Who is usually at fault in a T-bone accident?


Editorial team Published on

In a T-bone accident, fault typically lies with the driver who failed to yield the right-of-way, such as the driver who ran a red light, ignored a stop sign, or made an unsafe left turn.

Common Scenarios and Fault

  • Running a Red Light or Stop Sign: The driver who violates the traffic signal and strikes the side of a lawfully proceeding vehicle is almost always at fault.
  • Making a Left Turn: The driver turning left is generally at fault for failing to yield to oncoming traffic. However, fault can be shared if the oncoming driver was significantly speeding or ran a red light.
  • Disputed Right-of-Way: If both drivers claim they had a green light, investigators rely on surveillance footage, dashcams, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction.

Other Potentially Liable Parties

  • Sharing Blame (Comparative Negligence): Under comparative fault laws, responsibility can be split between both drivers if the struck driver was also acting negligently, such as speeding or texting.
  • Third Parties: A vehicle manufacturer could be liable if a mechanical defect (like brake failure) caused the crash. A government agency could be liable for broken traffic signals or obscured road signs.