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Los Angeles T-bone accident lawyer
T-bone (broadside) collisions concentrate in LA's intersection-heavy areas. The case turns on right-of-way under CVC §21800-21806 and on signal-timing or violation evidence.
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Reach a lawyer 24/7. The consultation is free. You owe no fee unless we recover for you. Seven California offices: Sherman Oaks (HQ), Glendale, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Bakersfield, Visalia, and Modesto.
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What a T-bone case actually involves
A T-bone or broadside collision happens when one vehicle strikes the side of another, typically at an intersection. The injury pattern is severe because the side of a passenger vehicle has substantially less crumple-zone protection than the front or rear, and modern side-curtain airbags are an incomplete defense against high-energy impacts. Injuries to the struck-side occupant are concentrated in the chest, pelvis, and head — all primary-impact zones for a side-strike.
On liability, T-bone cases are right-of-way cases. The California Vehicle Code provides specific intersection rules under CVC §21800 through §21806, controlling vehicles arriving at intersections with and without traffic signals. Signal violations — running a red light or a stop sign — are the most frequent cause of T-bones in LA.
On evidence, two categories matter most: signal timing (intersection traffic-camera footage, surveillance from corner businesses) and witness testimony from cross-traffic drivers. The signal-timing question — was the light red, yellow, or green for each direction at impact — is fact-specific and decided by camera or witness evidence. The CHP and LAPD traffic-collision reports often include officer reconstructions but are not always definitive.
Los Angeles intersection density and the corridor pattern produce particular T-bone clusters: Pasadena (Colorado Boulevard, Lake Avenue), Burbank (San Fernando Boulevard), the eastside arterials (Whittier Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Avenue, Soto Street), the South LA arterials (Vermont, Western, Crenshaw), and downtown intersections. Each cluster has its own traffic-camera coverage profile that affects evidence availability.
Burg & Brock has handled T-bone cases out of every California office for two decades. The firm tries cases. Carriers settle T-bone cases — particularly contested signal-timing cases — differently with firms that have litigated comparable cases.
Your rights under California law
California intersection rules and right-of-way law set the framework for T-bone collision liability.
Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541 controls medical-bill admissibility. Pebley v. Santa Clara Organics, LLC (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 1266 sets the lien-treatment framework.
Cabral v. Ralphs Grocery Co. (2011) 51 Cal.4th 764 frames the foreseeability analysis for commercial-vehicle operators in pedestrian and intersection-dense zones. Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804 controls comparative fault.
How Burg & Brock works your case
T-bone cases are signal-and-timing cases. The first ninety-six hours of evidence work concentrate on intersection-camera footage and witness identification.
- Intersection-camera canvass. LADOT traffic cameras at signalized intersections retain footage for 30-60 days; intersection-mounted automated red-light cameras (where present) are operated by third parties with their own retention windows. Private surveillance from corner businesses, ATMs, and doorbell cameras typically retains for 7-14 days.
- Witness identification. Cross-traffic drivers, pedestrians at the corner, and any witnesses listed in the police report. Statement work in the first weeks before memory fades.
- Signal-timing reconstruction. When the signal phase is contested, an expert reconstructs cycle timing from the LADOT signal-control records — which we obtain by Public Records Act request — and from the available camera footage.
- Medical-records work. Side-impact injuries are concentrated in chest, pelvis, head. Treating-physician records, imaging, surgical and rehabilitation course.
- Vehicle preservation and EDR download. Modern vehicles record event-data-recorder data including pre-impact speed, brake application, and steering input. Preserve the vehicle and download the EDR before any salvage release.
- Demand and litigation. Demand to the at-fault driver's insurer, the driver's employer if on the job, and any other defendants. Filing in LA County Superior Court.
Operational note: contested signal-timing T-bone cases benefit substantially from expert reconstruction. The carrier's adjuster's narrative tends to assume the police report's signal call; expert work can change the entire fault apportionment.
Common T-bone collision profiles in Los Angeles
Red-light-running T-bones. CVC §21453 violations — driver enters intersection on red, strikes cross-traffic vehicle.
