-impact crash, also sometimes called a T-bone collision or broadside accident, can leave drivers and passengers with concussions, traumatic brain injuries, facial fractures, and other serious head trauma.
Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
As we observe Brain Injury Awareness Month this March, we want to highlight the unique risks of side-impact collisions. Unlike a front-end crash, where the engine block absorbs energy, a T-bone accident often results in a violent lateral jolt to the head. This month serves as a critical reminder to seek a neurological evaluation after any Maine car accident, as the symptoms of a brain injury may be delayed, but the impact on your life is immediate.
What Makes Side-Impact Crashes So Dangerous?
In many crashes, the front or rear of a vehicle absorbs at least some of the impact force before it reaches the people inside. Side-impact collisions are different. The sides of most passenger vehicles simply do not provide the same buffer zone. That means the person sitting closest to the point of impact often takes the brunt of the force.
These crashes often occur in places where drivers should pay close attention, including intersections, parking lot exits, and left-turn lanes. When one driver runs a red light, fails to stop at a stop sign, or misjudges another vehicle’s path, the result can be violent and immediate. The crash is often sudden enough that the people inside have almost no time to brace themselves.
That cause-and-effect chain matters. Less protection on the side of the vehicle often means more force reaches the head and upper body. More force to the body often means a greater risk of a serious head injury.
Why Do Head Injuries Happen So Often In Side-Impact Collisions?
The human head and brain are particularly vulnerable in a side-impact crash because the body can be thrown sideways with tremendous force. Even if there is no direct blow to the head, the brain can still move inside the skull as the body snaps suddenly to one side. For example, someone struck on the driver’s side by a speeding SUV may not hit the windshield, but they can still suffer a concussion or more serious brain injury from the rapid motion alone.
Head injuries in side-impact crashes often happen because of:
- The head striking the window, door frame, or steering wheel.
- Sudden side-to-side movement causing the brain to shift inside the skull.
- The other vehicle slamming into the side of the car and into the passenger compartment.
- Shattered glass and flying debris hitting the face or head.
- Neck trauma that occurs alongside a brain injury, making symptoms even worse.
Whatever the cause of your car accident head injury, these cases can often be misunderstood. People often assume that if they did not suffer a visible wound, they must be fine. But that’s not always how brain injuries work.
What Types Of Head Injuries Can Result From A Side-Impact Crash?
Head trauma after a side-impact collision can range from mild to catastrophic. Some head and brain injuries improve with proper rest and treatment. Others change the course of a person’s life. Some of the most common head injuries we see after a side-impact crash include:
- Concussions, which can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and trouble focusing.
- Traumatic brain injuries, which may affect memory, mood, speech or motor function.
- Facial fractures, including broken cheekbones, orbital fractures, and jaw injuries.
- Lacerations and scarring caused by broken glass or blunt force impact.
- Skull fractures or more severe internal head trauma in high-speed crashes.
These are not injuries that should be brushed aside. A person may look normal from the outside while dealing with serious cognitive and physical problems on the inside.
Why Are Head Injuries Sometimes Missed At First?
Head injuries are not always obvious in the immediate aftermath of a crash. Adrenaline can mask pain. Confusion can be mistaken for stress. A victim may refuse an ambulance because they think they just need to rest. Then the symptoms start building.
For example, someone hit broadside in Augusta might go home believing they escaped with only soreness. The next morning, they may wake up with pounding headaches, sensitivity to light, nausea, and trouble finding words. By then, the insurance company may already be looking for ways to minimize the claim.
Delayed symptoms are common in head injury cases, and it is one reason medical evaluation matters so much. Waiting too long can make it harder to connect the symptoms to the collision. That can create medical problems and legal problems down the road.
What Are Common Car Accident Head Injury Symptoms?
After a side-impact accident, head injury symptoms must be taken seriously right from the start. Even symptoms that seem minor at first can point to something much more serious developing beneath the surface.
Common head injury symptoms after a side-impact crash include:
- Persistent headaches that do not go away or get worse.
- Dizziness, blurred vision, or trouble keeping your balance.
- Confusion, memory gaps, or difficulty concentrating.
- Nausea or vomiting after the collision.
- Slurred speech or unusual fatigue.
- Mood changes, irritability, or unusual emotional swings.
- Sensitivity to light or noise.
If these symptoms appear after a crash, that’s a warning sign, not an inconvenience. The consequences of ignoring a head injury can be severe – medically and legally. In particular, insurance companies often deny head-injury claims if injury victims ignore such symptoms and don’t seek medical care right away.
How Can A Head Injury Affect Daily Life After A Maine Crash?
Head injuries often ripple through every part of a person’s life. Some people struggle to return to work because they cannot focus for long periods or can’t handle noise, screens or bright light. Others find that driving becomes frightening, parenting becomes harder, or sleep becomes inconsistent.
That’s why these cases are often worth far more than people first realize. Medical bills are only part of the financial toll of a car accident head injury. Lost income, future medical care, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering can all become major parts of the case. When a head injury completely changes a person’s life, the law should account for that reality.
Insurance companies do not always do that willingly. That’s where legal representation becomes so important. Otherwise, you might not get the financial compensation you need and rightfully deserve for your accident.
How Can A Maine Car Accident Lawyer Help After A Serious Side-Impact Crash?
If another driver caused a side-impact collision and you suffered a head injury, you may think the facts speak for themselves. But that’s not always the case. Insurance companies may argue that your symptoms are exaggerated, unrelated to your accident, or not serious enough to justify full compensation. They may focus on the property damage and ignore the human toll.
Our legal team at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein can step in and build your case the right way. We know how to investigate side-impact accidents, how to gather evidence that proves fault, and how to document the full impact of your head injury on your life. Our case results speak for themselves, including a $6 million settlement in one car accident case.
Put your trust in a Maine law firm that puts your needs first. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a Maine car accident lawyer focused on you. We have seven offices located throughout Maine. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only have to pay us if we secure a financial settlement or verdict for you.
“Great lawyer!! I called and stated my case, and he and his assistant took care of the rest and got me what I deserved! Thank you guys, much appreciated.” – A.Y., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
