Accidents often result in more than just damage to your vehicle. They can be traumatic and life-altering for those involved. If negligence caused your crash, seek justice and fair compensation now.
Beaumont Personal Injury Lawyers
Serious accidents often result in serious injuries, and victims can often face a long and agonizing road to recovery. The Beaumont personal injury lawyers of Portner Bond, PLLC provide skilled, compassionate representation for people who have been hurt in accidents across Southeast Texas. Our team has seen firsthand the struggles that accident victims and their families face after a car crash, slip and fall accident, workplace accident, and other unforeseen events. It can rob them of their health, their ability to enjoy life, and support those they love. Our Beaumont personal injury attorneys are here to make things right, and make sure that if someone else’s actions caused an injury, they are the ones held responsible.
Portner Bond, PLLC handles a wide variety of personal injury claims, and we will sit down with people to get a thorough understanding of their situation and story. Our team of Beaumont personal injury lawyers fights to help individuals obtain all the full and fair compensation they deserve, and we’ve forever changed the lives of so many of our clients for the better. Let us help you get back on your feet, and put this devastating event behind you. Call (409) 838-4444 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Our Attorneys
At Portner Bond, PLLC we are committed to providing the experienced, skilled and aggressive representation you require.
Chris Portner was recognized in Texas Monthly in 2007 and 2008 as a rising star by Texas Super Lawyers. He has been honored as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, to which fewer than 1% of attorneys in the United States are members.
Trent Bond is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction earned by only about 10% of lawyers in Texas. He was recognized in Texas Monthly in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 through 2023 as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters service). He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, to which fewer than 1% of attorneys in the United States are members. Trent is also AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell.
Tom Kiehnhoff has enjoyed a long career representing both individuals and private businesses both large and small. From 1990 – 2001, Tom worked as Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas. Tom is also AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell.
Our Beaumont Personal Injury Law Firm will negotiate a just settlement to your case that covers all of your past, present, and future expenses stemming from your accident. We can also file a lawsuit to try your case in court when an adequate settlement becomes impossible.
Portner Bond, PLLC also handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You only pay for legal services when you obtain a monetary award.
Commercial vehicle accidents often result in devastating injuries that can have a lasting impact on your health, your livelihood, and your family. Turn to a team that knows how to handle these often-complex cases.
When motorists refuse to share the road, or if a defect in the roadway causes you to crash, you have the right to take action to hold the responsible party accountable if you’ve been hurt.
The untimely loss of a loved one leaves family members struggling with grief and loss. Our team helps families get justice and the compensation they need to cope, heal, and support one another.
Injured on the job? Our attorneys fight to protect injured workers in our community, and we’ll work to make sure you get the benefits you’re owed.
If you’ve been hurt or if you lost a loved one in an industrial accident, our team will be there to make things right. Turn to us for the qualified counsel that you need during this challenging time.
If you have been injured while on another person's property, the negligent property owner must be held accountable.
An accident while riding an off-road vehicle can be devastating. Learn more about the liability surrounding these accidents.
Learn more about boating and watercraft accidents and what to do if you or a loved one are injured.
Our firm is able to help you with a variety of legal issues. To see a more detailed list of the types of cases we handle, click here.
Clients are very satisfied to work with us
Texas Statute of Limitations
Texas’s statute of limitations on injury claims can impact your ability to receive compensation for your personal injury claim, so we want to make sure you have a firm understanding of how long you are eligible to take legal action.
The statute of limitations in Texas states that a person has two years to file a personal injury claim after receiving a personal injury, including:
- Car accidents
- Wrongful death
- Property damage
- Medical malpractice
- Product liability (although in some cases you could file a product liability claim up to 15 years later, see Code 16.012)
If you do not file your personal injury claim within the two-year time period, the defendant (the person or party who injured you) can file a “motion to dismiss” your claim. If this happens, you will likely not receive any compensation for your claim even if your injuries are severe or the defendant is obviously at fault.
The time window in which you must file a claim begins at the moment of the “cause of action,” or the moment you are aware of your injury. Also, note that the claim must be filed within two years of the cause of action—it does not need to be brought to court or heard by a jury during that window to be considered a valid case.
Since your promptness in filing your case can drastically change the outcome of your case, we recommend that you contact a competent legal firm immediately. The sooner you file, the more likely we’ll be able to help you win compensation for the full amount you deserve. Call Portner Bond, PLLC at (409) 838-4444 today to begin the process with a risk-free consultation.
