Who’s at Fault in a T-Bone / Intersection Accident in Washington?

Determining who is at fault in a T-bone accident in Washington often comes down to which driver failed to yield the right of way under state traffic laws. The driver who ran a red light, disregarded a stop sign, or made an improper left turn in front of oncoming traffic may be completely or partially at fault for the accident.

The Washington car accident lawyers at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner have helped injured people for over 40 years. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges a failure-to-yield accident can cause. You don’t have to spend your time fighting with insurance adjusters or figuring out what happened at the intersection. We can handle the investigation, identify potentially liable parties, and advocate for the compensation you need to move forward.

How Is Fault Determined After an Intersection Collision?

When two vehicles collide broadside in a side-impact crash, the scene is often chaotic. Drivers may give conflicting stories to police officers, and insurance companies may move quickly to minimize their responsibilities.

Proving liability in an intersection crash requires establishing legal negligence. You must prove the other motorist had a duty to drive safely, breached that duty, and directly caused the collision that resulted in your injuries and financial harm.

In a T-bone accident, Washington courts and insurers may consider applicable  right-of-way statutes when determining which driver violated the law:

• Traffic signal obedience. Drivers facing a circular green signal may proceed through the intersection, but they must yield to other vehicles and pedestrians already lawfully within the intersection.
• Vehicles turning left. A motorist planning to turn left within an intersection must yield the right-of-way to any oncoming vehicle that is close enough to present an immediate danger.
• Stop signs and yield signs. Every driver approaching a stop sign must come to a complete stop at the marked line and yield the right-of-way to any vehicle already crossing or approaching closely enough to constitute an immediate hazard.
• Uncontrolled intersections. When two vehicles approach an intersection without signs or signals at about the same time, the motorist on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.

Establishing intersection accident fault requires a close examination of how each driver handled their statutory duties in the moments before impact.

What Are Common Scenarios in T-Bone Collisions?

T-bone collisions occur when the front end of one motor vehicle strikes the side panel of another. Because the sides of passenger cars provide far less structural protection and crumple space than the front hood or rear trunk, these crashes may cause catastrophic injuries.

Many intersection wrecks happen during specific driving maneuvers. Understanding these scenarios helps determine side-impact collision liability.

Who Is Liable in a Left-Turn Accident?

Left turns cause a high proportion of broadside collisions on multi-lane city streets and suburban intersections. Establishing left-turn accident fault typically focuses on whether the turning motorist waited for oncoming traffic to clear.

When a driver makes an unprotected left turn on a solid green light, they must yield to oncoming traffic that is within the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard. If that driver misjudges the speed of oncoming vehicles or attempts to beat traffic across oncoming lanes, they may be legally liable for the resulting side-impact crash.

Fault can occasionally shift if the oncoming driver was driving recklessly. For example, if the oncoming motorist was traveling significantly over the posted speed limit, drove at night with their headlights off, or ran a red light, that driver may share fault for the collision.

What Happens in a Failure-to-Yield Accident?

A failure-to-yield accident occurs when a motorist disregards the basic right-of-way rules established by signs, pavement markings, or traffic signals.

Common examples include:

• Rolling through a stop sign without coming to a complete stop,
• Pulling out from a private driveway or shopping center parking lot directly into active traffic,
• Failing to yield when entering a roundabout or rotary, and
• Turning right on a red light without checking for oncoming cross-traffic that has a green signal.

When a driver pulls directly into an active travel lane without waiting for cross-traffic to pass, they may create a hazard that could lead to a severe T-bone collision.

Who Is at Fault for Running a Red Light?

Drivers who run red lights can potentially cause some of the most violent broadside collisions on public roads. These crashes frequently happen at high speeds when an inattentive driver tries to beat a late yellow light or fails to notice a light that has already turned red.

A motorist who enters an intersection after the signal turns red commits a traffic violation. If that entry contributes to causing a collision with a vehicle that lawfully entered on a green light, the driver who ran the red signal may be completely or partially at fault for the resulting damages.

In disputed cases where both drivers claim they had a green light, physical evidence and neutral witness accounts become critical in proving which driver actually had the legal right-of-way.

How Does Washington’s Pure Comparative Negligence Work?

One of the biggest concerns crash victims have is whether sharing some blame will ruin their chance of recovering compensation. Washington applies “pure comparative fault,” also called pure comparative negligence, in personal injury claims, which generally allows a partially at-fault person to recover some compensation. 

