Side-impact accidents can range from minor fender-benders to catastrophic T-bones. When one motorist plows directly into the side of another vehicle, the consequences can be deadly. There is not as much reinforcement or space between the door, driver, and passenger as there is on a car’s front and back ends.
You may be the most careful driver in Louisiana, but if another motorist sharing the road with you does not exercise the same degree of care, an accident can still happen. However, you should not have to bear the costs associated with the crash alone. When you are harmed because another driver acted irresponsibly, an experienced car accident attorney with extensive knowledge about side-impact/T-bone car accidents in Baton Rouge could help you seek compensation for your losses.
The Basics of Side-Impact Collisions
Sideswipes typically occur when one motorist merges onto an interstate or into the adjacent lane and does not notice a car is already there. Although minor sideswipes sometimes only result in property damage, if the sideswiped driver loses control, a crash could cause devastating injuries.
Broadside accidents or “T-bone collisions” occur when the nose of one car smashes into the side of another. Common causes of side-impact car accidents include:
- Reckless driving, such as driving intoxicated, speeding, texting, talking to backseat passengers
- Ignoring stop signs
- Merging onto Interstate 10 or 12 without checking for cars in the adjacent lane
- Turning left and miscalculating the speed of oncoming traffic
Injuries incurred in side-impact crashes often affect the head, neck, and back. The emotional impact of being in an accident and not knowing if you will survive can have lasting impacts, and accident survivors often face challenges getting back into a vehicle. A Baton Rouge personal injury attorney shapes side-impact/T-bone accident cases around the severity of a client’s injuries.
Pursuing Compensation for All Losses
When motorists sustain severe injuries due to another’s negligence, the injured individuals are entitled to compensation for their losses. Our attorneys can negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement, but if negotiations are not fruitful, we set our sights on a fair damages award at trial.
Special damages can cover losses that have a price tag attached, such as medical bills, wages lost from the inability to work, and property damage. The jury can assign an amount to subjective losses, such as psychological damage, emotional loss, permanent disfigurement or other impairment, and recurrent pain that impacts a person’s ability to enjoy time with their family. A Baton Rouge attorney could help an injured plaintiff provide evidence of all damages they experienced because of a T-bone crash.
Comparative Fault
In some cases, the injured party bears some degree of blame for causing an accident. Under the Louisiana Administrative Code Section 2323, courts will assign a percentage of fault to all parties involved in an accident. The plaintiff’s percentage will be deducted from their total damages award. For example, if the court assigns a plaintiff 20% of fault, the plaintiff can recover 80% of their total damages.
Our Baton Rouge Attorneys Could Help After Side-Impact/T-Bone Car Accidents
If another driver sideswipes you, even if you do not get hurt, you are entitled to compensation for any property damage. Those who are severely injured in T-bone crashes deserve everything it will take to help them afford high-quality medical care without financial stress. That is where the legal team at Tomeny | Best could help.
Our attorneys care about your well-being and could work to get the money you need to heal and support your family. Our injury attorneys are ready to assist you after a side-impact/T-bone car accident in Baton Rouge, so call now and schedule your free consultation.
