Parties Who Could Be Held Liable for a Car Wreck
To determine who could be held liable for a vehicle accident case, our lawyers must carefully review everything that contributed to the crash. While the other driver often bears primary responsibility, multiple parties may share liability depending on how your motor vehicle accident happened. They could include the following:
- Vehicle manufacturers, who could be liable if a defective part caused the crash or failed to protect the driver and passengers during a collision
- Government entities, who may hold responsibility for dangerous road conditions, lack of road signs, or poorly designed intersections
- The driver’s employer often shares liability in commercial vehicle accidents, as several laws state that companies are responsible for the actions of their employees
- Bars, restaurants, and other establishments that serve alcohol, as Connecticut law says these places are responsible if they over-serve a patron who causes a car crash afterward
- Vehicle maintenance companies or repair shops could be liable if they were careless in their work, which, as a result, contributed to the accident.
We are committed to determining all parties who could be held liable for your accident, which could increase the amount of money you may recover.
Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for a Car Accident in Connecticut?
Even if you made a mistake that contributed to the car wreck, you may still be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
Connecticut law follows a “modified comparative negligence” standard. It says that you can still recover money even if you are partially responsible for the auto collision. However, your percentage of fault will reduce whatever compensation you would be able to recover.
As an example, if say you’re found to be 20 percent responsible for the car crash and your case value is $100,000. In this instance, you could only recover $80,000, which is 20 percent of the $100,000 case value.
An important thing to note is that you cannot recover anything if you’re found more than 50 percent responsible for the auto wreck.
In light of this law, insurance companies often try to shift the blame to accident victims to reduce their payouts. They may claim you were speeding, not paying attention, or breaking traffic laws. As experienced attorneys, we at D’Amico Pettinicchi know how to fight these arguments. By fully investigating each accident case we take, we can present evidence to accurately show how the other party (or parties) could be at fault for causing the collision.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Connecticut?
Connecticut law gives you two years from the date of the car crash to file a lawsuit. While this may seem like plenty of time, waiting too long can seriously harm your case. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and crucial documentation may become unavailable. In addition, some accident lawsuits may involve shorter deadlines, such as claims against government entities that repair roads or drive city vehicles.
Starting your car accident claim early also allows more time for a Watertown car accident lawyer to thoroughly investigate your case and prepare a solid argument. You tend to be more likely to get a fair settlement from an insurer when they know you have strong legal representation and sufficient time to build a compelling case.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Connecticut Lawyer After a Car Crash?
If you recently suffered injuries in a car accident, you’re likely dealing with substantial financial uncertainty on top of your physical injuries. Medical treatment can be costly, and if you’re unable to work while you heal, money can get very tight, very quickly. It’s reasonable to wonder about the cost of securing legal representation.
The good news is that many Connecticut car accident lawyers — including D’Amico Pettinicchi Injury Lawyers — work on contingency. This means you don’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation for you. Legal fees are a percentage of your financial recovery. We’re happy to go over our fee structure during your free, no-obligation consultation.
Car accident claims in Connecticut can involve crashes on major highways like I-84, I-91, I-95, Route 8, Route 7, Route 9, and the Merritt Parkway, as well as local roads, intersections, parking lots, and neighborhood streets. Whether the crash happened in Waterbury, Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Danbury, Torrington, or another Connecticut community, early legal guidance can help protect evidence and prevent insurance companies from undervaluing the claim.
Common Mistakes Accident Victims Make After a Car Crash in Connecticut
Whether it’s right after a crash occurs or during the days and weeks that follow, car accident victims face numerous decisions. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes after car accidents that can jeopardize their claims.
Here are some significant mistakes to avoid after a car accident:
- Apologizing to the other driver, which may be interpreted as an admission of fault
- Failing to take photos and videos of the accident scene
- Posting about the accident on social media or discussing it with third parties
- Failing to get medical treatment, attend follow-up appointments, or follow the doctor’s recommendations
- Speaking to insurance adjusters without legal representation
- Giving a recorded statement to the insurance company
- Accepting an initial settlement offer without guidance from an experienced attorney
Evidence to Preserve After a Connecticut Car Accident
In addition to avoiding common mistakes, it is important to preserve evidence as early as possible. Helpful evidence may include photos of the crash scene, vehicle damage, visible injuries, skid marks, traffic signals, roadway conditions, insurance information, witness contact details, medical records, repair estimates, dashcam footage, and any nearby surveillance video.
