Broadside collisions happen when one side of a vehicle is hit by the front of another vehicle in a right angle “T-bone” crash. When motorcyclists are hit at right angles, they may be killed or catastrophically injured because there is no padding or structure to take the force of the other vehicle striking them. Serious harm, such as traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage, may result. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in an Ocala broadside collision, you can seek advice from an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Dean Law Firm. We can help you decide what steps you should take to pursue the full scope of your damages.
Broadside collisions may arise due to failure to yield the right of way, distracted driving, or speeding. For example, at a four-way stop, it may be unclear who has the right of way resulting in multiple vehicles moving forward at once. A motorcyclist who is trying to make a left turn at an uncontrolled stop may not be visible to a distracted driver, or a driver who is speeding. An accident reconstruction specialist may be able to examine skid marks, debris, vehicle damage, and witness testimony to determine who was at fault.
Sometimes more than one person or entity is responsible for a broadside collision. For example, if a motorcyclist is weaving through stopped traffic in a construction zone and a car traveling in the opposite direction tries to make a left turn through traffic, the motorcyclist may be T-boned. This accident may be the fault of both the driver of the car and the motorcyclist. It may also be the fault of the construction company doing work in the area, if the area is poorly marked.
Florida is a comparative fault state. This means that each person or entity whose negligence causes an accident can be held responsible in proportion to his or her degree of fault. The jury will be asked to allocate responsibility among those alleged to be at fault. If the driver of the car is 50% at fault, the motorcyclist is 30% at fault, the construction company is 10% at fault, and the total damages are $100,000, the motorcyclist likely will be responsible for $30,000 worth of damages and can potentially pursue the other two parties for $50,000 and $10,000, respectively. Because of their severity, broadside collisions may result in the tragic death of a motorcyclist who is T-boned. Under the Wrongful Death Act, a lawsuit can be filed against the responsible person or entity when the death is caused by a wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of warranty or contract. A motorcyclist’s survivors may be able to pursue damages for lost support, lost companionship and protection, mental anguish, medical or funeral expenses paid by the survivors, and lost parental instruction and guidance.
At the Dean Law Firm, our motor vehicle collision lawyers represent Ocala residents and others who have been injured in broadside collisions. Our clients come from throughout Florida, including Crystal River, the Villages, and Marion, Citrus, Levy, Sumter, and Lake Counties. Our attorneys are aggressive advocates for injured individuals. When negotiations with the insurer for the other driver do not result in a favorable settlement, we have the experience to try your case to a jury if needed. Call us at 352-387-8700 or contact us via our online form.
