If you were seriously injured in a car accident in Texas, you could be facing months or even years of recovery. That may potentially mean tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages — and debt is something that no one wants to be bigger. However, you needn’t despair. The Beaumont car accident lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law may be able to help you get compensation for your injuries. We know how to face the challenges of big cases and will fight endlessly to get you money for your recovery.
What to Do after a Serious Car Accident
There Is No Better Time to Contact a Beaumont Car Accident Attorney
The moments after a serious car accident are some of the most important if you want to get fair compensation from a personal injury claim. Following these instructions will help your Beaumont car accident attorney litigate your case, likely resulting in higher compensation from the insurance company.
Get Medical Attention Immediately
The first thing you should do to protect your health after getting seriously injured in a car accident is also the first thing you should do to protect your legal standing. Call 911 and request medical treatment as soon as possible. Almost all serious injuries are potentially fatal if not treated quickly. Even if your injuries don’t threaten your life, they can worsen when left untreated for too long. For the sake of your health, you should get medical care immediately.
Conveniently, this also improves the likelihood that your Beaumont car accident lawyer can get you fair compensation. By getting medical attention, you create a record of the injuries you suffered in the car accident. The EMTs who arrive in an ambulance and the doctors who treat you in the emergency room create medical records. Those documents are critical to proving that you were injured in an accident and how seriously you were injured.
Additionally, if you delay medical care and your injuries worsen, the insurance company will likely claim that you were responsible for part of the harm you suffered. This can result in your compensation being reduced or even your claim being denied.
Getting prompt medical care after a serious car accident will protect your body and your wallet.
Contact a Beaumont Car Accident Lawyer at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law
Many people delay contacting a Beaumont car accident attorney until they are sure they need one. They may think that a lawyer will cost too much money or worry that speaking with a Beaumont car accident attorney will antagonize the insurance company. These are understandable concerns, but they are likely to result in the victim of the car accident getting less than optimal compensation.
If you want to give yourself the best chance of getting fair compensation, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. The initial consultation is free, so you don’t have to worry about paying out of pocket for our time, and insurance companies aren’t legally allowed to retaliate against you for retaining a lawyer. Furthermore, the sooner you contact a lawyer, the more likely you are to get the compensation you need. Our Beaumont car accident lawyers need to act quickly to gather evidence that supports your claim, and our advice can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that car accident victims commonly fall into, like unintentionally admitting fault.
Document Everything
Documentation is the key to getting fair compensation for a car accident. While your Beaumont car accident attorney from Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law will collect and maintain as much documentation as possible, you can help with this process. As you likely know, you must swap contact and insurance details with the other driver in a car accident. But this information represents just a fraction of what you should document at the accident scene. In addition to getting the contact and insurance information of the other driver, you should:
- Take pictures of all damage to all vehicles
- Take pictures of any visible injuries you suffered
- Take pictures of the accident scene
- Record the names and identifying information of any police or medical personnel who arrive at the scene of the accident
- Collect contact information for any witnesses.
Keep a copy of all of these documents and send them to your car accident attorney in Beaumont as soon as possible. This will better protect those records from accidentally being lost.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury in a car accident, don’t wait to contact a Beaumont car accident lawyer. Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to discuss your legal options.
Understanding Fault in Texas
Determining fault is important in car accident claims. Texas uses proportionate responsibility to determine how much compensation is awarded in all personal injury cases. This means that if a jury determines that you are 20% responsible for the harm you suffered (perhaps because you weren’t wearing a seat belt), any compensation you receive is reduced by 20%. A large part of the job of a personal injury law determining fault. The more evidence your attorney can uncover that the other party was responsible, the more money you are likely to receive.
The issue of fault is rarely straightforward. Even in a relatively simple accident, both drivers are likely to blame the other for the accident. Unless there is video footage or other physical evidence, both parties pointing fingers at each other can result in insurance companies undervaluing or denying claims. In the most complicated cases, the most responsibility might not even belong to either driver. For example, if you were involved in an accident because your car had a defective part, the manufacturer of that part might be responsible for paying damages in your case.
Why Choose Us?
Car Accident Lawyers serving Beaumont with a Proven Track Record
When you are choosing a car accident attorney for your Beaumont-area crash, there are several factors you should take into account. More than anything, though, you want a lawyer who gets results. Car accidents are financially stressful. Between the cost of repairing your vehicle, paying medical bills, and making up for lost wages, it can feel like the walls are closing in on you. The attorneys at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in car accident cases. We are dedicated to helping victims and getting them fair compensation.
Our lawyers never back down in court or at the negotiating table. If you want to be confident about who is representing you, trust in a law firm that has a nearly 40-year history of helping Texas car accident victims.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should never feel confused during the legal process. The better you understand the process, the less stressful you will find it. We seek to answer your most pressing questions before you even talk to a lawyer in person.
When should I contact my car insurance company?
While you should inform your car insurance company of an accident promptly, that doesn’t mean you have to do it immediately after an accident. Call our law firm first and consult a lawyer before contacting the insurance company. Depending on the situation, we may even contact your insurance company for you.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a car accident?
Texas has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Generally, you have two years to file a lawsuit from the date of the accident. (*However, always speak directly to an attorney for the exact deadlines that apply to your potential claims.) If you are worried that you might have missed your chance to file a lawsuit or that time might be running out, contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law immediately.
Should I accept a settlement offer from the insurance company?
Never accept a settlement offer from an insurance company until your Beaumont car accident lawyer has looked it over. Typically, if the insurance company offers you a settlement that wasn’t negotiated with your attorney, it is because the company is trying to undervalue your claim. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we will determine the value of your claim and fight to get you compensation equal to that value.
Can the insurance company force me to go to a specific doctor?
No, you have the right to choose your doctor. If the insurance company claims that you are required to use a specific doctor or hospital, contact your lawyer immediately.
Do you still have questions? Our attorneys will answer them during your free case evaluation.
Contact a Beaumont Car Accident Lawyer Today
Regardless of whether you think you need a car accident lawyer, you should take advantage of the free consultation we offer at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. Our attorneys will help you determine your legal options so you can move on fully informed.
Don’t wait to act after being injured in a car accident. Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 as soon as possible for your free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
