A car accident can be a very difficult and traumatizing experience for you and the people who depend on you. You could endure tremendous injuries that sideline you for months. You might not be able to work and earn the money you need to pay your bills.
You shouldn’t have to suffer financially for an accident that wasn’t even your fault. Regardless of whether the accident was a minor collision or a catastrophic vehicle wreck, our Waterbury car accident lawyers are here to provide you with answers and guidance.
Our team at Law Offices of James A. Welcome has more than 40 years of combined legal experience, and we are one of the largest bilingual injury law firms in the region. Reach out to our Waterbury personal injury lawyers for a free initial consultation with our car accident team.
Settlements in Waterbury Car Accident Cases
The value of your case will depend on factors such as the extent of your injuries and how long your doctor expects you to be in recovery. Serious and catastrophic injuries can be worth millions of dollars, whereas less severe injuries may be worth thousands.
You might think the other party’s insurer will completely take care of your costs for an accident caused by their client. Unfortunately, a car accident insurance company often takes steps to minimize your settlement or deny you compensation in order to protect its own profitability.
Insurers may offer lowball settlements that won’t completely cover your damages, or try to blame you for the crash. It is important to understand the true and fair value of your motor vehicle accident case so you don’t accept a settlement that’s less than you deserve.
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Why You Need to Hire a Waterbury Car Accident Law Firm
When you hire a Waterbury car accident law firm, you level the playing field with powerful insurance companies. Aside from maximizing the financial outcome of your car accident case, we can also address your personal needs.
Your Waterbury car accident attorneys can connect you to top doctors in Waterbury and take care of the entire legal process while you focus on recovery. We will help you and your family get what you need in the aftermath of a car accident.
You should not have to deal with complex or expensive litigation alone.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Waterbury
Knowing what to do after a car accident can set you up for success if you decide to file an injury claim later on. If you were injured due to the negligence of another driver, winning an accident claim can help you recover compensation.
Consider these important actions if you have been in a car accident:
- Remain at the scene: Stay close to where the accident happened and try to make sure the other parties involved stay as well.
- Get to safety: If you are on a dangerous part of the road and are not too severely injured, try to move to the side and make sure everyone involved is as safe as possible from other traffic.
- Call the police: An official police report can help with your insurance claim and serve as critical evidence if your case goes to court.
- Give accurate information: Do not speculate on what happened. Tell the officer what you know. If asked about injuries, say you are not sure. Some injuries take time to surface.
- Take pictures: Take pictures of the vehicles, the road conditions, any present injuries, other people’s driver’s licenses, and any other important information.
- Get others‘ information: Make sure to get the insurance information as well as the name, address, and telephone number of those involved, as well as any potential witnesses.
- Report the accident: Notify your insurance company of the accident and discuss whether you have coverage for your medical bills. If so, you can submit your medical bills to your provider.
- Get medical treatment: Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, go to urgent care or visit your primary care physician to make sure that everything is fine. If an injury surfaces later, sometimes it can be difficult to prove that the car accident was the direct cause.
- Keep a file: Keep everything related to the accident all together in an easy-access location so you can have it ready to bring to our office, or to reference when dealing with insurance.
- Contact the Law Offices of James A. Welcome: Our personal injury lawyers can help with your car accident claim and make sure you are treated fairly from the start.
- Don‘t delay action: According to Connecticut’s statute of limitations for injury cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim in most circumstances.
At-Fault Insurance in Connecticut
Connecticut is an at–fault insurance state under Connecticut General Statutes § 38a-334 et seq. This means for a personal injury after a vehicle collision, you will file a claim with the auto insurance policy of the driver or person who caused the crash.
If you are not sure what caused your accident, our Waterbury car accident lawyers will investigate the collision. Our car accident lawyers can help you determine fault and prove liability using evidence such as a police accident report, eyewitness statements, and photographs and videos.
Every driver in Connecticut must carry a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance, plus $25,000 in property damage liability coverage. Liability insurance pays for another person’s medical expenses and property repairs after a car accident.
Modified Comparative Negligence in Connecticut
Connecticut is also a modified comparative negligence state, per Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h. This type of fault law means that even if you contributed to your car accident in Waterbury, you could be eligible for partial financial compensation.