Stop-sign-running T-bones. CVC §21802 violations — driver fails to stop at controlled intersection.
Left-turn T-bones. CVC §21801 violations — driver turning left fails to yield to oncoming traffic.
Distracted-driver T-bones. Cell-phone or in-car-display distraction at intersections.
DUI-driver T-bones. Punitive-damages exposure under Civil Code §3294.
Commercial-vehicle T-bones. Delivery-truck or commercial-fleet vehicle running an intersection. Higher liability limits.
Yellow-light gamble cases. Driver enters intersection on yellow attempting to clear. Right-of-way contested.
Right-turn T-bones. Driver turning right against right-of-way of cross-street vehicle.
Mid-block-driveway T-bones. Vehicle exiting mid-block driveway across cross-traffic. CVC §21804.
Hit-and-run T-bones. Driver flees scene; UM coverage on plaintiff's auto policy.
Common causes
- Red-light running in violation of CVC §21453.
- Stop-sign running in violation of CVC §21802.
- Failure to yield on left turn in violation of CVC §21801.
- Distracted driving in violation of CVC §23123.
- Driving under the influence in violation of CVC §23152.
- Excessive speed for conditions in violation of CVC §22350.
- Failure to yield at uncontrolled intersection in violation of CVC §21800.
- Inadequate signal-timing programming or signal-equipment failure (Caltrans/City of LA exposure).
Liability theories
T-bone liability typically reaches one to three defendants. The standard analysis includes:
- The at-fault driver — primary negligence under Civil Code §1714 and the relevant Vehicle Code section.
- The driver's employer if on the job.
- The vehicle owner if the driver was operating with permission under CVC §17150.
- The vehicle manufacturer for any side-airbag, seatbelt, or structural-integrity defect under Soule.
- The City of LA, County, or Caltrans for dangerous-condition contribution — malfunctioning signal, inadequate signage, sight-line obstruction — under Government Code §835.
Government-entity claims for signal-malfunction or sight-line-obstruction theories require Government Code §911.2 written claim within six months.
How damages break down
Economic damages on a T-bone case depend heavily on injury severity. Chest, pelvis, and head are primary-impact zones. Fracture, internal-injury, and TBI cases dominate. Medical bills (Howell), future medical care, lost earnings, and earning capacity are typical components.
Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. T-bone cases with documented TBI or paraplegia produce eight-figure non-economic verdicts in California.
Punitive damages under Civil Code §3294 are routine in DUI T-bone cases and available where commercial fleet operators have documented patterns of intersection violations.
Reported settlement and verdict ranges
| Case profile | Reported range | Drivers |
|---|
| T-bone with multiple fractures, full recovery | $185,000 – $625,000 | Surgical course, partial impairment. |
| T-bone with TBI | $525,000 – $1.8 million | Documented LOC, neuropsych testing, cognitive deficits. |
| T-bone with spinal-cord injury | $2.5 million – $10+ million | Para or quadriplegia, life-care plan. |
| DUI T-bone with severe injuries | $950,000 – $4+ million | Punitive exposure, multi-system trauma. |
| Wrongful-death T-bone | $1.8 million – $9+ million | CCP §377.60 heirs. |
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is evaluated on its own facts and applicable law.
Why work with Burg & Brock
Burg & Brock has tried T-bone cases through every signal-timing defense argument. The intersection-camera canvass templates, signal-timing expert relationships, and Public Records Act request packages for LADOT signal-control records are standardized.
The firm tries cases. Carriers settle contested signal-timing T-bones differently with firms that have taken comparable cases to verdict.
Contingency fee. Free consultation. Twenty-four-hour line.
Steps after a Los Angeles T-bone collision
- Get medical care first. ER evaluation. Side-impact chest, pelvis, and head injuries can present internal-injury patterns that need imaging.
- Photograph everything. Vehicle damage on both, intersection signal status, lane markings, debris field.
- Note camera locations. Surveillance cameras on corner businesses, doorbell cameras on residences, LADOT cameras on signal poles.
- Get witness contact info. Cross-traffic drivers, pedestrians, anyone who saw the signal phase.
- Save the police report. Note signal-phase calls and any citations issued.
