If you’ve been hurt in a broadside collision, you may feel confused, angry, or overwhelmed. These accidents often happen suddenly and with serious consequences. In this article, Atlanta car accident lawyers at Butler Kahn explain what broadside collisions are, why they can be so dangerous, and what Georgia law says about your rights if you’ve been injured.
A broadside collision is when the front of one car crashes into the side of another. These crashes are often called “T-bone” accidents because the vehicles form a T shape on impact. They usually happen at intersections, especially when one driver runs a red light, ignores a stop sign, or fails to yield when turning left.
The side of a vehicle doesn’t offer much protection. Unlike the front or back, the side has less structure to absorb the force of a crash. That’s why broadside collisions can cause serious injuries, particularly to people sitting on the side that gets hit.
In Georgia, these types of collisions are common in cities like Atlanta where busy intersections and heavy traffic increase the risk.
Broadside crashes usually occur because someone makes a mistake or breaks a traffic rule. Some of the most common causes include:
In most cases, these accidents are preventable. When someone fails to follow the rules of the road and causes a crash, they may be considered negligent under Georgia law.
Georgia is a fault state. That means if you were hurt in a crash that someone else caused, they can be held legally responsible. Under Georgia Code § 51-1-6, you have the right to recover for harm caused by someone else’s wrongful or careless actions.
The law requires showing that the other driver did something wrong—like breaking a traffic law—and that this caused the crash. If they ran a red light or failed to yield, that may be considered negligence.
You also need to show that you were injured and suffered losses, such as medical bills or lost income.
Sometimes both drivers made mistakes. Georgia uses what’s called “modified comparative fault,” found in Georgia Code § 51-12-33. That means you can still recover for your injuries even if you were partly at fault—as long as you weren’t 50% or more responsible.
For example, if another driver ran a red light but you were speeding at the time, a jury might find you 20% responsible. If you had $100,000 in damages, you could still recover $80,000. But if you were 50% or more to blame, you wouldn’t be able to recover anything under this rule.
Broadside accidents are especially dangerous because of how the vehicles hit each other. The side panels of cars don’t have the same amount of space or padding as the front or rear. That makes it more likely that the person inside will suffer serious harm.
Some of the common injuries include:
These injuries can require long hospital stays, surgeries, and time away from work. In some cases, the effects are permanent.
If you’ve been hurt in a broadside crash, it’s important to understand the traffic laws that may have been broken. Georgia’s Uniform Rules of the Road lay out many of these rules.
Some key laws that often apply to broadside collisions include:
If a driver violates any of these laws and causes a crash, that violation can be strong evidence that they were at fault.
If you’ve been injured, your first priority is your health. See a doctor right away, even if you don’t think your injuries are severe. Some injuries take time to show symptoms.
It’s also important to document what happened:
This kind of information can help show what happened and who was at fault.
Sometimes the person who caused the accident will try to blame someone else—even the victim. They may say you ran the red light or pulled out too quickly. This is where having clear facts and evidence is important.
Georgia law looks at the total picture. If the other driver broke a traffic rule or acted carelessly, and you can show that, then the law may be on your side. Witnesses, police reports, traffic camera footage, or even data from the vehicles involved can help.
Atlanta has thousands of intersections, some of them busy or poorly designed. Many lack clear signals or have fast-moving traffic. Intersections on Peachtree Street, Buford Highway, and the I-285 interchanges see frequent side-impact crashes.
Add in heavy traffic, impatient drivers, and distractions like cell phones, and the risk goes up. That’s why these crashes are unfortunately common and often serious.
If you live in the Atlanta area and were injured in one of these crashes, knowing how the law works in Georgia helps you make informed decisions. You may be facing hospital bills, lost time at work, and long-term pain. Understanding how broadside collisions happen and what rights you have is the first step in recovering.
If you’ve been hurt in a broadside collision in Atlanta, you don’t have to face the legal system alone. At Butler Kahn, we help people understand their rights and what options they have. Our team is here to listen, answer your questions, and offer guidance based on Georgia law.
To speak with someone about your situation, contact experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers at Butler Kahn by calling (678) 940-1444 or contacting us online for a free consultation.