According to state law, as long as a plaintiff is less than 50% responsible for an accident, they can recover financial compensation. The courts will reduce the plaintiff’s financial recovery by his or her percentage of fault.
For example, if the courts find you 20% at fault for a motor vehicle crash, you will only recover 80% of the award you would have been otherwise entitled to. Our car accident attorneys in Waterbury will hold the at-fault party liable when an insurer attempts to place the blame on you.
Proving Negligence After a Car Accident in Waterbury
To recover compensation for a personal injury after a crash, you must prove that another driver’s actions caused your injuries. You need to show that the other driver had a legal responsibility to drive safely, failed to do so, and caused your injuries as a result.
Acting quickly after a crash helps preserve evidence before it is lost or forgotten. An experienced legal advocate can collect and organize this information to present a clear, persuasive argument to the insurance company or the court.
Insurance companies may try to place more blame on you to lower what they owe. Our team pushes back by using the facts and evidence to protect your rights. We work to make sure your claim reflects what really happened and what you are truly owed.
Our Legal Team Will Manage Your Case
The other party’s insurance company will not waste any time reaching out to you. It is crucial to avoid engaging in conversation with the insurance adjuster and not to provide anything beyond the basics. You can tell the insurance adjuster:
- Where the accident occurred
- When it occurred
- The type of car you drive
Do not talk about your injury case, any medical treatment you are receiving, or how the accident happened. Our Waterbury car accident lawyers will handle communication with the insurance company on your behalf, so you can concentrate on getting better.
Common Causes of Collisions in Connecticut
Accidents can be caused by any number of factors, but some are far more common than others. Some of the typical reasons our car crash lawyers in Waterbury often encounter include:
Distracted Driving
When people think of distracted driving, they tend to think of cell phone use, but distracted driving covers a vast range of bad habits, including changing the radio station, speaking to a passenger, or daydreaming.
Speeding
Every day, drivers decide to push it over the speed limit because they are late for work, an event, or rushing to the scene of an emergency. Not being mindful of your speed may result in car accidents, leading to whiplash, catastrophic injuries, or even death.
Driving Under the Influence
DUI includes driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even prescribed medication. Before taking a drive, be sure to check that your medications do not cause drowsiness.
If you are drinking and need to travel somewhere, call a friend or family member to take you. Other options are taxis or any driving service that you trust.
Poor Road Conditions
In some cases, the driver is not to blame at all. If the road was not well-lit or there was a pothole that caused you to lose control of your vehicle and get into an accident, you may be able to sue the state for compensation.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accident cases can involve serious and life–threatening physical injuries. It may not be possible to fully recover from the injuries you sustain in an auto accident.
Some of the most common injuries from a car accident that require a personal injury claim include:
- Bone fractures
- Skull fractures
- Broken ribs
- Whiplash
- Muscle and soft-tissue injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Severe burns
- Lost limbs or decapitation
- Amputation injuries
- Fatal injuries or wrongful death
You may have grounds for a claim with any type of crash injury. Serious injuries can cost your family thousands of dollars in past and future medical expenses. Even a minor injury can lead to expensive medical costs and lost wages.
Damages in a Waterbury Car Accident Case
Our car crash lawyers in Waterbury will review your damages to understand the full value of your claim. While every case is unique, you may be eligible for compensation for losses in your car accident case, such as:
- Medical bills (existing and future medical needs)
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Damage repair or vehicle replacement
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Mental anguish or loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages
- Punitive damages
Once we fully understand what your claim is worth, we can represent you during negotiations with insurance claims adjusters or prepare for a trial, whichever option will garner the best results. We will advocate for your best interests every step of the way.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys in Waterbury
A sudden accident can bring tremendous hardship into your life in the blink of an eye. You may struggle to pay your bills when you can’t work, and you may struggle to care for the people who depend on you. That’s on top of the pain and suffering you’ll endure.
Our car accident lawyers in Waterbury will work towards the best possible outcome on your behalf. Since 2007, our team has advocated for injury victims and offered personalized and results-driven legal representation for injured individuals and families.
At The Law Offices of James A. Welcome, our team has received millions for Connecticut residents who were injured in accidents. Call today or fill out our online contact form to learn more about your options for pursuing a personal injury claim.