- Preserve the vehicle. EDR download requires vehicle access. No salvage release until counsel.
- Call a lawyer in the first ninety-six hours. LADOT camera retention is 30-60 days; private surveillance is 7-14.
Where these cases are filed
LA County Superior Court — Stanley Mosk Courthouse — for cases in LA County. Cases against the City of LA for signal-malfunction or sight-line obstruction require Government Code §911.2 written claim within six months.
Burg & Brock has filed T-bone cases in every LA County courthouse where these cases venue.
Frequently asked questions
What is a T-bone collision and why is it so dangerous?
A T-bone or broadside collision is when one vehicle strikes the side of another, typically at a 90-degree angle. The struck-side occupant has limited crumple-zone protection — modern side-curtain airbags help but are an incomplete defense against high-energy impacts. Injuries concentrate in the chest, pelvis, and head — all primary-impact zones.
What does CVC §21800 require at intersections?
CVC §21800 establishes intersection right-of-way: when vehicles enter from different directions at approximately the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. The statute applies at uncontrolled intersections; controlled intersections (signals, stop signs, yield signs) follow CVC §21801-21806.
How do you prove who had the green light?
Multiple sources of evidence: LADOT signal-control records (obtained by Public Records Act request), traffic-camera footage on the intersection (LADOT camera retention is 30-60 days), private surveillance from corner businesses and doorbell cameras, eyewitness testimony, and event-data-recorder downloads from both vehicles showing pre-impact speed and timing.
What if the police report blames the wrong driver?
The police report is admissible for foundational facts but not for opinion testimony on fault. Carriers and adjusters often take the report's narrative as gospel; we re-litigate the signal phase, witness statements, and reconstruction. Disagreement between the report and the actual evidence is common in T-bone cases.
Can I sue the city if the signal malfunctioned?
Yes, in the right facts, under
Government Code §835. The plaintiff must prove the signal was in a dangerous condition (malfunction, inadequate timing, sight-line obstruction), the entity had notice with sufficient time to take corrective action, and the condition was a substantial factor in causing the injury. Six-month written-claim deadline.
What if both drivers say they had the green?
Signal cycles are deterministic — only one direction has green at any given moment. The factual question is decided by camera footage, witness testimony, and signal-control records. Expert reconstruction often becomes the deciding evidence in contested cases.
What if I was a passenger in one of the vehicles?
You can sue the at-fault driver (whoever ran the signal or yielded improperly), and if your driver shares fault you can sue them too. California has no guest-statute bar.
What injuries are typical in a T-bone collision?
Chest fractures (rib, sternum, clavicle), pelvic fractures, lower-extremity injuries, head injuries from side-impact even with side curtain airbag deployment, spinal injuries from rotational forces, internal-organ injuries from chest compression. The struck-side occupant typically has worse injuries than the striking-vehicle occupant.
Are punitive damages available in a T-bone case?
Routinely in DUI cases under
Civil Code §3294. Sometimes against commercial fleet operators with documented patterns of intersection violations.
How long does a T-bone case take?
Twelve to twenty-four months for typical cases. Contested signal-timing cases or catastrophic-injury cases run longer.
Where is the case filed?
LA County Superior Court — Stanley Mosk Courthouse. City-of-LA cases require the Government Code claim process before suit.
How much does Burg & Brock charge?
Nothing up front. Contingency fee.
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Talk to a Burg & Brock attorney today
No fee unless we recover. Free consultation. Seven California offices, including Sherman Oaks (HQ), Glendale, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Bakersfield, Visalia, and Modesto.
Call (888) 528-8595
Burg & Brock office locations: Sherman Oaks (HQ) — 4554 Sherman Oaks Avenue, Unit A100, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 · Glendale — 633 N. Central Avenue, Suite 200, Glendale, CA 91203 · Beverly Hills — 9701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 · Irvine — 7545 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92618 · Bakersfield — 4900 California Avenue, Tower B, 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93309 · Visalia — 2300 W Whitendale Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277 · Modesto — 1015 12th Street, Suite 4, Modesto, CA 95354. Phone: (888) 528-8595.
