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 Stowell car accident lawyer 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 Chambers County area.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Stowell, TX
After a collision you may feel shaken and unsure of what to do next. It is important to keep in mind that what you do following your accident can affect your claim.
Call 911
Once you’ve assessed any potential injuries, be sure to call 911 and request police and medical assistance. Police officers dispatch to the scene of the accident to collect information which is eventually compiled into a police report.
Seek Medical Care
If you sustain injuries after your accident, you should receive medical attention right away. Whether or not you believe you’ve been injured, it is highly recommended that you seek medical care.
You may think you were not injured, but some injuries take time to surface. Medical attention from a healthcare professional will shed light on your injuries and their severity.
Once you are aware of the extent of your injuries, you can begin treatment. Keep in mind that your medical records will likely play an important role in your claim.
Gather Information and Evidence
As soon as possible after your accident, try to gather all possible information. This can include:
- Photos and videos at the scene of the accident
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- Witness contact information.
Document anything you believe may be important and useful for your claim.
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, victims shouldn’t give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Highly trained telephone adjusters know how to trick people into making damaging statements, which the insurance company records. If the victim suffered a serious injury, like a head injury, it can increase the likelihood that adjusters are able to back them into a corner.
Sooner or later, the other driver’s insurance company needs to hear your side of the story. But that doesn’t have to happen right away. Let your Stowell car accident lawyer handle this conversation at an appropriate time.
On a related note, insurance adjusters often reach out to victims with settlement offers. These low-ball offers often barely cover medical expenses. A Chambers County car accident lawyer handles these negotiations as well, so victims can concentrate on getting better.
Consult with a Car Accident Attorney in Stowell
Consulting with a car accident attorney in Chambers County – serving the area in and around Stowell – can help give you the peace of mind you need. Your lawyer will ask all the right questions, answer any questions you may have, and give you an idea of what your ideal next steps should be.
How a Stowell Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Your Lawyer Will be Your Best Ally
It is common to feel lost and stressed after a car accident. From beginning to end, your attorney will work with you to provide the best legal representation. You can feel confident knowing your lawyer has your best interests at heart.
Your Attorney Will Zealously Handle Your Claim
Your lawyer will have many tasks on the path to getting you the most favorable outcome. Some of these important tasks include:
- Thoroughly investigating your claim
- Compiling relevant evidence
- Communicating with the insurance companies
- Engaging in settlement negotiations on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit, if needed
- Answering your questions and keeping you updated along the way.
Your lawyer will go the extra mile to get you the financial compensation you deserve after your accident.
Your Lawyer Will Help Fight for Your Right to Compensation
Along the way, there will likely be pushback and challenges on the route to compensation. Nonetheless, your attorney is experienced and knows how to handle these scenarios. Your Stowell car accident lawyer will work diligently to get you the financial recovery you need while you worry about your physical recovery.
Why You Should Consult with Our Stowell Car Accident Attorney
Not all car accident lawyers serving Chambers County 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 skilled and determined attorneys to get you the resolution you seek.
We Are Highly Familiar with the Stowell, Texas, Area
Stowell is almost exactly halfway between Houston and Beaumont/Port Arthur. Therefore, the city is a very popular stop for travelers going in either direction. Many tourists who are on their way to Galveston pass through Stowell as well. The major highways which run through Stowell, like Interstate 10 and State Highway 124, can’t always accommodate this much traffic. Additionally, when it comes to road repairs and improvements, semi-rural counties like Chambers County have limited funds.
Stowell’s healthcare infrastructure, like its freeway infrastructure, is underdeveloped. The few hospitals in the area are little more than aid stations. Serious injury accident victims usually require helicopter transport to Port Arthur, Beaumont, or Houston. A short helicopter flight could cost more than $40,000. In many cases, that total is almost as high as the ensuing hospital bill.
Normally, group health insurance companies do not cover these medical flight expenses. Our Stowell car accident lawyers are equipped to work with you to help get you the medical treatment you need.
If you suffer an injury because of the negligence of another driver, count on the team at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law to understand the nuances of the road system in Stowell. We have experience representing clients in and around Stowell in many different types of motor vehicle accident cases.
Commonly Asked Questions 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.
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.
Not every car accident case goes to court. Your attorney will typically attempt to settle your claim through negotiations. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer may need to file a lawsuit to help collect compensation on your behalf. If your case cannot be settled, then it may go to trial.
Whether your case settles out of court or goes to trial, your attorney will represent you at all stages.
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.
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.C. §16.003). (*Always speak directly to an attorney for the exact deadlines that apply to your potential 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 Stowell Today
There are a multitude of reasons to consult with a car accident lawyer in the Chambers County 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.
Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law now at 713-973-8888 for your free consultation.
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 ]
