Where Is the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge?
The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is on a portion of I-10 in Louisiana that covers more than 18 miles of the interstate. The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is a set of two twin bridges that is in the St. Martin Parish section of Louisiana.
The structure was completed in 1971 and currently sees over 50,000 drivers each day, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The Atchafalaya Basin is an elevated bridge designed to allow I-10 to continue over the local waterway. It is inspected for safety and structural soundness every two years.
The density of traffic, narrow lanes, and constant construction make the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, an especially hazardous roadway. In an article published by The Advocate, which interviewed DOTD officials, there have been over 1,000 accidents since 2014, accounting for 15 fatalities.
I-10 Accidents on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge allows drivers to enter and exit the state for recreational and commercial purposes. In 1998, to promote driver safety, former Governor Mike Foster lowered the speed limit for passenger cars from 70 to 60 miles per hour. Large trucks, including 18-wheelers, are only permitted to travel 55 miles per hour on this roadway. However, despite these measures, 245 accidents occurred in 2018, according to the DOTD. After an I-10 crash in 2019 that claimed the life of one person and injured five others, the DOTD is currently working on measures to ensure driver safety. This accident was the result of a collision occurring between chemical tankers, cargo trucks, and a passenger vehicle.
Passenger Cars Are Vulnerable in a Crash with a Large Truck
I-10 was designed to promote safe local and national travel throughout the United States. The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge location sees dense traffic numbers and vehicle collisions each year.
When a large truck that can weigh up to 30 times more than a passenger car is involved in a traffic accident, the occupants of the smaller vehicle usually take the brunt of the impact.
Injuries from this type of car crash may include:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Torn ligaments
- Brain damage
- Traumatic spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Wrongful death
If you find yourself involved in a car accident on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, you should seek immediate attention for your accident injuries regardless of their severity. Afterward, you may want to consider pursuing legal action for the cost of your expenses.
Statute of Limitations in Louisiana
Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your options following a wreck. In Louisiana, your time to seek financial recovery is generally limited to only two years from the date of your personal injuries. For wrongful death, the statute of limitations grants two years from the date of your loved one’s passing. In the chaos surrounding a motor vehicle accident, this is not a generous amount of time.
Should you fail to act within this period, you may be forfeiting your right to seek finances to cover:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium
- Any costs related to the death of a loved one (such as funeral expenses)
If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an auto accident on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge location of I-10, an injury attorney can help you understand how Louisiana’s statute of limitations applies to your case.
Our Personal Injury Law Firm is Prepared to Help You
You deserve to have your medical bills, property damages, and other accident-related expenses paid by the driver who caused the wreck. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping you and your family move forward during this difficult time.
Some of the services that we can provide include:
- Initiating prompt legal action
- Identifying the responsible party or parties in your accident
- Determining the cause of the collision
- Collecting evidence supporting your account of events
- Providing an estimate regarding the value of your personal injury claim
- Negotiating with insurance companies and other liable individuals
- Representing you in court, if necessary
Speak to a personal injury lawyer in your area after a car wreck on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. We are so confident in our knowledge and resources of personal injury claims that we work on a contingency basis. This means that when you work with us, there are no upfront fees or hidden costs. We take our payment out of the settlement that we recover for you.
Members of our team are eager to hear from you today. For a free consultation, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777.
