Beaumont Wide-Turning Accident Attorneys
Commercial trucks are very large motor vehicles that can be very difficult to maneuver in certain urban areas. When a driver needs to make a tighter turn, they may have to swing the front end of their vehicle into the next traffic lane over to complete the turn.
When a truck driver does not navigate these turns correctly, they could be at risk of possibly tipping their truck over. They can also be more likely to cause possible collisions with other vehicles.
If you suffered serious injuries or your loved one was killed in a wide-turning truck accident in the greater Beaumont area, you need to obtain legal counsel as soon as possible. Contact Portner Bond, PLLC as soon as you are able.
Our firm has offices in both Beaumont and Crystal Beach. We can help you explore all of your legal options when you call (409) 838-4444 or contact us online to receive a free consultation.
Do I Need A Wide-Turning Accident Lawyer?
People should not try to handle their wide-turning truck accident claims on their own. Insurance companies representing truck drivers and trucking carriers will certainly try to convince you that you do not need to hire an attorney, and an agent may even tell you that the insurer will take good care of you.
This is usually an empty promise. An insurance company will likely offer you a lump sum settlement to resolve your case that much less than what you are actually entitled to. You need a lawyer on your side who will negotiate fair compensation for the losses you have suffered.
One reason you should contact an attorney right away is so that they can immediately conduct their own rigorous investigation of your accident. A knowledgeable wide-turn accident attorney will be able to determine all of the different parties that could be liable.
While truck drivers are at fault for most wide-turning accidents, they are rarely the only party that can be held liable. An attorney can identify every single liable party so you are able to recover as much compensation as possible.
Why Choose Portner Bond, PLLC To Handle My Case?
Portner Bond, PLLC has over 70 years of combined experience. Chris Portner and Trent Bond are members of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, where membership is limited to less than one percent of practicing lawyers in the United States.
Chris Portner is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association for Justice, Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and Jefferson County Bar Association. He was recognized in Texas Monthly in 2007 and 2008 as a rising star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters service).
Trent Bond is one of only about 10 percent of attorneys in Texas who can claim he is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is also the vice president of the Jefferson County Bar Association and was recognized in Texas Monthly in from 2011 to 2018 as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers.
Portner Bond, PLLC will handle your case at no charge to you unless you receive a monetary award. Our firm is committed to helping you obtain a just settlement, and we will not be afraid to file a lawsuit when necessary to get you appropriate compensation.
Types of Wide-Turning Accident Cases We Handle
Wide-turning accidents can result from many different kinds of driver negligence. Some of the most common examples in these cases include, but are not limited to:
- Failure to check blind spots
- Failure to use turn signals
- Inadequate training
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol
- Lack of familiarity with roadway
- Mechanical issues
- Reckless driving
Wide-turning crashes can cause many different kinds of injuries. Common types of injuries people suffer in these accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Neck injuries
- Muscle strains
- Burn injuries
- Fractures
- Internal organ injuries
- Sprains
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
It is also possible that a person could be killed as the result of a wide-turning accident. When an individual is killed, the family of the deceased person can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages from the negligent party or parties.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Wide-Turning Accidents
What should I do if I am involved in a wide-turning accident?
After any motor vehicle crash, your first step always needs to be to seek medical attention as soon as possible. You should do this even when you do not think that you were injured or you don’t think your injuries are serious. Many severe injuries have delayed symptoms, and the insurance company will use any delay in treatment as a reason to deny the settlement. Some of the other important steps you can take include:
- Call Police — Contact the local law enforcement agency so that you can have a police report filed in connection to your crash. Authorities can also ticket a negligent truck driver for a traffic violation related to your crash.
- Get Insurance Information — You will want to get all of the information from the truck driver relating to their insurance policy. You should also provide the driver with your own insurance information.
- Take Pictures — You probably have a camera on your cell phone, and you should use it or another camera to take as many photographs as you possibly can of everything involved in your crash. Get pictures of people, vehicles, and all other noteworthy factors before this evidence disappears when the crash scene is cleared. If you are unable to take the pictures yourself, try to get someone else who is at the scene to take them for you.
- Seek Witnesses — If anyone saw your collision, ask them for their name and phone number. These witnesses could be useful if there is any dispute about liability or if your case goes to trial.
Finally, you need to contact a lawyer before you speak to any insurance company.
Will I be able to recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my wide-turning accident?
Under Texas law, a claimant cannot recover damages when their percentage of responsibility is more than 50 percent. In other words, you can recover damages as long as you were not more at fault than the other party.
Texas uses a modified comparative fault system when it comes to negligence claims, so your percentage of negligence in your accident can be used to reduce your final award. In other words, if you were awarded $100,000 in a wide-turning accident for which you were 25 percent at fault, your award would be reduced by $25,000 and you would ultimately receive $75,000.
How long do I have to file a wide-turning accident lawsuit?
In Texas, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. The only exception to this is if a minor was injured in a wide-turning accident: they have two years after their 18th birthday in which to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact a Wide-Turning Accident Attorney in Beaumont
Did you sustain severe injuries or was your loved one killed in a wide-turning truck accident in the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metropolitan area? You only have a limited amount of time to take legal action, so you need to act quickly to secure a personal injury lawyer for assistance with your case.
Portner Bond, PLLC has helped many truck accident victims obtain the fair and just compensation they deserve. Call (409) 838-4444 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.