Broadside Collision

Louisiana is an excellent state for motorcycle enthusiasts. Beautiful scenery abounds, and a warm subtropical climate with mild winters beckons riders to enjoy a day on the open road. Many cyclists also take advantage of the lower transportation costs associated with riding to and from employment or running errands around town. While there are many reasons to ride a motorcycle, it is undeniable that riders are more vulnerable than people who travel in cars, trucks, and SUVs, especially in broadside collisions (sometimes called “T-bone” accidents). These accidents may leave a motorcyclist with serious, perhaps even catastrophic or fatal injuries. While nothing can turn back time and undo a broadside collision, the Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyers at Broussard, David & Moroux can help victims pursue compensation to help pay medical bills and offset other losses caused by the crash.

In a broadside collision, the front of one vehicle strikes another in the side. In the context of motorcycle accidents, broadside collisions typically happen when the driver of a car or truck pulls out into the path of a motorcycle, and the motorcycle strikes the car or truck in the side. Broadside collisions may also happen when a driver hits a motorcycle from the side. In either case, the rider may suffer injuries such as fractures, lacerations, spinal cord damage, brain trauma, road rash, amputations, or contusions. In a tragic number of motorcycle collisions, the rider’s injuries prove fatal, leaving their family to cope with the loss of their loved one.

Before an injured rider may recover compensation from a driver who caused a broadside collision, the rider must prove that the driver was negligent. Proving negligence requires the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit to prove that the defendant owed them a legal duty, such as the duty to keep a proper lookout for others while driving, and that the driver breached the duty, such as by engaging in distracted driving or drunk driving. The plaintiff must also show that they sustained injuries that resulted in damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The defendant’s actions must have been the cause of the harm that the plaintiff endured.

Under the Louisiana Civil Code, the fault of the plaintiff may also be taken into consideration in a negligence case. If a rider’s carelessness contributed to a broadside collision, their damages award may be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault. In cases involving intentional conduct such as road rage, however, a reduction in compensation will not apply.

If someone in your family has been hurt or killed in a broadside collision, you should speak to an attorney about seeking compensation for your losses as soon as possible. The statute of limitations restricts the time for filing a claim, and it is important to gather evidence while it remains fresh. The experienced Lafayette motorcycle accident attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux are here to serve your family’s legal needs with compassion, vigor, and skill. Call us at 888-337-2323 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer. We also represent people in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, New Iberia, Eunice, Lake Charles, and Alexandria, as well as other areas of Lafayette, Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, St. Landry, Calcasieu, and Rapides Parishes.