Did you know that red light running crashes cause approximately 1,000 deaths and about 90,000 injuries each year throughout this nation? Sadly, it appears that things are not getting any better. Whether drivers are in a hurry and feel entitled to run a red light, or they are distracted or sleepy at the wheel, red light running is a serious problem that causes severe injuries.
One of the reasons why victims of red light running suffer serious injuries is because of the mechanism of the accident. For example, if a semi truck ran a red light and struck a passenger car driving through the intersection, the result is a T-bone or side-impact accident in Florida. When one vehicle impacts another in this way, the injuries can be critical, especially if a truck is involved.
There is not as much protection on the side of a car as there is in the front and rear. Therefore, drivers and passengers seated on the impact side generally absorb the energy of the crash. When there are no side airbags to absorb the force or when they do not deploy, motorists can suffer some of the following injuries:
- Facial injury
- TMJ injury
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
- Rotator cuff and shoulder injury
- Broken clavicle
- Neck injury
- Herniated disc injury
- Knee injury (e.g., torn ACL, meniscus tear etc.)
- Femur fracture
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Death
Sadly, t-bone collisions are a cause of serious Sarasota car crashes due to the minimal side protection vehicles provide. If a negligent truck driver ran a red light and caused your injuries in a side-impact crash, you have rights to hold the truck driver accountable. If you are injured, or if your loved one was killed in a truck crash in Sarasota, please call an experienced and caring Sarasota truck accident attorney at Mallard Perez. Contact us today at 888-409-3805 for a free consultation.