There are all different types of crashes: Rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, rollover crashes, and side-impact crashes, also known as "T-bone accidents." According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), side crashes make up about 25 percent of the passenger fatalities in the United States.

Auto manufacturers find protecting occupants in side-impact crashes to be challenging because of the lack of protection on the sides of vehicles. While the fronts and rears of cars have substantial crumple zones that absorb energy and shield occupants, the sides of vehicles offer much less protection.

Automakers have turned to side airbags, which are designed to protect occupants from being struck by objects outside the vehicle during a side-impact collision. Still, side airbags are not enough, they help, but they face the same limitations as other airbags.

Who is at-fault in a T-bone collision?

In a T-bone collision, the side of one vehicle is struck by the front or rear of another vehicle, thereby forming a "T." In T-bone accidents, the occupant injury can be extremely severe, especially in a higher-speed crash.

T-bone collisions are almost always caused by drivers who fail to yield the right of way. When such collisions occur at an intersection, the cause is usually traced back to the failure to stop at a red light, or the failure to stop at a stop sign. As with all crashes, speed enhances the crash severity and chances of serious injury or death.

In auto manufacturing, it's known that side-impact crashes are among the deadliest. Whether you're a driver or passenger, there just isn't enough "car" to protect your body in a crash. The risk of serious injury or dying if you're struck on the side of a vehicle where you're sitting is much higher than if you're in a rear-end or frontal crash. To improve your odds, purchase a vehicle with cutting-edge side curtain air bags, equipped with head protection.

If you were injured in a T-bone accident, contact a car accident attorney to file a claim for compensation!