High Fatality Rate of Motorcyclists in T-Bone Collisions
T-bone accidents occur when the side of one vehicle is struck by the front of another vehicle. This form of accident can happen when a motorcyclist rides through an intersection and a car passes perpendicularly to the left. These crashes are often caused by:
failing to yield at stop lights, stop signs, and four-way stops,
impaired and/or distracted driving,
unsafe lane changes, as well as
low visibility because of the motorcycle's size.
According to Louisiana Crash Data Reports, riding a motorcycle puts you at enhanced risk for being involved in a fatal accident in Louisiana. Motorcycles made up 73% of all accidents in the state in 2020, 40% being fatal. The highest fatality rate is found with T-bone collisions.
Proving liability for T-Bone Collisions is not as easy as a front or rear-end accident, so having objective evidence like witnesses, photos, a police report or access to any nearby surveillance footage is crucial, especially in the case of a wrongful death claim. If you are determined to be partially at fault for the accident you may be able to receive compensation in a personal injury settlement but at a reduced percentage based on your fault in the matter. Further, punitive damages are not often awarded in motorcycle accident cases but could be requested if the driver who caused the injuries was exceptionally reckless.
In cases with fatal accidents, the surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased for the other driver's negligence. This is a type of personal injury claim as opposed to a criminal defense, like drunk driving. Moreover, the evidence in the criminal case can support a civil litigation case for personal injury. In a civil case one would be seeking damages for medical expenses up to the time of death, funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of future wages which is associated with the loss of companionship of the deceased.
Personal injury law can be quite complex. Louisiana law typically allows one year after the date of the motorcycle accident to file your claim. To protect your financial interests contact an experienced New Orleans attorney with a successful history of gathering the best evidence to support liability and damages, and settling motorcycle cases.
VPS Law is the New Orleans law firm with a strong history in motorcycle accident claims and is able to leverage the case for the highest possible settlement. The attorneys at Vincent P. Scallan Law are available any day of the week no matter the time of day.
