Intersection Crashes In Baton Rouge, LA
If you were hurt in an intersection crash in Baton Rouge, LA, you could be entitled to financial compensation. If another driver’s negligence at the intersection caused your injuries, that driver can be directed to pay you for your costs. The most important step you can take after an intersection accident is to gather the facts and contact a Baton Rouge intersection crash lawyer to pursue your claim.
Over 8,000 people are injured in car accidents each year in East Baton Rouge Parish. Many of those crashes happen at intersections due to the number of drivers brought together at such spots. In an intersection crash, the injuries can be serious and devastating. Medical bills can mount quickly, along with lost wages and other costs that make you feel overwhelmed.
An experienced Baton Rouge intersection crash attorney can help you get back on track. Contact the Palmintier Law Group at (225) 344-3735 to schedule a free consultation today and learn more about your legal options in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
How Palmintier Law Group Can Help After Intersection Crashes in Baton Rouge, LA
The Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys at Palmintier Law Group have recovered over 1 billion dollars in compensation for injured clients. Our legal team is prepared to use our more than 80 years of combined experience to help you recover the compensation you need as well after an intersection crash in Baton Rouge, LA.
When you hire us, you can expect our Baton Rouge car accident lawyers to do the following:
- Thoroughly investigate your accident
- Discuss your legal options
- Develop a case strategy
- Gather evidence
- Communicate with insurance adjusters
- Negotiate for a settlement agreement
- Represent you at trial if necessary
Contact our Baton Rouge intersection crash lawyers for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help with your case.
How Common Are Intersection Accidents in Baton Rouge?
Across the country, almost 40 percent of traffic accidents take place at intersections. Intersection crashes are frequently caused by driver error, inattentiveness, or negligence.
Common causes of intersection accidents include:
- Poor surveillance of the situation
- Misjudging another driver’s course
- Driving with an obstructed view
- Illegal maneuvers and careless driving
- Distracted driving
- Misjudgment of speed or the gap between drivers
In any large metropolitan area, intersections invite danger even to innocent drivers. Baton Rouge drivers must approach intersections carefully and understand their legal rights if they are involved with an intersection crash.
Why Are Intersections Dangerous?
Compared to other roadways, intersections involve more drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists all at once. If one driver acts carelessly or doesn’t follow traffic rules, they can cause a serious accident. Even though you might have driven carefully and obeyed all traffic signals, you can be hit and injured by a negligent driver. The same goes for those on foot or bicycle in an intersection.
Distracted driving is the cause of many intersection crashes in Baton Rouge. Cell phones, stereos, in-car apps, food, passengers, and other distractions can cause accidents ranging from minor fender-benders to fatal crashes. It only takes a moment for a driver to take their eyes off the road and injure someone else.
Since intersections involve stops and turns, these present more issues for drivers. Some intersections do not allow left turns, for example, or might not allow drivers to turn right on a red. Many drivers either don’t understand the rules, choose not to follow them, or are in too much of a hurry to navigate the intersection safely. Other times, a driver will try to “beat” a light before it turns red – speeding up and creating danger for others.
Who Is Legally Responsible for an Intersection Crash in Baton Rouge?
Louisiana follows a “comparative fault” rule in car accident cases. Under Louisiana law, a driver contributing to an accident shares responsibility based on their percentage of fault for the crash.
Say, for example, that you were 40% at fault for the crash, and the other driver was 60% at fault. If your damages totaled $100,000, the other driver can be ordered to pay you $60,000. The good news is that even if you were partly responsible for the accident, you still have a legal right to financial compensation in a personal injury claim. An experienced Baton Rouge car accident lawyer can explain how this can work in your case.
What Damages Can I Collect After an Intersection Crash?
Victims of an intersection accident can file personal injury claims through insurance companies and file lawsuits in court. In either situation, an accident victim will seek economic and non-economic damages due to the crash. Medical bills, lost wages, property damage, burial expenses, and other identifiable costs are typically categorized as economic damages.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, might include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, disability, disfigurement, or wrongful death after a fatal crash.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Louisiana?
The statute of limitations for a car accident lawsuit in Louisiana is two years from the date of the accident, effective 7/1/2024. Crashes occurring before this date may be subject to a one-year filing deadline. This can seem like a long time, but your lawyer will need as much time as possible to build your case while the evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found. A skilled car accident lawyer will know how to file your case well ahead of the statute of limitations deadline.
Contact Our Baton Rouge Intersection Crash Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one were hurt in an intersection crash in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. It is important to work with an experienced Baton Rouge intersection crash attorney to get the best possible result. To learn more about your legal rights after an intersection crash, contact the Palmintier Law Group today.