Injured on Poorly Maintained Beaumont TX Roads? City or Contractor Negligence May Apply

Potholes, alligator cracking, and rutting are only some of the road hazards that you may find on Texas roads. The City of Beaumont, Texas, includes street maintenance in its planning functions, but budgetary constraints and long construction projects can leave some roads in marginal or poor condition. When poorly maintained roads cause an accident, it can be difficult to know where to turn for compensation. Hiring a skilled local lawyer can help you determine whether a government entity or contractor is liable.

The Beaumont attorneys at Carabin Shaw have extensive experience in Texas tort claims and the sovereign immunity that sometimes prevents accident victims from seeking compensation from the city or state government. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-862-1260 to schedule a free case review with our top Texas law firm. We’ll help you understand how much your case may be worth, and we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis. That means you don’t pay us unless we win your case.

Texas Tort Law protects the government in most accidents caused by poorly maintained roads. Your Beaumont road injury lawyer will rarely be in a situation to convince the court to waive immunity, but may do so if:

• A government employee caused an accident while operating a city vehicle or equipment
• The city knew about the dangerous road hazard in Beaumont, Texas, and failed to adequately warn people

Knowing about a poorly maintained road will not often establish liability in a lawsuit against the city or state government, because actual knowledge is difficult to prove. The bar for negligence is set very high for this type of lawsuit. Your lawyer is more likely to successfully pursue an injury claim against a private contractor for negligence.

Large TxDOT projects like the 10/69 Interchange Project on I-10 and US 69 increase contractors’ responsibility for safe driving conditions on Texas roads. There are many procedures they enact to ensure safety while routing traffic through or around work zones, but one misstep can trigger a chain of events that causes you to be injured on city streets in Beaumont TX, and elsewhere in the region.

It is easier to hold contractors liable for road conditions and poor maintenance because they do not enjoy sovereign immunity. They are liable based on the rules of negligence. Your lawyer typically has to prove that a contractor had a duty to act in a certain way and caused the unsafe conditions by breaching that duty, which led to your accident. Examples of contractor negligence may include:

• Failing to mark a hazard
• Creating an unsafe condition, such as an uneven roadway
• Delaying repairs
• Performing unsafe road repairs or construction

Once you and your attorney determine who is liable for your accident, you must submit a claim for the value of the damages attributable to the defendant’s liability. These damages can be financial and non-financial damages, such as:

• Current and future medical bills
• Property damage
• Current and future loss of wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish

Evidence supporting your compensable losses may include invoices, receipts, estimates, photos, witness testimony, and expert testimony. Your attorney may also ask you to keep a journal about how the accident has affected your life, so you can document the day-to-day impact of the accident.

While road maintenance typically falls to city and state governments, the law often shields these entities from liability in lawsuits. Speaking with a road maintenance accident lawyer will help you determine whether there is a path to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. At Carabin Shaw, our law firm’s client reviews prove that we go the extra mile to help you seek maximized compensation for your injuries.

Call today to speak to a legal professional who can help you find the path to justice after poor road maintenance puts you in a financial bind. Someone is available to speak to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we have English- and Spanish-speaking staff.

For more information:

• Beaumont, TX
• CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE 101
• Texas Department of Transportation