Statute of Limitations
Memories and evidence fade with time. If an event happened more than two years ago, it’s likely that people’s memories regarding the incident will be flawed. Also, most evidence from that long ago will no longer be in existence by the time your case is filed.
In addition, Texas wants to encourage plaintiffs (those accusing the defendants) to be diligent and earnest in seeking legal action. The statute protects defendants from being dragged into drawn-out, unfair, or unreasonable trials.
Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations
The following are some possible exceptions to the Statute of Limitations. The plaintiff might be granted more time to file if:
- The plaintiff was under the age of 18 or otherwise of an “unsound mind” at the time of the incident. Texas law provides that the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period, so the standard two-year statute of limitations becomes applicable only when a victim turns 18 or their disability is cured.
- The plaintiff was exposed to asbestos or silica. For injury claims regarding exposure to asbestos or silica, Texas has a statute of limitations of two years after diagnosis of the asbestos- or silica-related disease for personal injury and two years after death for wrongful death claims.
- The defendant was outside of the state of Texas or tried to conceal themselves for a significant portion of the two-year window.
- The defendant tried to cover up the injury.
- There is some discrepancy about when the cause of action could have reasonably been identified.
- Certain criminal offenses were committed. State law also allows up to 15 years for a person to bring suit for personal injury caused by certain criminal offenses, such as indecency with a child, sexual assault, or trafficking of persons.
Determining whether you qualify for any of these exceptions can be complicated. We highly recommend you consult with an attorney at Portner Bond, PLLC regarding the status of your case to determine the best way to move forward with your personal injury claim. Work with one of our award winning Beaumont personal injury attorneys by calling (409) 838-4444 today.
Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following are some common questions we get regarding personal injury cases. This list is not comprehensive. If you have questions about your case that are not addressed here, feel free to contact us to set up a free consultation.
Your first step after any accident needs to be seeking medical attention. Even if you do not think that you were hurt, you should still get an evaluation performed at the scene of your accident or go to a hospital. Certain injuries involve delayed symptoms, and any delay in treatment will be used by an insurance company to argue for a reduced award because your injuries were not treated properly. When possible, try to take as many pictures as you can of the scene of your accident. Your photographs could prove to be invaluable later, so get many pictures from different angles and distances. Also be mindful of possible witnesses and ask such people for their names and phone numbers. Try not to discuss your accident with anyone, including friends and family, until you have spoken to a lawyer. Be especially careful not to post anything to social media and try not to make a statement to an insurance company.
Under Texas law, a person has two years from the date of their accident to bring suit for personal injury. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. State law does provide a couple exceptions, however. A person is considered to be “under a legal disability” if they are younger than 18 years of age or of unsound mind. Texas law provides that the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period, so the standard two-year statute of limitations becomes applicable only when a victim turns 18 or their disability is cured. For injury claims regarding exposure to asbestos or silica, Texas has a statute of limitations of two years after diagnosis of the asbestos- or silica-related disease for personal injury and two years after death for wrongful death claims. State law also allows up to 15 years for a person to bring suit for personal injury caused by certain criminal offenses, such as indecency with a child, sexual assault, or trafficking of persons.
Many accident cases are resolved through settlements because an insurance company will usually conclude that settling a case is cheaper than taking it to trial. Many settlements are agreed to the same day trial are supposed to begin. When a person does file a lawsuit in court and the case goes to trial, the victim could be awarded compensatory damages, which are usually a combination of economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are quantifiable losses, while noneconomic damages are much more subjective. Economic damages frequently include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Noneconomic damages are awards for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of consortium. A rare number of cases could also involve punitive damages (also called exemplary damages or vindictive damages).
Beaumont Personal Injury Attorney
If you sustained catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in an accident caused by another party’s negligence in Jefferson County, you should not have to struggle to pay bills created by somebody else’s mistake. Contact the Beaumont personal injury lawyers of Portner Bond, PLLC to see how we can help.
Our firm is focused on getting results for our clients. You can have us discuss your rights during a free consultation when you call Portner Bond, PLLC or contact us online today.
* Trent Bond is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
** Trent Bond was recognized in Texas Monthly in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters service).
*** Chris Portner was recognized in Texas Monthly in 2007 and 2008 as a rising star, a Thomson Reuters service, by Texas Super Lawyers.
**** Trent Bond is a Peer Reviewed AV-rated attorney designated by Martindale Hubbell a Lexis Nexis company.
***** Trent Bond has been recognized as a “Superb Lawyer 10” by Avvo inc.