Norwich Car Accident Lawyer
Norwich Car Accident Attorney
The damage that a car accident can do to your life can be extensive. There’s the financial damage, the property damage, and physical damage to your own body, but there is also a psychological toll that an especially bad accident can have on you. Throughout it all, you should surround yourself with people who want to help you, and an accomplished Norwich car accident lawyer can have a significant impact on the result of your case.
Arguably, the most effective step you can take for your car accident claim is to reach out to a law firm like Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law. Our knowledgeable legal team can support your claim, assist in building it up, and provide you with an experienced Norwich car accident attorney who is well-versed in Connecticut car accident laws. The sooner you hire a car accident lawyer, the more time you have to build a strong case.
How Does the Claims Process Work in Connecticut?
Moving through the claims process for a personal injury case on your own can be overwhelming if you’ve never gone through it before. Even then, it’s recommended that you have legal counsel by your side through every step. If you try to go through it alone, you could end up being taken advantage of by insurance companies or pressured into accepting a settlement offer that’s far lower than what you deserve. Here is a brief overview of how the claims process generally goes:
- It begins with hiring the right car accident lawyer who can protect your interests, represent your needs, and protect you from making mistakes. Without a lawyer’s help, the process can be frustrating and confusing. You want an accomplished lawyer with focused knowledge, empathy, determination, and experience handling cases similar to yours in the past, all of which you can find with Suisman Shapiro.
- Once you hire a lawyer and file your claim, the insurance company of the driver who is believed to be at fault launches an investigation. They go through the police report, review any evidence gathered by either party, and reach a conclusion about who is truly at fault. They may assign you some fault, but Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence system can still let you pursue damages.
- After the investigation concludes, negotiations begin. Negotiating your own settlement against the other driver’s lawyer can be intimidating, and a skilled attorney knows how to advocate for you and your interests with the insurance company. Don’t be afraid to refuse a settlement offer if you feel it doesn’t accurately reflect your situation.
- If no settlement can be reached through negotiation, the next step is going to trial in civil court. A jury then decides how much to award you in damages, which can be more than you might get through negotiation in some cases. Just make sure that your case is still inside the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Connecticut, which is two years from the date of the accident.
Car Accident Causes in Connecticut
Car accidents are not rare in Norwich. Collisions happen frequently in areas of high speeds and heavy traffic congestion, particularly Interstate 395 around Exits 11 and 13. Route 2 and Colman Street have their own high-risk areas that can be made even more dangerous by harsh weather or construction.
A car accident isn’t always the fault of negligence. It can happen because of a genuine mistake on a driver’s part or even an act of nature. You can pursue a personal injury case when an accident happens because of someone’s poor judgment, malicious actions, or negligent behavior. In that respect, there are several common causes of car crashes throughout Connecticut, which can include:
- Drunk driving. Regardless of the law, drunk drivers are still a common threat to road safety around the world, with Connecticut being no exception. Recent data from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) showed that alcohol-related crashes in the state killed 113 people in 2023 alone. If the other driver caused the car accident because they were drunk, you may have grounds for a legal claim.
- Distracted driving. Nationwide, distracted driving remains one of the most common reasons for car wrecks and road fatalities. Recent data from the NHTSA showed that nearly 3,300 people were killed as a result of distracted driving in 2023. It can be easy to become absent-minded while driving and not even think about everything that could happen. The slightest distraction can cause a traffic accident.
- Fatigued driving. Many people do not realize that being tired can be just as impairing as being drunk when it comes to getting behind the wheel. Being tired reduces awareness and reaction time, so even otherwise safe driving conditions can become a danger to the driver and others on the road.
- Reckless driving. Ignoring road signs, merging without signaling, and speeding are common examples of reckless driving. Additional data from the CTDOT showed that speeding alone caused 119 deaths in 2023. When this kind of recklessness causes a car accident, the reckless driver is likely to be assigned fault. In some cases, criminal charges may even be applicable, which can strengthen the claim of an injured party.
Protect Your Rights. Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
There are so many elements to a car accident claim that need to be addressed in order for you to receive compensation. To manage your claim effectively, you should hire a car accident lawyer to challenge the other driver’s insurance company and their team of lawyers. A skilled and compassionate car accident attorney can have a huge impact on the likelihood of getting the most positive outcome possible in your case.
At Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law, we have established a reputation in eastern Connecticut by being reliable, trustworthy, and driven. We’ve been dedicated to supporting our clients’ needs for almost 100 years, and our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. We can bring that history and perseverance to your case. Contact us to speak to a team member about your options.
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