San Jose Side Impact Accident Lawyer
Hit From the Side? Your Claim Starts at the Intersection.
T-bone crashes and sideswipes put only a door and a window between you and the other car. Our San Jose attorneys prove who had the right of way and pursue every party that shares the blame.
$75+ million
recovered for injured clients
800+ five-star reviews
on Google and Yelp
No fee
unless we win
Available 24/7
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The Side of a Car Offers the Least Protection
The front and rear of a vehicle have room to crumple and absorb a crash. The side does not. When another car strikes your door, the impact lands inches from the driver or passenger, which is why side impact crashes so often cause serious head, chest, pelvic, and spinal injuries.
Side impact claims also tend to become arguments. Each driver says the light was green, or that the other one turned without room. Insurers use that uncertainty to split fault and cut payments. You may have a claim if:
Another driver ran a red light or rolled through a stop sign
A car turned left across your path or pulled out of a driveway or parking lot
A driver merged or changed lanes into you from their blind spot
A broken signal, fallen sign, or failed safety system played a part
We establish what really happened, before the other side’s version hardens into the accepted one.
What to Do After a T-Bone or Sideswipe in San Jose
Call 911 and stay at the scene.
A police report records the intersection, the signals, and each driver’s account while they are fresh.
Note the signals and signs.
Which light was showing, where the stop signs were, whether any were down or out. Take photos before anything is repaired.
Photograph where each car was struck.
The location of the damage (front corner, driver’s door, rear quarter panel) often shows who entered the intersection or lane first.
Find witnesses and cameras.
Drivers waiting at the light, pedestrians in the crosswalk, and nearby businesses often saw, or recorded, the moment of impact.
Get checked for hidden injuries.
Side impacts can cause head, rib, and internal injuries that don’t hurt right away. See a doctor the same day.
Don't argue fault with the other driver or their insurer.
Right-of-way disputes are decided on evidence, not on who spoke first. Let us speak for you.
Who Pays After a Side Impact Crash?
The at-fault driver's insurer
The driver who ran the light, failed to yield, or merged into you is responsible for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We prepare and negotiate that demand for you.
Every other responsible party
If both drivers were careless, each insurer pays its share. If a malfunctioning signal, fallen stop sign, or failed safety system contributed, the government agency or manufacturer involved can be responsible too.
Your own coverage, if theirs falls short
Serious side impact injuries can exceed a driver’s policy limits. Your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can fill the gap.
Your vehicle
Repair or replacement of your car is part of the claim, and California gives you longer to sue over property damage than over injuries.
How We Prove Who Had the Right of Way
In most side impact cases, the whole claim turns on one question: who had the right to be there? We answer it with evidence:
- Traffic and business camera footage from the intersection or roadway
- Signal timing and maintenance records where a light may have malfunctioned
- Witness statements from other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians
- The crush pattern on each vehicle, which shows angle and point of impact
- Vehicle data, including lane departure and blind-spot warning systems where a failure may have contributed
When another party (a vehicle manufacturer, or a local government responsible for a broken signal or sign) shares responsibility, bringing them into the case can add coverage when the at-fault driver’s policy isn’t enough.
California Side Impact Law: Deadlines and Fault
Two years for injuries, three for your car
California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 gives you two years to file a lawsuit for personal injuries. A claim for damage to your vehicle can be filed within three years of the crash.
Six months if a government is involved
If a public employee was driving on the job, or a dangerous road or broken signal contributed, a claim must be filed with the government agency within six months. The agency then has 45 days to accept or reject it before you can sue.
Shared fault still pays
California’s pure comparative negligence rule means that even if you are found partly responsible, say for entering on a stale yellow, your compensation is reduced by your share, not eliminated.
Miss the deadline and the claim is gone
A court will not hear a late lawsuit, no matter how strong the case. We track every deadline from day one.
What Our Clients Say
Jimin is extremely straightforward, confident, and detailed. Do not judge her by her young looks! She's very knowledgeable and experienced. I experienced my first major car accident and needed a…
Venus Nguyen
I met with lawyers at other law offices, but after talking to Jimin, I decided to go with her because she was not only smart, honest, but also super caring.…
Annie Y.
Jimin Oh worked passionately on my case while constantly updating me on what was happening. I did not know much about my car insurance, so it was helpful for her…
Ok Ray Park
San Jose Side Impact Accident FAQs
The other driver says their light was green. What happens now?
Right-of-way disputes are common in T-bone crashes and are settled with evidence: camera footage, witnesses, signal records, and the damage pattern on both cars. We gather it quickly, before footage is overwritten.
Is a sideswipe treated differently from a T-bone crash?
Both are side impact collisions, and both turn on negligence. A T-bone usually happens at an intersection; a sideswipe usually involves an unsafe merge, lane change, or wide turn. The evidence we look for differs, but your right to compensation is the same.
Can I sue the city over a broken traffic light or missing stop sign?
Possibly. If a malfunctioning signal or fallen sign contributed, the local government may share responsibility. You must file a government claim within six months of the crash, so call as early as you can.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover. California reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault; it doesn’t bar your claim. Insurers often overstate a victim’s share, and we push back.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
Generally two years for injuries and three years for vehicle damage. Claims against a government entity require a written claim within six months.
What if the at-fault driver's insurance isn't enough?
We look for other responsible parties and for your own underinsured motorist coverage. Bringing more parties to the table is often what makes a fair settlement possible.
What does hiring you cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency; you pay a fee only if we recover for you.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
Intersection footage is often recorded over within days, and the other driver’s story is already being told to their insurer. Call now or send the form; we respond fast, 24/7, in English, Spanish, or Korean. Your consultation is free and confidential. No fee unless we win.
Call (408) 256-2871Free Case Review
Solution Now Law Firm
1253 Park Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
Hablamos español · 한국어 상담 가능
