It is difficult to know with certainty which driver is at fault in a T-bone car accident without an investigation. You will need to determine who violated a traffic law and caused the collision to assign responsibility. This information is necessary before you can file an insurance claim or lawsuit to recover compensation in Louisiana.
Key evidence to show negligence and fault in a side-impact collision could include the accident report from law enforcement, eyewitness statements, photographs of the damage and positions of the vehicles, and video of the crash.
T-bone Collisions Occur When Someone Violates a Traffic Law at an Intersection
T-bone crashes occur when two vehicles coming from different directions try to navigate an intersection at the same time. In most cases, when everyone follows the rules, traffic lights, stop signs, and other devices prevent collisions from happening.
However, motorists are sometimes careless or reckless and do not follow the laws in place to protect them. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), around 50 percent of all fatal or injury crashes occur in intersections.
In general, there are only a few ways T-bone collisions occur, such as when a driver:
- Fails to yield the right of way, often while turning left
- Fails to stop at a red light
- Does not wait their turn at a stop sign
- Pulls out in front of someone from a parking lot or driveway
Types of Injuries Common in T-bone Traffic Crashes
Because one vehicle collides with the side of another in a T-bone crash, the injuries can be significant. There is less material on the side of a car to protect occupants compared to other areas. For this reason, they could suffer:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Lacerations and contusions
Severe and even catastrophic injuries are not uncommon in T-bone collisions. Some settlements and awards may be significant if the victim required hospitalization, inpatient rehabilitation, and a long time away from work.
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Proving Fault and Liability in Your T-Bone Car Accident
The law enforcement officers who respond to the scene of your crash will likely investigate what happened and cite the at-fault driver for violating a traffic law. For example, they could receive a ticket for running a red light or failing to yield when turning left on green. If this occurred in your case, it may be easier to prove they caused the crash.
You must gather evidence to support your insurance claim, documenting that the other driver caused the crash. In addition to obtaining the police report, this could require:
- Identifying and interviewing witnesses to the accident
- Searching for, requesting, and analyzing any video of the collision
- Accident reconstruction by experts
- Taking other steps to prove what caused the crash
You will also need to document your expenses and losses incurred because of the accident. These will comprise your recoverable damages. Examples can include your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
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How an Attorney Can Make the Claims Process Easier
You could work with a personal injury attorney from our firm to prove fault and liability in your T-bone accident case. Hiring us allows you to focus on recovering from your injuries while we handle the investigation and gathering evidence.
We can provide the resources necessary to conduct an investigation and prove what happened. Our firm also handles these cases based on contingency, so we never ask our clients for upfront fees. Instead, our car accident lawyers receive a portion of the settlements they recover.
When you hire an attorney from our team to represent you, we will:
- Protect your rights
- Manage all communication with the insurers
- Handle obtaining all necessary paperwork
- Call in experts as needed
- Handle the upfront expenses of building a case
- Ensure you know what to expect
- Put an appropriate settlement range on the case based on your damages
- Negotiate with the insurer and liable party
- File an injury suit against the at-fault driver if necessary
We seek to negotiate fair settlements with insurance companies when possible so our clients can avoid the additional time and stress of filing a lawsuit or going to trial. This may be an option in your case.
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How Long do You Have to File a Lawsuit?
Louisiana has one of the shortest statutes of limitations on car accident cases in the country. Under CC Art. 3492, victims generally only have 12 months from the collision date to begin a lawsuit, or they lose the right to do so. Some circumstances can reduce this time even further.
If your family member died in a Louisiana T-bone crash because of another driver, you may be able to claim wrongful death damages. The state’s wrongful death statute, CC Art. 2315.2, gives qualifying immediate family members up to one year to file suit.
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Speak to a Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Team Member Today
You can discuss your Louisiana crash with a team member from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for free today. We will answer your questions, detail your options for compensation, and more. Call (337) 777-7777 to reach our team about your Louisiana T-bone collision.
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