Beaumont Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents can happen unexpectedly in many different ways, often leaving those involved injured and wondering how they can recover. If you or a family member recently sustained injuries in a car accident someone else caused, you need to speak with a Beaumont car accident lawyer as quickly as possible. The right legal team can help you determine your most viable recovery options and maximize the compensation you secure for your damages.

Helping Car Accident Victims Recover in Beaumont, TX

The team at Renick Law Firm, PLLC, has years of professional experience resolving all types of motor vehicle accident claims for our clients throughout the Beaumont area, and we are ready to leverage this experience for you. When you choose our firm to handle your car accident case, you will have a dedicated advocate who can guide you through every step of your recovery efforts with confidence.

While it is technically possible for you to pursue recovery from your damages on your own, it is likely to be far more difficult than you may expect. Even if fault for your recent accident seems readily apparent, there are countless issues you could encounter in your car accident claim that you will not know how to address effectively on your own. You would also contend with your legal affairs and your medical needs in recovery all at once, unassisted.

Working with an experienced Beaumont car accident lawyer means you can focus on your recovery and your personal obligations with peace of mind. Your case will be in capable and reliable hands, and you will be more likely to maximize the results of all your recovery efforts when you have an attorney handling your case. Renick Law Firm, PLLC, approaches every vehicle accident case with the goal of enhancing our client’s recovery as much as possible.

How to Prove Fault for a Car Accident in Beaumont

Texas enforces the fault-based system for resolving motor vehicle accident cases, meaning you will need to prove how your accident happened before you will be able to recover any compensation for your damages. This means correctly identifying the driver who caused the collision and proving exactly how they caused it. The majority of car accidents reported throughout Beaumont happen because of various forms of driver negligence:

• Distracted driving, including texting behind the wheel, is one of the most common examples of driver negligence seen throughout Texas each year. Every driver has a duty of care to operate their vehicle attentively, and any form of distraction, even for just a few seconds, has the potential to cause a serious accident. Your attorney can help you obtain the other driver’s cell phone records and other evidence to prove they were distracted.
• Speeding is not only a leading example of driver negligence but also a major contributing factor to the number of fatal accidents in Beaumont each year. If a driver speeds excessively, they may not only face liability for a resulting accident but also a reckless driving charge.
• Moving violations that disrupt the flow of traffic can easily cause accidents. Performing illegal turns, failing to yield the right-of-way, and running stop signs and red lights are just a few examples of how moving violations may cause serious accidents in Beaumont. Traffic camera footage is often crucial for proving fault for this type of collision.
• Vehicle maintenance issues may also cause accidents. If a mechanic incorrectly performed maintenance on the vehicle, they may face liability for the resulting accident, but if the driver knew of a mechanical issue with their vehicle but did not address it in a timely manner, they are likely to absorb liability for the resulting damages.

Proving negligence in any personal injury case requires proof that the defendant had a duty of care that they breached in some way. The plaintiff must also prove that the defendant’s breach of duty caused actual harm, and they will need to establish a causation between their claimed damages and the defendant’s actions. In other words, they will need to prove their damages solely resulted from the defendant’s actions and not from any other cause.

Car accidents can also happen because of intentional, illegal misconduct behind the wheel. The most common example of this is driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. DUI consistently ranks as one of the leading causes of car accidents in Texas each year and one of the most commonly prosecuted criminal offenses in the state. If you were hurt in a DUI accident, your Beaumont car accident lawyer can explain how this could influence your recovery.

You may need multiple forms of evidence to prove fault, depending on how your accident occurred. Traffic camera footage, cell phone records, and witness statements are just a few examples of the evidence you may need to make your case. Once fault is established, you can proceed with your efforts to recover your damages.

Understanding Auto Insurance Claims in Texas

Texas requires every driver in the state to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. At a minimum, a driver’s policy must provide at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for each person injured in an accident caused by the policyholder with a $60,000 total accident limit. Additionally, the policy must include at least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.

If you only experienced minor injuries and cosmetic damage to your vehicle, it is possible that the at-fault driver’s insurance policy alone could fully compensate you for your losses. However, if you suffered any serious injuries, you are likely to require more extensive legal efforts to fully recover. Also, almost every insurance company will push back against claims for compensation in whatever way they can. Filing a claim on your own will not be easy.

When you have an experienced Beaumont car accident lawyer handling your case, they can guide you through every phase of the insurance claim filing process and ensure your claim is handled fairly. They can ensure the at-fault driver’s insurance company acts in good faith and delivers a fair settlement offer. If you encounter any issues, they can help resolve them as efficiently as possible and secure the compensation you legally deserve.

