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T-boned in California?Talk to a lawyer for free.

The right-of-way rules decide who pays. Witnesses and video often show who had the light, so act fast.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
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Valero Law Group was professional & knowledgeable in providing the compensation that I deserved.
Patti B.Car accident clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for car accident clients.

We've won over $500 million for our clients, including the car accident cases below.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential settlement believed to be the largest personal injury settlement ever recorded in its county.
  • $5MAuto accidentA married couple's recovery after a crash left the husband with a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $1.5MAuto accidentA result for a driver injured in a car crash.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

After a T‑bone crash,the proof to gather first.

Who had the right of way is usually the whole question. These steps help answer it.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Tell police which signal you had
    Call 911. Tell the officer which light or sign you faced and which way you were headed, and point out anyone who saw the crash. Each driver often says the light was theirs, and a witness who leaves without giving a name and number is hard to find later.
  • Look for cameras the same day
    Shops, gas stations and homes near the intersection may have caught it on video, so ask right away, before it's recorded over. If you have a dash cam, save the clip. Red-light camera photos are another matter: California keeps them confidential, for police and the agency that issues the ticket.
  • Get checked for head, neck and chest injuries
    In a side impact there's less space between the people inside and whatever hits them. Side crash tests measure injury risk to the head, neck, torso and pelvis, and concussion symptoms may start days or weeks later. See a doctor even if you feel fine.
  • Hold on to the car until it's looked at
    Where the cars met, how deep the door or pillar was pushed in and where each car ended up help show speeds and angles. The other car's event data recorder, if it has one, can show how fast it was going and whether it braked. Tell us before your car is repaired or sold for salvage. If it's at a tow yard, storage fees add up daily, so call us early.
  • Ask whether the other driver was cited
    A ticket for running the light or sign helps, but it doesn't settle your claim: a traffic conviction doesn't decide the civil case. It does count for your rates: you're presumed not principally at fault if the other driver was convicted of a moving violation and you weren't (10 CCR §2632.13).
  • A failed signal means a shorter deadline
    An injury lawsuit generally has to be filed within two years. If a dark or malfunctioning signal or a public vehicle played a part, a written claim to that agency is usually due within six months.

Who pays turns onwho had the right of way.

Usually the driver who should have yielded, through their insurer. A passenger can claim against whichever driver caused it, and a failed signal can bring in the agency that runs it.

Who can be responsible

Each for its share of the fault

Passengers, and your own coverage

Rarely at fault, so the question is which driver

  • The other driver's insurer, when that driver caused it
  • The insurer of the car you were in, when your own driver caused it
  • Both drivers' insurers when both were careless: pain and suffering split by each one's share, medical bills and lost pay generally from either in full (Civil Code §1431.2)
  • MedPay on the policy of the car you rode in, which covers passengers whoever was at fault
  • Your own MedPay, health insurance and collision coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage if the other driver had no insurance, or a policy with lower limits than that coverage
  • 1 in 4people killed in cars in 2024 died in side impacts3,059 of 11,769 car occupant deaths in the U.S., according to the IIHS. Counting pickups and SUVs too, side impacts were 22% of occupant deaths.
  • 141,000+people injured in red-light-running crashes in 2024And 1,119 killed, half of them pedestrians, cyclists or people in other vehicles. The IIHS names front-into-side collisions as the crash type most closely tied to running red lights.
  • 6 monthsto claim against an agency for a failed signalAn agency can be liable for a dangerous condition of its property (Gov. Code §835), which may include a signal that malfunctioned, though a missing signal or stop sign alone usually isn't one (§830.4). The written claim is usually due within six months.
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12 offices, one team

T-bone accident lawyersnear you, anywhere in California.

Every one of our offices handles T-bone accident cases. Pick yours below, or call: if you can't come to us, we'll come to you.

Also serving Los Angeles, Ontario, Oakland and communities statewide. In Washington, see our Tacoma office.

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Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromcar accident clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
This was my first experience working with an attorney following a car accident… They were always easy to reach, promptly answered all of my questions, and consistently kept me informed about every update regarding my case.
Juan V.Google review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
I was able to communicate with Valero Law Group after being in a car accident, they were able to settle my case and receive compensation thanks to the wonderful lawyers.
Eloina M.Google review
Thank you Valero for your help in my car accident! Very professional and efficient!
Jose C.Google review
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Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a T‑bone crash.

Who is at fault in a T-bone crash?
Usually the driver who should have yielded: one who ran a red light or a stop sign, turned left across oncoming traffic, or pulled out of a driveway. It isn't automatically the driver whose front end hit the other car's side; a driver with a green light can strike a car that ran the red. California's right-of-way rules decide it, and breaking one can raise a presumption that the driver wasn't careful.
We both say we had the green light. What settles it?
Evidence from outside the two cars: witnesses who saw the signal, video from businesses, homes or dash cams, where the cars met and how they were damaged, and sometimes a car's event data recorder. The agency that runs the signal may have its timing and repair records. Red-light camera photos are confidential and kept for police and the citation, so they can't be counted on.
The traffic light was out. Who had the right of way?
A dark signal works like an all-way stop: every driver must stop and go only when it's safe, and when two cars arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the one on the right. If a malfunctioning signal helped cause the crash, the city, county or Caltrans may share responsibility (Gov. Code §835), and a written claim is usually due within six months.
I was turning left on a yellow and got hit. Am I at fault?
It depends on the timing and the speeds. A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be a hazard, and a yellow only warns that red is coming. But drivers on a green must also yield to traffic already lawfully in the intersection, and an oncoming driver who sped up to beat the red, or ran it, can share the fault or carry most of it. Under California's pure comparative fault rule, your share reduces what you recover; it doesn't erase it.
Someone pulled out of a parking lot and hit me. Who is at fault?
Usually the driver pulling out. Leaving a driveway, parking lot or alley, a driver must yield to all traffic close enough to be an immediate hazard, and keep yielding until it's safe. The fault can be shared if the other car was speeding or changing lanes carelessly, which is why witnesses and video matter here too.
A child was in the back seat on the side that was hit. Does anything change?
A few things. A child's two-year deadline to sue generally doesn't start running until 18, but that pause doesn't apply to a claim against a public agency. Any settlement for a minor needs a court's approval. And because concussion symptoms can start days later, a doctor's visit soon after the crash helps.
What does a T-bone accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

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