Waterbury Personal Injury Lawyer
Are you struggling with severe injuries after someone injured you in an accident? Worried about how you’ll pay your medical bills? Can you no longer work again after the accident, or do your injuries require you to find a new career? A Waterbury personal injury lawyer from D’Amico Pettinicchi can help you get answers to these questions and seek compensation for your losses.
The team at D’Amico Pettinicchi understands the challenges you face and is ready to fight for you. We’ve spent over 35 years representing Connecticut’s injured and earned a reputation for relentlessly pursuing justice. Our team has earned statewide and national recognition for our efforts, and we have dual board certification in civil trial advocacy and civil pre-trial practice from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
When It’s Time to Fight the Good Fight℠, D’Amico Pettinicchi has what it takes to help you win. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
What Can a Waterbury Personal Injury Lawyer Do for My Case?
You don’t need the hassle of a legal battle after suffering a severe injury. A personal injury lawyer in Waterbury can handle every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery. However, the attorney you choose can significantly impact the outcome of your case.
At D’Amico Pettinicchi, our team can investigate the accident, gather crucial evidence, interview witnesses, and work with experts to build a personal injury case on your behalf. We also deal directly with insurance companies and push back when they try to undervalue your injuries or deny your claim altogether.
Whether through negotiating a fair settlement or taking your case to trial, our goal is to help you recover full compensation for your lost income, injuries, emotional distress, and other losses. We won’t back down until we’ve pursued every available avenue to help you recover the resources you need. Contact us today for your free, confidential case review and discover the difference our lawyers can make for you.
How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
The key indicator of a personal injury claim is whether someone else caused your injuries. If you didn’t cause the accident — for example, if another driver hit you because they were distracted — you likely have grounds for a legal claim against them. A Waterbury injury attorney can review your situation and explain your legal options.
What Damages Could I Be Entitled to in a Personal Injury Case?
“Damages” is the legal term for the compensation you receive in a personal injury claim to make up for the losses you’ve suffered. Those losses include tangible expenses, such as medical bills, and intangible losses, like pain and suffering.
With help from an experienced and capable Waterbury attorney, your personal injury compensation could include money for the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced future earnings capacity due to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Damaged personal property (e.g., the cost to repair or replace your car after a crash)
Can I Still Get Compensation if I Was Partly to Blame for My Injuries?
Many people worry that they can’t recover compensation after an accident if they’re partly responsible for their injuries. Fortunately, that’s generally not true in Waterbury or Connecticut more broadly.
Under state law, your degree of fault for your injuries determines whether you can recover compensation. To recover compensation, you must show that your level of fault does not exceed the combined fault of the party or parties who caused your injuries. In general, that means you can recover compensation as long as your percentage of fault is 50 percent or less. The courts look at the available evidence to determine your share of fault and that of the other parties in your personal injury case.
If you are partly responsible for an accident but your degree of fault is 50 percent or less, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For instance, if you are 15 percent liable for the accident, you would lose 15 percent of the compensation that your case is worth.
A Waterbury personal injury attorney can collect and present evidence minimizing your role in an accident and help you maximize your compensation.
How Soon Should I Start a Personal Injury Claim?
It’s best to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately after an accident. Critical evidence can disappear within days or weeks, and you need a strong foundation for your case if you want to hold whoever injured you accountable. In addition, your lawyer needs time to build a compelling argument before the lawsuit filing deadline.
How Long Do I Have in Connecticut to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Connecticut law generally requires plaintiffs to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of their injury. You might have additional time if your injuries weren’t immediately obvious, but you shouldn’t count on it. Missing the deadline for a lawsuit means the courts will most likely dismiss your case, leaving you without the means to recover compensation for your injuries. This makes it crucial for you to contact a personal injury attorney in Waterbury as soon as possible, so they can file your lawsuit before the window closes.
How Long Does a Typical Personal Injury Case Last?
Every personal injury case is different, and the factors that affect the timeline are specific to the case. Some factors that influence the timeline of a personal injury claim include the following:
- Severity of Your Injuries – More severe injuries take longer to treat, and your case might not move forward until your condition stabilizes. Your lawyer may wait to file the claim or settle so you can accurately calculate your damages.
