Get The Representation You Deserve With Our Beaumont Car Accident Attorneys
The aftermath of a car accident in Beaumont often brings a wave of concerns: How will you pay for your medical care? What about the income you lost while you’re unable to work? Who will cover the damage to your car? Insurance companies, unfortunately, are not always on your side when it comes to these critical questions. They protect their profits, not your peace of mind.
To truly protect your interests and ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to, a strong legal advocate is essential. For decades, Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P., has been a trusted name in Texas and across the United States, known for our aggressive and skilled approach to representing car accident victims. Established in 1976, we’ve successfully handled a wide range of cases, from tragic wrongful death claims to those involving significant injuries or even minor incidents. Our commitment is to help you recover full compensation for your injuries and property damage.
High-Traffic Danger Zones In Beaumont
Beaumont’s roads can prove hazardous, even when you are extremely careful. Recent infrastructure changes have intensified the risks for local drivers. The most notorious area is likely the I-10 and U.S. 69/287, also called the Spaghetti Bowl. This complex convergence of highways is currently the site of a massive $850 million reconstruction project. While these upgrades are meant to improve transit for Southeast Texas in the long-term, the present reality is a safety nightmare for commuters.
The ongoing construction near the Cardinal Drive interchange has also created a volatile environment. Constant lane shifts, narrowed shoulders, and the presence of heavy machinery frequently confuse drivers, leading to an uptick in distracted driving and sideswipe accidents.
Immediate Steps: A Beaumont Post-Accident Checklist
Everyone will have a mild fender-bender at some point. But if you have a major car accident that results in a serious injury, you should follow a certain set of steps. Doing so can maximize your chance of recovering compensation for your damages. If you can, try to:
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Seek immediate medical attention at local facilities such as CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth or Baptist Beaumont Hospital.
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Take photos of vehicle damage and the surrounding area, especially if you are near landmarks such as Lamar University or the Ford Park Event Center.
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Preserve evidence by identifying witnesses, saving any dashcam footage and gathering medical records.
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Do not speak to any insurance representatives without hiring your own counsel first.
Finally, do not juggle the logistics of a major car crash on your own. Our personal injury lawyers know how to prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you. We guide you through the steps so you can reach a full recovery.
Car Accidents And Beaumont’s Legal System: What To Know
The process of filing an insurance claim, reporting the incident and taking care of the many related details can seem immense. If your accident took place in Beaumont, here are a few important pieces of information to remember.
Your first priority after getting medical treatment is documenting the incident. For accidents within city limits, the Beaumont Police Department on College St. will typically file the official crash report. This report is the cornerstone of any insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Many cases settle out of court. Some, though, will require litigation. If your claim does go to trial, most personal injury cases in our region are heard at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Pearl Street. Our lawyers have appeared before this court many times. We can help you understand what to expect so that you do not feel nervous beforehand.
Why Hire Our Car Accident Lawyers?
The hours, days and weeks can be an emotional and complicated time after a car accident, especially when you have suffered serious injuries. It is essential to understand all of the options at your disposal. That is why it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side who can guide you through the process, protect your rights and help you seek full compensation.
Our firm brings a vast amount of experience to each case, as we have been assisting injured parties in the Beaumont, Texas, area for more than 45 years. Having decades of experience means that we know the ins and outs of every case. You may never have started a personal injury lawsuit before, but we offer the insight and deep legal knowledge that you need.
We are also known for getting results. Our firm has helped our clients recover billions across a wide range of personal injury cases, beyond just car accidents. We are versatile lawyers who have demonstrated time and time again that we can help our clients secure the compensation they deserve. Some examples of the different personal injury cases we handle include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Medical malpractice cases
- Workers’ compensation cases
- Defective drug cases
- Motorcycle accidents
- Industrial accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Wrongful death cases
We can address even the most serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries (SCIs), severe burns, amputation injuries and disfigurement. We know that every case has its unique factors that can impact injury victims, so we work closely with you at every stage in the process.
As local personal injury attorneys, we are familiar with the court system, jury pools, court personnel and others within the Texas legal system. We understand how to build a case, how to take it to court and how to help our clients recover the full value of their claims. Our clients often find the process to be daunting or overwhelming, but we help give you peace of mind as we address this familiar landscape. You can focus on your recovery while we focus on getting you the compensation you deserve.
Finally, we are experienced trial lawyers who will help you explore all your legal options. If that means your case must go to court, we will gather evidence and build a strong case. We take every step necessary to defend your rights, and your best interests always come first.
Locating Every Source Of Compensation In Your Car Accident
Texas law requires drivers to carry insurance at a minimum of:
- $30,000 per injured person
- Up to $60,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 for property damage
However, these amounts often fall short of covering serious injuries and damages. Relying solely on the at-fault driver’s basic coverage may leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Our car accident attorneys will identify and pursue every possible source of compensation for your injuries. This starts with a thorough review of your own insurance policy, leveraging coverages you may not even realize you have. This can include your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for medical expenses and lost wages, and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, which protects you when the responsible driver is underinsured or uninsured. We will take action to help you recover compensation from your own insurer.
In some cases, another party besides the other driver shares responsibility for your injuries. For example, if the driver responsible for your injuries was driving for work, our attorneys will bring a claim against the other driver’s employer. If the other driver was drunk, we may be able to file suit against a bar or restaurant under Texas’s Dram Shop Law. Our lawyers have successfully represented many people who have been injured in car accidents, and we will relentlessly fight for your financial recovery and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is common to have concerns and questions after being involved in a car accident. Below, our attorneys offer answers to frequently asked car accident questions.
How long do I have to file my personal injury lawsuit after a car accident?
Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including car accident cases. It is best to begin building your case as quickly as possible, as an early start can help when gathering evidence like witness statements, dashcam footage, medical records and police reports.
Two years is the main deadline to keep in mind because exceeding the statute of limitations can mean that you have no option to seek compensation, even for a viable case where the other driver was clearly negligent and liable for your injuries. If you have been involved in a crash, reach out to us as soon as possible.
What details do I discuss with insurance companies after an accident?
It is wise to engage a personal injury attorney before discussing the case directly with the insurance company or making any definitive statements or claims.
Remember that the insurance company’s goals probably do not align with yours. Even if they present themselves as being there to help you receive the compensation you need, it is in their best interests to reduce costs. You do not want to say anything that could undermine your own position or cause you to lose leverage in your case, and this is what makes it essential to seek a legal opinion before accepting a settlement. Often, initial offers do not address your full costs – such as settlements that cover short-term expenses but not the long-term costs you may face.
What happens in car accidents where fault is not easily determined?
When the fault is unclear, it can jeopardize your legal position, but strong evidence can help turn the tide. Focus on gathering statements from witnesses at the scene, retrieving copies of the police report early on, and seeking video footage from nearby homes or businesses. Additionally, dashcam footage from nearby, including that of those involved in the collision, can help identify fault.
In some cases, crash reconstruction teams may be used to examine details such as skid marks on the road and other factors that can demonstrate how an accident happened. Every case is unique, but we can help strengthen your case by investigating all sources of evidence and showing why you deserve full and fair compensation after a Texas car accident.
Discuss Your Case With A Southeast Texas Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Beaumont or Jefferson County, get help today. Our dedicated car accident attorneys can walk you through your options and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call (409) 838-1000 or send us an email to schedule an appointment. We offer free consultations for SETX residents.