If you have been involved in a car accident on a Bridgeport road or highway, there are several laws that dictate how to receive fair compensation for any damage to your car and any injury sustained as a result of the accident. It is important, however, to be familiar with the laws as they can have a great impact on your case.
“Comparative Fault” is used to describe the percentage of fault each party is to blame for a car accident.
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can sue for damages, or financial award, from the other party, however, that compensation will be reduced by the percentage of the accident you were responsible for as decided by judge and jury. If the court determines that you were equally responsible for the cause of the accident, then you risk not being awarded any damages for your role in the accident even if you were the one hit and injured.
"Statute of limitations" is a law that limits the amount of time in which to file a lawsuit. Different types of injuries and accident scenarios dictate the amount of time you have. Failure to file lawsuit within the designated time frame will prevent you from pursuing any legal action in the future.
When an automobile accident occurs, it is normal for you or the other driver to file an insurance claim.
Most time limits for filing lawsuit are within 2 years from the date of the accident.
The only exception to this Statute of Limitations involves a wrongful death lawsuit. While the surviving family a loved one killed in a car accident must still adhere to the 2 year time limit to file a damages lawsuit; they have 5 years in which to submit a Wrongful Death Lawsuit.
There is a process involved with filing claims and intent to sue, which also gives the opposing party time to respond. If you feel the insurance company or opposing party is purposely delaying investigation or responding to your claims to get past legal time limits, you may consider speaking with a Personal Injury lawyer.
With any accident, typically the first step is to file a claim with your own insurance company. Like most states, Connecticut requires its drivers to carry a certain amount of liability coverage. This coverage will pay for property damage and injury for the other driver just as their liability coverage protects you.
For small fender-benders or other minor accidents, hiring an attorney probably isn’t necessary.
However, if you or a loved one has been involved in a more serious accident, involving complete damage to your vehicle and severe injury, you might consider speaking with a lawyer. Initial meetings are generally free of charge and an experienced lawyer will be able to determine if you have a case worth pursuing in a court of law.
While legally you can file a personal injury lawsuit on your own, most times it helps to have an experienced attorney. One who already has experience negotiating with insurance companies and has relationships with professional witnesses who can help build a better case should it go to trial.
Personal Injury lawsuits against insurance companies involve more than covering damage to your car and immediate medical bills. An injury lawyer knows this and usually includes the following when determining your claim amount:
Connecticut’s Comparative Fault Rules state that an insurance company can deny your claim by stating that you share equally for the cause of the accident or that the policyholder is not at fault and that you should not receive any pay-out for the damage to your vehicle or injuries sustained.
Having a licensed attorney can help you build a better and stronger case showing the required proof needed to determine fault and responsibility for the injuries inflicted upon you.
Many times, when a person is representing themselves to the insurance companies, the company will offer either an extremely low settlement or refuse to pay the claim counting on the victim to simply accept the offer.
If the insurance company is refusing to pay your claim or is offering a settlement well below what you feel is fair, you might want to speak with an experienced attorney.
Statistics show that having lawyer representation increases financial settlement exponentially.
Because lawsuits, especially against insurance companies can take time to put together, the sooner you move forward with legal representation, the better. However, you want to make certain you are choosing the best one for you.
There is a wide range of lawyers to choose from with experience in all areas of law. You should choose one that focuses on injury or accident law.
Before you settle on one lawyer, be sure to read reviews on Google of other peoples’ experience with a lawyer. Also research if any complaints or suspensions have been filed against their license by checking out the Connecticut Bar Association here : https://www.ctbar.org/public
While it is normal for a successful attorney to have many legal cases happening at once, does it seem like you are one of too many? Also find out how often you can expect to be updated regarding your case and how? Will you receive a weekly update via email? Can you can the staff with any questions?
During your initial meeting, pay attention to how you feel. Did the attorney and legal staff go out of their way to greet you and address your concerns?
It is important that you select a attorney who can speak Spanish if you feel more comfortable speaking in your language. He or she will be able to explain the legal process and can provide you with proper legal representation.
Notice: The basic information on this page is NOT in any way legal advice or legal representation. Read our notice here
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