Car accidents happen every single day. After an accident, you may be left injured and experiencing financial difficulty. A car accident can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health, and these impacts may last for an extended period of time.
Fortunately, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Our car accident lawyer serving Bolivar Peninsula at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law is ready to provide exceptional legal advocacy to help you receive the financial recovery you deserve. Our team helps clients throughout the Harris County area – including Bolivar Peninsula.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Bolivar Peninsula, TX
What you do after an accident can affect your claim. You may be shaken up after the accident, so it’s important to follow some basic steps.
Protect the Scene
If the vehicles involved in the accident aren’t interfering with traffic, they should stay where they are. You can protect the scene and prevent any future accidents by keeping flashers on or setting up flares. Never drive away from an accident, even if it is a minor one.
Call the Police or 911
If there are serious injuries, you need to call 911 to get immediate medical attention. Even if there aren’t any serious injuries, it’s best to call the police to have a police report to file with your insurance company.
Get Medical Attention
Injuries caused by car accidents aren’t always apparent right away. Many victims report pain a day or two after the accident. Even if you think you weren’t injured, head to your doctor or local emergency room. You can still suffer injuries to your spinal cord, even with a minor impact. If you were dazed for even a short period, you could have suffered a head injury.
Make a Record
When the police get there, tell them what happened. Don’t guess or speculate on facts. Take pictures of your vehicle and injuries if they are visible. You should get insurance information from other drivers. If the police have responded to the scene then you will get a police report number and can use that to get the police report later. Keep all this information together in a file.
Report Your Accident to Your Insurance Company
Car insurance companies expect to be made aware of any pertinent information regarding your vehicle, car accidents included. Contact your insurance company as quickly as possible to inform them of your accident.
Avoid Speaking to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
After a car accident, you can likely expect the other driver’s insurer to contact you. They will want to ask questions and get your side of the story. You must not speak to them, as they will try to use what you say against you. Insurance companies are always looking for ways to limit their liability and avoid paying—do not give them any information without first talking to your attorney.
Protect Your Rights by Contacting a Bolivar Peninsula Car Accident Attorney
One of the most important things you want to do after an accident is to contact an attorney. An attorney can protect your rights and make sure that the right evidence is gathered. You want to make sure you get legal advice before you speak with the insurance company. A Bolivar Peninsula car accident lawyer can make sure that you are compensated for your injuries and are getting the best treatment available.
How a Bolivar Peninsula Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Working with an attorney can help you make sure your best interests are primary. There are a number of things a Bolivar Peninsula car accident attorney can do for you:
- Helps you understand your rights
- Investigates the case completely
- Assesses the full extent of your damages
- Offers legal advice
- Negotiates for a fair settlement
- Gets you compensation for injuries
- Represents you in court if necessary.
Working with a Bolivar Peninsula car accident lawyer and the team at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law will allow you to focus on your recovery while getting the compensation you deserve.
Why You Should Consult with Our Bolivar Peninsula Car Accident Attorney
Not all car accident lawyers serving Bolivar Peninsula are the same. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we try to set ourselves apart from the competition. We provide you with the compassion and understanding needed during a trying time. Our firm also aims to provide top-quality customer service and legal representation, from inception to completion.
Whether your case settles or needs to see the inside of a courtroom, you can trust our experienced and determined attorneys to get you the resolution you seek.
We Are Highly Familiar with the Bolivar Peninsula, TX, Area
Bolivar Peninsula includes 27 miles of shoreline. Communities include High Island, Gilchrist, Caplen, Crystal Beach and Port Bolivar. The beach on Bolivar Peninsula is one of a kind. Vehicles are allowed to drive on and enjoy all 27 miles of coastline, which means car accidents can happen. With so many tourists driving in the area, especially during the busy tourist season, you are more likely to be injured in a car accident. The narrowest point of the peninsula is just a quarter of a mile, which means driving in the area can be tricky to those who are unfamiliar with it.
If you are injured due to the negligence of another driver in Bolivar Peninsula, you want the team of lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law to help. We understand the traffic on Bolivar Peninsula and can help investigate the accident and represent your case.
Commonly Asked Questions After a Car Accident
What Type of Compensation Is Available After a Car Accident?
Generally, there are two main categories of damages for car accident cases: compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages aim to compensate you for your losses. They can be economic or non-economic in nature.
Economic damages are those directly related to your accident. They can include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages.
Non-economic damages are also related to your accident but may be a little more difficult to quantify. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium.
Punitive damages are special damages assessed only in certain cases. These damages are used to punish and deter when a defendant’s extremely negligent behavior caused you harm.
Damages can be challenging to calculate, but your experienced car accident attorney will determine the fairest amount of compensation owed to you.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
There is no “average” car accident settlement amount. Because every car accident claim is different, there are certain factors used to determine how much your case would be worth.
These factors can include:
- The severity of injuries sustained
- The total cost of medical expenses
- The amount of property damage
- The total amount of lost wages
- Whether your actions contributed to your accident.
These and other details are weighed to determine the worth of your car accident claim.
Will My Case Go to Court?
Almost all injury cases settle out of court. Insurance adjusters try to settle most matters as quickly as possible. However, an early settlement is usually not in your best interests. The best evidence is often unavailable early in the process. Furthermore, if the final settlement doesn’t account for all likely future medical expenses, the victim could be financially responsible for these costs.
Many car accident claims settle during mediation, which is a court-supervised negotiation session. Since the insurance company has a legal duty to negotiate in good faith, mediation is often successful.
What If I Am Found to Be Partially at Fault?
Texas operates under a modified comparative fault standard. This law dictates that a person who is more than 50% at fault for their accident cannot recover compensation. However, a person less than 50% at fault is still eligible to recover for their accident. A complete investigation will help determine who is truly responsible for the accident and to what degree.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
There is a statute of limitations for car accident claims. A statute of limitations is a law imposing a strict time limit on a person’s ability to file a lawsuit. In Texas, the general statute of limitations for car accidents is two years from the date of the accident (TX C.P.R. §16.003). (Always speak directly to an attorney to understand the exact deadlines that apply to your specific claim(s).) If you fail to file your lawsuit within the time specified, you will likely lose your right to compensation.
Therefore, the sooner you begin working on your claim, the better.
Don’t Delay—Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer Serving Bolivar Peninsula Today
There are a multitude of reasons to consult with a car accident lawyer in the Bolivar Peninsula area as quickly as you can. Aside from the peace of mind having an attorney will give you, it will also give you the best possible chance at receiving fair compensation.
Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law today at (713) 973-8888 to schedule your free case review.
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 ]
