A car accident can be a very confusing and stressful experience. In most instances, the resulting injuries can be even more troubling. Besides the pain, you are left dealing with significant medical bills, unforeseen expenses, time lost from work, and the frustration of dealing with insurance companies. Our Connecticut car accident lawyer can help you out today!
If you have been injured in a Connecticut car accident caused by the carelessness or negligence of another person, you can count on our experienced legal team at Aeton Law to provide a helping hand. Call us today at (860) 724-2160 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
Car Accident Statistics
Car accidents are unfortunately common throughout Connecticut. The University of Connecticut’s Crash Data Repository shows that a total of 99378 car accidents occurred in Connecticut in 2021, which involved a total of 186,402 vehicles and 238, 442 people.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
The standard payment arrangement between clients and car accident lawyers in Connecticut is on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t have to pay anything to hire a car accident lawyer. The lawyer doesn’t collect attorney’s fees unless you obtain compensation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
In the aftermath of a car accident, do the following:
Contact Police
The first step you should take after being involved in a car accident in Connecticut is to call the police. The police will gather the information of those involved in the accident and prepare a report that you will need when filing an insurance claim.
Check on Other Involved Parties
Under Connecticut state law, you are required to remain at the accident scene until police arrive. You should also check yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and passengers in other vehicles for injuries. If anyone is injured, try to administer first aid and call 911 immediately.
Exchange Information
Gather the other driver’s information, including their full name, contact details, driver’s license number, insurance provider, and insurance policy number. You should also make note of the make, model, and color of the other vehicle.
Record the Scene
Photos and video footage of the accident scene, your injuries, and property damage is valuable evidence that can impact the outcome of car accident cases. So, use your phone to capture photos of everything that may be important.
Never Admit Fault
Never admit fault after being involved in a car accident even if the accident seems like your fault. If you admit fault, you risk not receiving any compensation that you may otherwise be entitled to receive.
Seek Medical Attention
Seek medical attention after being involved in a car accident even if you don’t have any visible injuries. You may have injuries that you aren’t aware of, but still require immediate medical attention. Only a licensed physician can verify that you were actually injured as well as the extent of your injuries.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer!
Call the experienced Connecticut car accident lawyers at Aeton Law as soon as possible after your car accident. The sooner you get our experienced lawyers involved, the higher your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve. Call us at (860) 724-2160 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
The average settlement for a car accident in the U.S. is about $19,000. The final amount, however, depends on the victim’s losses, the responsible party’s insurance policy, as well as the laws that apply to the case.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for My Auto Accident?
If any of the following apply to your situation, call a lawyer immediately:
- Any accident where a fault isn’t clearly established
- Any auto accident in a school zone
- Anytime you disagree with the police report
- Any crash in a work or construction zone
- Any crash involving another motorist, such as other cars, a pedestrian, cyclist, or truck
- Any accident that causes you or someone else significant injury
- Anytime insurance companies offer confusing answers to liability concerns
- Any crash involving an uninsured or underinsured driver
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
Here are the top reasons why you need a lawyer:
Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit
Car accidents typically involve an extensive amount of paperwork, which can be especially complicated and tricky. Your lawyer can take care of all the paperwork for you and make sure that everything gets to where it should be at the right time.
Settlement Negotiation
Your lawyer will negotiate a fair settlement for your injuries and losses. If the other party isn’t willing to agree on this amount, your lawyer will file a lawsuit. The vast majority of claims, however, are resolved with a settlement.
Trial Preparation & Representation
If settlement negotiations fail, you may need to go to court to resolve matters and your lawyer can provide you with aggressive legal representation. Your lawyer will fight for the most favorable verdict in your case.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
The damages you can expect to receive will generally depend on the extent of your injuries. In general, you can recover compensation to help you cover lost wages and medical expenses. You can also claim damages for your pain and suffering in a personal injury claim.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
You can recover 3 types of damages in any personal injury case:
- Economic Damages: Help to cover the calculable financial losses such as medical bills, lost income, and the cost to repair or replace your vehicle.
- Non-Economic Damages: Help to cover the losses that aren’t easily calculable in monetary terms such as pain and suffering, disability, or even death.
- Punitive Damages: Are intended to punish the defendant for their actions as well as reform the defendant or deter them or others from engaging in similar conduct.
How Is Fault Determined?
Car accident claims are typically rooted in the premise of negligence. To effectively establish negligence in your case, our Connecticut car accident lawyers at Aeton Law will collect evidence proving that:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care
- For example, to stop at a red light or drive within the speed limit.
- The at-fault party violated their duty of care
- For example, by speeding or running through a red light.
- The at-fault party’s violation of a duty of care caused the accident as well as your injuries.
- The damages you suffered such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. are all directly related to the accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Car accident victims have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a claim for compensation. The same 2-year period applies to both personal injuries and property damage. If someone suffers a wrongful death, however, the 2-year time limit starts to run from the date of the victim’s death from their injuries. This is known as the statute of limitations.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
A car accident lawyer does a lot behind the scenes to build a strong case for you and fight for your rights. They can help you:
- Investigate the details of the accident
- Gather all relevant information and evidence including police reports, witness statements, etc.
- Build and file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider
- Negotiate for a fair settlement should the insurance company try to lowball you
- File a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to negotiate
- Handle every step of the pre-trial process
- Represent you in court with the goal of recovering full compensation for you.
What Can I Do If Insurance Denied My Claim?
If your insurance carrier issues you with a denial letter, you should first determine why the claim was denied and talk to your lawyer about filing an appeal. You and your lawyer can use the insurance company’s reasoning to file the appeal.
Do I Have a Case?
To have a valid car accident case, the driver responsible for the accident must have acted negligently causing you to suffer compensable injuries.
What If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If you were involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you might still recover compensation for the injuries and losses you have suffered, either through your uninsured motorist coverage or by filing a claim against the at-fault driver.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report?
You have 2 options when it comes to obtaining an official accident report from Connecticut State Police:
- You can obtain the report from BuyCrash.com
- You can request a hard copy by mail in form DPS-96-C “Request for Copy of Report” and pay a $16 fee.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents in Connecticut can lead to injuries such as:
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Leg & Knee Injuries
- Facial Disfigurement
- Internal Injuries
- Head Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
The Connecticut car accident lawyers at Aeton Law handle a variety of car accident cases, which include but aren’t limited to:
- Hit & Run Accidents
- Head-On Collisions
- Distracted Driving
- Driving Under the Influence
- Rear-End Accidents
- Uninsured Motorist
- Speeding Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Rideshare Accidents
- Reckless Driving
Keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list; if you were injured in any type of car accident in Connecticut, get in touch with us to learn how we can help.
Have You Been Injured in a Connecticut Car Accident? Our Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer Can Help!
Car accidents can cost you your health, property, and future. If you or a loved one was injured by a negligent driver in Connecticut, the car accident lawyers at Aeton Law can help. We will investigate your case thoroughly and make sure that the responsible party is held accountable for your injuries and losses. Call us today at (860) 724-2160 to schedule your free consultation and case evaluation.