This documentation can help show how the crash happened, connect your injuries to the collision, and protect you if the insurance company later disputes fault or the severity of your injuries.
Understanding Connecticut Car Accident Laws
Several Connecticut laws can influence the outcome of a car accident claim. Some key rules include:
- Statute of limitations – Car accident victims generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident.
- Fault-based claims – Connecticut follows a fault-based system, so the driver who caused the crash is typically responsible for the resulting losses.
- Comparative negligence – You may recover compensation if you are 50 percent or less at fault for the crash, but your award will be reduced in proportion.
- Accident reports – You must promptly report any crash involving injury, death, or significant property damage.
- Insurance requirements – Connecticut drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, and $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage.
What Should I Do If the Insurance Company Contacts Me?
After a car accident, an insurance adjuster may contact you quickly and ask for a recorded statement, medical authorization, or settlement discussion. Be careful. You can provide basic identifying information, but avoid guessing about fault, minimizing your injuries, or agreeing to a recorded statement before you understand the full impact of the crash. It is better not to speak to an insurance representative until you have spoken to an experienced car accident lawyer.
A car accident lawyer can handle insurance communications for you, review settlement offers, and help protect your claim from being undervalued.
What If the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?
Connecticut requires drivers to carry minimum auto insurance, including bodily injury liability coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. But minimum limits may not be enough to cover serious injuries, future medical care, lost income, and long-term limitations. The Connecticut Insurance Department states that Connecticut minimum auto insurance requirements include $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may become an important part of the claim. Whether you have the proper insurance limits to be able to pursue an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim is a question that an experienced car accident lawyer can answer. These claims can still be disputed even by your own insurance company, so it is important to understand your rights by speaking with a car accident lawyer before accepting a settlement.
Can I Handle My Car Accident Case by Myself?
No law requires you to hire a car accident attorney in Connecticut. However, choosing to work without a lawyer may expose you to unnecessary risks. For example, insurance adjusters may use various tactics in an attempt to reduce their payout to you or dismiss your claim entirely. A skilled lawyer who has handled similar claims in the past and knows what to anticipate can gather evidence to counter any disputes you encounter. Put simply, legal representation can protect your rights and provide you with peace of mind during a challenging time.
Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents
Many types of accidents occur on Connecticut roads, including the following:
- Distracted driving is becoming increasingly common due to drivers texting, talking on phones, or engaging with in-vehicle technology (such as GPS units) instead of focusing on the road. These preventable accidents can result in serious injuries because distracted drivers often fail to hit the brake or move out of the way of oncoming traffic.
- Drunk driving accidents are a constant problem despite increased awareness and law enforcement efforts. Impaired drivers cause some of the most severe crashes due to their inability to react appropriately to changing road conditions.
- Uninsured accidents create additional complications for victims, as they may need to rely on their own insurance coverage for compensation.
- Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents involve complex insurance coverage issues, as multiple policies may apply depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash.
- Hit-and-run accidents require immediate investigation to identify the fleeing driver before evidence is lost.
Typical Injuries Resulting from an Auto Collision
Car accident injuries often lead to life-altering conditions that call for extensive medical treatment. However, even seemingly minor injuries can have lasting effects, particularly for older adults or those with pre-existing conditions. They include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries can cause long-term or lifelong cognitive problems, personality changes, and physical disabilities. These injuries often require long-term rehabilitation and may prevent victims from returning to their jobs.
- Spinal cord injuries are some of the most catastrophic outcomes of serious accidents. Depending on the location and severity of the car accident injury, victims may face partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifetime medical care and extensive home modifications.
- Neck and back injuries, such as herniated discs and whiplash, are common in rear-end collisions. They may require extensive surgeries and ongoing pain management.
- Broken bones, internal injuries, and severe lacerations can require multiple surgeries and extended recovery periods.
At D’Amico Pettinicchi, our legal team works with medical experts to fully understand and document all injuries. By looking at everything involved with your accident and what it’s done to your life, you can rest assured that we will fight for the money you need for all current and future medical injuries and expenses.