Under pure comparative fault:

• Partial fault does not bar your financial recovery;
• Any damages awarded to you are reduced in proportion to your assigned share of fault; and
• You can recover compensation even if you carry 10%, 50%, or even 99% of the fault for the collision.

For example, imagine you are crossing an intersection and another vehicle turns left directly across your path. A court determines that your compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering should equal $100,000. However, the jury finds that you were traveling 5 mph over the speed limit, assigning you 15% of the blame while finding the turning driver 85% at fault. Under Washington law, you still collect $85,000.

What Evidence Proves Fault in an Intersection Crash?

Because intersection collisions often feature finger-pointing and conflicting memories, physical evidence can be an important tool for proving negligence. Insurance adjusters and courts may evaluate several primary forms of evidence to recreate how the crash happened, including:

• Official police collision reports. Law enforcement may inspect the crash site, record physical observations, interview involved drivers and witnesses, and document traffic citations issued at the scene.
• Traffic and surveillance video. Footage from municipal intersection cameras, nearby business security cameras, doorbell systems, or vehicle dashcams may provide evidence of signal changes and vehicle entry.
• Physical scene evidence. Skid marks, tire-scrub marks, debris scatter fields, gouge marks in the asphalt, and the final resting positions of the vehicles may provide information about impact speed and braking patterns.
• Vehicle damage patterns. The exact crush depth and location of damage on both vehicles may help establish the angle of impact and help accident reconstructionists determine which car struck the other.
• Event Data Recorders (EDRs). Modern vehicles may store critical “black box” data in the seconds before impact, including vehicle speed, throttle position, brake application, and steering angle.
• Cell phone records. Phone records may provide evidence of whether the other driver was texting, using apps, or talking on a handheld device right before entering the intersection.

Because commercial surveillance footage may be overwritten within days and roadway skid marks can fade quickly, it’s important to act fast to preserve this evidence.

When Should You Contact a Washington Car Accident Lawyer?

You should consult a Washington T-bone accident lawyer as soon as possible after receiving medical attention, especially when injuries are severe or when fault is disputed. Don’t sign anything or accept a settlement offer before you know the full scope of your injuries.

Washington has athree-year statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits resulting from a car crash. If you do not file a formal lawsuit within this three-year window, you may lose your right to pursue compensation in court.

Hiring legal counsel can help you navigate the claims process. A lawyer can handle communication with insurance adjusters, send preservation letters seeking to preserve relevant video and black-box evidence, consult respected accident reconstruction professionals, and build a compelling claim while you focus on healing.

FAQs About Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone Accident

Can I Still Recover Damages If I Was Partially at Fault?

Yes. Washington follows a pure comparative negligence standard under state law. Generally, you can still recover financial compensation even if you were partially responsible for causing the collision. However, your total compensation will be reduced in direct proportion to your assigned percentage of fault.

How Do You Prove Fault When Both Drivers Claim They Had a Green Light?

When drivers give conflicting accounts about traffic signals, objective evidence can become an important part of the investigation. Attorneys may use dashcam footage, nearby business security video, event data recorder information, witness statements, and physical damage patterns to help determine which vehicle entered the intersection lawfully and which driver may have run the red light.

What Is the Deadline for Filing an Accident Lawsuit in Washington?

The statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits is three years from the date of the collision. If you fail to file a lawsuit before this three-year deadline expires, you may lose your legal right to pursue the lawsuit in court.

Contact a T-Bone Accident Lawyer to Take the Next Step Toward Your Recovery

A T-bone accident can leave you dealing with serious injuries, medical bills, missed work, and questions about who was responsible. When fault is disputed, you may also face conflicting accounts of what happened and difficult conversations with insurance adjusters. 

At Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, our team has stood beside injured people across Washington for more than 40 years. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients, although past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. We know how to investigate intersection wrecks, preserve crucial video evidence, and hold negligent drivers accountable. We handle injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay no legal fees unless we successfully win compensation for you.

Let our attorneys protect your rights so you can focus on getting your life back. Call Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner today or fill out our confidential online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

Legal References Used to Inform This Page

To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:

• Revised Code of Washington 46.61.055, Traffic control signals.
• Revised Code of Washington 46.61.185, Vehicle turning left.
• Revised Code of Washington 46.61.180, Vehicle approaching or entering intersection.
• Revised Code of Washington 46.61.190, Stop signs and yield signs.
• Revised Code of Washington 4.22.005, Effect of comparative fault.
• Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Comparative Negligence.
• Revised Code of Washington 4.16.080, Three-year statute of limitations.