Building Your Personal Injury Suit for a Car Accident in Beaumont

If you cannot fully recover your damages through an auto insurance claim, a personal injury suit can enable you to secure repayment of the losses that insurance can’t cover. Under Texas’ personal injury statutes, the driver who caused your accident is liable for the entire range of damages you suffered because of their actions. Whatever you cannot recover through auto insurance can be added to your personal injury claim.

The average plaintiff in a car accident claim will seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are relatively straightforward and will include the direct financial losses the accident caused:

• The at-fault driver is liable for any vehicle repair or replacement costs that insurance won’t cover. They are also responsible for any personal property inside of your vehicle that was damaged in the accident.
• If you sustained physical injuries, the defendant is liable for the cost of all related medical care. This includes the projected costs of future medical treatment you may need to reach maximum medical improvement from your injuries. Your attorney can consult your medical care providers to ensure any such damages are appropriately addressed in your case.
• When you cannot work because of your injuries, the defendant is responsible for the wages you are unable to earn during your recovery period. This applies to your lost future earning potential as well if you were permanently disabled by your injuries. Your attorney can help calculate the income you otherwise would have been able to earn in the future and add this to your claim.

Once you account for your anticipated future economic damages, you might realize you can claim much more than you initially expected. However, your recovery does not end there. You also have the right to claim non-economic damages from the defendant. These are more subjective and difficult to assess in value as they are the most intangible losses, such as physical pain, psychological suffering, and trauma you experienced from the accident.

Texas does not cap pain and suffering compensation in most personal injury cases, so this could form the bulk of your case award if you suffered any serious injuries in the accident. Ultimately, you will need an experienced attorney’s help to maximize this aspect of your case award. They will know how to reasonably assess pain and suffering compensation for your impending car accident claim.

If your accident resulted from illegal misconduct of any kind, the defendant may also owe you punitive damages. Your attorney can explain how these damages could affect the final outcome of your case. Generally, the amount a defendant pays in punitive damages largely depends on their financial situation and the severity of the harm done to them, using their total economic and non-economic damage amounts as benchmarks to calculate punitive damages.

How to Build Your Vehicle Accident Case in Beaumont

The first steps you take in the aftermath of any vehicle accident are very important. You will need to secure evidence to prove fault and ensure you are not accused of causing the accident. Be cautious with your words when speaking to the first responders at the scene of the crash. Do not admit fault, and you must also exercise caution when speaking with insurance adjusters.

If an insurance company calls you with an offer for coverage, politely inform them that you need to speak with your legal counsel before discussing any type of settlement, and then have your Beaumont car accident lawyer negotiate with the insurance company for you. If insurance cannot deliver suitable resolutions, you will need to file a personal injury suit.

Success with your personal injury claim requires clear proof of the damages you suffered as well as proof that the defendant is solely responsible for causing them. Many types of evidence could come into play in your car accident case, from physical evidence at the scene of the crash to witness testimony and various types of digital evidence. The right attorney can help create a compelling civil suit that aims for maximum compensation.

Resolving Your Personal Injury Case

An experienced Beaumont car accident lawyer can assist you with every step of building your case, and they can help you resolve it as efficiently as possible. Most of the personal injury cases filed in Texas each year are resolved through private settlement negotiations, which allows the parties involved in a case to avoid the stress, expense, and time commitment of litigation. However, it is only an option if both parties are willing to compromise.

Your Beaumont car accident lawyer can guide you through the process of negotiating a fair settlement with the at-fault driver and maximizing your total compensation. Settlement may only take a few weeks to complete, but if you must take your case to trial, it will take much longer to resolve. The team at Renick Law Firm, PLLC, aims to help every client recover as swiftly as possible from their car accidents.

If you are hesitant to hire an attorney due to the anticipated high cost of legal fees, remember that most personal injury attorneys in Texas accept these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means the client pays their attorney a percentage of the total compensation secured from the defendant, and only if they win the case. Other attorneys charge by the hour, so be sure to clarify your attorney’s billing policy at the outset of your case proceedings.

When you choose Renick Law Firm, PLLC, to represent your case, you will have an experienced legal advocate readily available to answer questions, address concerns, and prepare you for each new phase of your case. Our firm is ready to leverage the full extent of our professional resources and experience to help you with your case, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Beaumont car accident lawyer to learn how we can help with your case.