When someone else’s negligence causes harm to you, we refer to it as a personal injury. The term “personal” describes the fact that it is an injury to your person, not to your property. The harm can be physical, emotional, or mental. However, to recover, you must demonstrate that someone’s action—or failure to act—led to your injuries.
The legal system awards “damages” to compensate you for your injuries. This allows you to recover financially and hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions. The process of filing a personal injury lawsuit can be complicated, but you do not have to do it alone. You can lean on a Litchfield personal injury lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC. We live and breathe client advocacy and care deeply about helping injured people reclaim their lives after an accident.
To understand negligence, you need to understand the concept of the “reasonable person.” How would a reasonable person act in the same situation? If the wrongdoer’s actions fall short of what a reasonable person would do, they may be considered negligent under the law.
However, it is crucial to note that the reasonable person standard is not universal, rather, it varies based on the specific circumstances of an accident. What is reasonable for a driver on the road differs from what is reasonable for a doctor performing surgery. Connecticut has various statutes that specifically address different types of negligence, comparing peoples’ behavior to others with the same training, expertise, and duty of care.
Some statutes apply a higher duty of care to certain situations. For example, under Connecticut General Statutes § 22-357, a dog owner or keeper may be liable if their pet bites you or your child—even if the animal was not known to be aggressive or to have violent tendencies.
To begin exploring whether you have a personal injury claim, our attorneys in Litchfield County will investigate the facts of your case. Did someone owe a duty of care to you? Did they breach that duty through action or inaction? Did the breach lead to an accident? Did the accident cause harm? If so, we can help you develop a strategy to get compensation for those injuries.
Once you have determined that you have a claim, the next step is to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the at-fault parties. In many instances, insurance will cover your injuries, and filing a claim with the insurance company is the first step in the process. In other situations, you may need to file a lawsuit.
Connecticut has a relatively common two-year statute of limitations, but the laws surrounding this can be confusing as different time periods apply to different types of personal injury claims. Many claims for personal injury are governed by Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 which sets two years after discovering an injury but never more than three years as the deadline; while claims against a city for a defective road or sidewalk require notice to the city within 90 days of the injury. Other provisions may lengthen or shorten the legal timeframe in specific scenarios. Additionally, some behaviors may toll—or pause—the statute of limitations.
You should never assume that it is too late to file a personal injury claim. Instead, schedule a free consultation with one of our Litchfield injury lawyers. We can tell you if you are within the statute of limitations and whether any exceptions apply to your case.
Many personal injuries are accidents, but just because no one intended to hurt you does not mean that they were not negligent. Filing a personal injury lawsuit is not always about punishing a wrongdoer. Sometimes, it is just about ensuring that the person who caused your injuries is the person who pays for it. Other times, personal injuries are because of reckless behavior, and holding the wrongdoer accountable may be part of your healing journey.
Our legal team is here to support and guide you. With decades of proven trial and settlement success, we know how to pursue compensation successfully. When you believe someone else harmed you, reach out to a Litchfield personal injury lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, to schedule a free—in-person or remote—no-obligation consultation.
