New Orleans

Side-Impact Collision Attorneys

T-bone crashes happen fast, usually at an intersection, and usually because one driver ignored a signal, a stop sign, or another vehicle’s right of way.

The Voorhies Law Firm builds these cases around exactly who had the right of way and who took it away from them.

What Is a Side-Impact Collision Claim?

A side-impact, or T-bone, collision occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, most often at an intersection.

Because vehicles offer far less side protection than front or rear protection, these crashes commonly cause:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Chest and abdominal injuries from direct side impact
  • Pelvic and hip fractures
  • Spinal injuries
  • Injuries disproportionately affecting the side of the vehicle that was struck

The severity of a side-impact crash often depends heavily on which side of the vehicle was hit and where the occupants were sitting, which makes a careful, vehicle-specific injury analysis an important part of building these cases.

How Louisiana Law Applies

Side-impact crashes almost always come down to just a couple simple questions: who had the right of way, and who violated it.

Right-of-Way Violations Are the Core Issue

Most T-bone crashes happen because a driver ran a red light, blew through a stop sign, or failed to yield when turning.

Louisiana traffic law establishes clear right-of-way rules at intersections, and a driver who violates one of these rules has generally breached a well-defined duty, which becomes central evidence in establishing fault.

Traffic Signal and Camera Evidence

Where available, traffic camera footage, signal timing records, and nearby business surveillance can be some of the most powerful evidence in a side-impact case, since it can show definitively who had the green light or the right of way.

This evidence often needs to be requested quickly before it’s overwritten.

Comparative Fault and Prescription

The general rules apply here: a two-year filing deadline under Civil Code article 3493.1 for crashes on or after July 1, 2024, and a 51% comparative fault bar under article 2323 for crashes on or after January 1, 2026.

The Legal Process, Step by Step

Free consultation.

Tell us what happened. We’ll give you an honest, no-cost assessment.

Urgent evidence collection.

We move quickly to request traffic camera and nearby surveillance footage before it’s overwritten.

Right-of-way investigation.

We establish exactly who had the right of way and how it was violated.

Medical documentation.

We make sure your treatment record reflects which side of the vehicle was struck.

Damage calculation.

We add up medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any lasting impact.

Demand and negotiation.

We present the right-of-way evidence directly to the insurer.

Filing suit, if needed.

When a fair number isn’t offered, we file before your deadline.

Resolution.

You receive your compensation, whether by settlement or by verdict.

Types of Cases We Handle

We handle side-impact collision claims involving:

  • Red light and stop sign violations
  • Failure-to-yield crashes during left turns
  • Intersection crashes with disputed right-of-way
  • T-bone crashes involving commercial or larger vehicles

Results

Behind every side-impact case is someone who had the right of way and paid the price when another driver decided otherwise. We make sure that decision gets accounted for.

The Voorhies Law Firm‘s recoveries for clients across all our practice areas now exceed $100 million.

Results may vary, and every side-impact case depends on the specific right-of-way facts involved.

What Our Clients Say

Why Choose The Voorhies Law Firm?

Traffic camera footage and signal data don’t stay available forever, and getting them before they’re gone can make or break a side-impact case.

Richard P. Voorhies III and the team at The Voorhies Law Firm request all of this evidence right away.

We’re recognized by Super Lawyers and other legal organizations, but our clients care most about the practical things: direct access to their attorney, a team that goes to bat for you, and nothing owed upfront.

We handle side-impact collision cases on contingency, so you can focus on what is important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Traffic camera footage, signal timing data, witness accounts, and the physical damage pattern on both vehicles can all help establish who had the right of way. Requesting this evidence quickly matters, since footage is often overwritten within days.

It can, though Louisiana law still generally requires a driver to stop for a yellow light if they can do so safely, so it doesn’t automatically excuse the crash. Signal timing evidence can help resolve this kind of dispute.

It can be relevant to how the crash biomechanically caused your specific injuries, which matters for building an accurate medical picture of your case.

Usually two years from the date of the crash for incidents on or after July 1, 2024, under Civil Code article 3493.1.

Nothing to start. We work these cases on contingency, so our fee comes only from what we recover for you.