The untimely loss of a loved one is one of the hardest challenges a family can face. Beyond the emotional pain of losing their companionship and guidance, families often experience intense financial strain, especially when the deceased was a primary provider. The sudden absence of their income can be devastating.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident in Prairieville, you may find their passing especially difficult to accept. You likely have many questions about what happened and how you will move forward. The compassionate team at Tomeny | Best is here to help you seek answers and a way forward. We could support you in pursuing justice and holding those responsible accountable through a wrongful death claim.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims After Motorcycle Crashes
Under Louisiana law, certain close family members have the right to pursue a legal claim when a loved one dies because of the actions of someone else.
Eligible Parties
According to Louisiana Laws Civil Code Article 2315.2, the following family members would have eligibility to file wrongful death claims after a fatal motorcycle crash in Prairieville:
- The deceased biker’s surviving spouse and/or children
- The deceased biker’s parents, if the biker had no spouse or children
- The deceased biker’s siblings, if the biker had no spouse, children, or parents
- The deceased biker’s grandparents if the biker had no spouse, kids, parents, or surviving siblings
A wrongful death claim would be a means of recourse for the surviving family members to recover compensation for the losses they experience as a result of their loved one’s death.
Potential Damages
If successful, the grieving family members of a deceased motorcycle rider could potentially recover the following:
- Medical expenses relating to any medical treatment received by the decedent prior to their death
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Future lost wages, earnings, and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Punitive damages, in rare instances, when appropriate
An understanding lawyer from Tomeny | Best could work closely with surviving family members to learn the full toll that their loved one’s death has had on their family’s lives in order to help them obtain fair compensation.
Potential Defendants in a Deadly Motorcycle Crash Claim
When another party’s careless or reckless behavior causes the death of a motorcyclist or their passenger, their family members might have legal grounds to pursue a lawsuit against the responsible parties. This could include:
Motorcycle Rider
Motorcyclists can bear responsibility for their or their passenger’s death when they drive too fast, weave between lanes, run through traffic signs or red lights, fail to yield, or otherwise disregard traffic laws and regulations.
Another Driver
A driver who crashes into a motorcycle or causes a motorcyclist to fall from their bike could also be liable. Some of the driving behaviors that lead to fatal motorcycle crashes in Prairieville include speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, and failure to yield.
Motorcycle Manufacturer
If a motorcycle was inherently defective and failed to operate safely, the family of a deceased rider might be able to sue the bike’s manufacturer.
Municipal Authority
If the bike crashed because of unsafe roads, the surviving family members of a decedent might be able to sue the municipal or state authority in charge of maintaining the road and keeping it in safe, usable condition.
Our determined team could carefully investigate the accident to determine who bears legal responsibility.
Call a Prairieville Lawyer After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash
Fatal motorcycle accidents in Prairieville can bring overwhelming pain and loss to the loved ones left behind. Our compassionate legal team understands the grief you are experiencing and is ready to stand by your side, working tirelessly to help you find justice.
Call today to schedule a free consultation with Tomeny | Best, and let our team guide you through this difficult time.