- Investigation and Evidence Gathering – Collecting records, witness statements, accident reports, and expert opinions can be time-consuming, especially in complex cases.
- Insurance Company Response – Some insurers respond promptly, while others delay or require extended negotiations, which can prolong the process.
- Whether You File a Lawsuit – The process is usually faster if your case settles before a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit can add months or even years, depending on the court’s schedule. If your case goes to trial, expect delays due to court availability, pre-trial motions, and the time required for preparation.
What Must Be Proven in a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury case usually involves proving that whoever hurt you acted negligently, meaning they didn’t take reasonable precautions to prevent the accident and your resulting injuries. Negligence comes in many forms, such as a driver who causes a crash while distracted by their phone or a careless property owner who fails to clean up a spill, resulting in someone falling.
If you aren’t sure you have a valid claim, it’s still worth talking to a lawyer. The Waterbury personal injury lawyers at D’Amico Pettinicchi offer free case evaluations, allowing you to explain your situation and have us assess your legal options.
What Are Common Personal Injury Cases?
Some common types of Waterbury personal injury cases include the following:
- Car Accidents – Drivers who speed, text behind the wheel, run red lights, or drive under the influence can be liable when they cause crashes that injure other motorists, passengers, or pedestrians.
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Slip-and-Fall Accidents – Property owners may be liable if someone slips on a wet floor, a broken step, or an icy walkway that they failed to repair or warn others about. These accidents often occur in stores, parking lots, or apartment buildings.
- Medical Malpractice – Doctors, nurses, or hospitals can be held liable if they make mistakes, such as misdiagnosing a condition, performing the wrong procedure, or failing to provide proper follow-up care.
- Dog Bites – Pet owners may be responsible when their dog attacks someone, especially if the dog had a history of aggressive behavior or was not properly restrained.
- Defective Products – Manufacturers, distributors, or retailers can be liable if their products injure users because they’re poorly designed or improperly made.
- Nursing Home Abuse
What Types of Injuries Happen Due to Personal Injury Accidents?
Accidents in Waterbury frequently cause severe injuries, such as the following:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – Severe brain injuries often result from car crashes, falls, or being struck by falling objects. Victims may suffer memory loss, mood changes, headaches, and long-term cognitive or physical impairments.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries are common in high-impact accidents like vehicle collisions or hard falls. These injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis and a lifetime of mobility challenges.
- Broken Bones – Fractures often result from slip-and-falls, car accidents, or workplace mishaps. Some breaks require surgery and extensive physical therapy, especially if multiple bones fracture at once.
- Soft-Tissue Injuries – Soft-tissue injuries include sprains, strains, and whiplash. These injuries are common in rear-end car accidents or slip-and-falls. The pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion from these injuries may last for weeks or months.
- Burns – Car fires, defective products, or exposure to caustic chemicals in workplace accidents can all cause severe burns. These injuries may cause lasting disfigurement, nerve damage, and emotional trauma.
- Lacerations and Contusions – Cuts and bruises happen in nearly every type of accident, including falls, dog attacks, or machinery incidents. Deep lacerations may lead to infections, scarring, or other long-term harm.
- Internal Injuries – Blunt force trauma from car crashes or falls can damage organs and cause internal bleeding. These injuries are often life-threatening without immediate treatment.
Contact a Waterbury Personal Injury Attorney Today
Suffering life-altering injuries due to someone else’s negligence can be devastating for you and your loved ones. Fortunately, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone, as we at D’Amico Pettinicchi are ready to help you find justice after an accident in Waterbury.
Our lawyers have a reputation across Connecticut for demanding maximum compensation from deep-pocketed insurance companies that prioritize their bottom line over accountability for their insureds’ carelessness. With a solid track record of success in the courtroom and at the settlement table, the corporate defense lawyers know we mean business.
At D’Amico Pettinicchi, we offer free initial consultations, so there’s nothing to lose by discussing your case with one of our experienced Waterbury personal injury attorneys. Call now or complete our contact form so we can hear your story.