Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer
Connecticut Car Accident Attorney
Experiencing a car accident can cause immense trauma for survivors. Not only are you dealing with the recovery of your physical injuries, but your mental ones as well. Taking on a legal case to hold the responsible party accountable for their behavior can be too much for one person to handle. A skilled Connecticut car accident lawyer can assist you throughout the entirety of your personal injury case.
Choose Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in Connecticut
During challenging times in life, you need a strong support system to help you seek a brighter future. The legal professionals at Suisman Shapiro have spent the last 80 years fighting for the legal rights of our Connecticut neighbors and community members. Our attorneys are honored to be a part of our clients’ support systems when they need it most.
We take injustices personally and have dedicated our professional careers to helping our clients take back control of their lives after experiencing traumatic events.
Let our skilled Connecticut personal injury lawyers take care of your legal case so you can focus on your well-being during this time.
The Reality of Car Accidents in Connecticut
Major highways in Connecticut include Interstate 95, Interstate 84, and Interstate 91. Between 2023 and 2025, there were 279,693 automobile crashes throughout Connecticut, with 671,549 residents being involved. Seven hundred twenty-nine of these crashes were fatal.
Crashes happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common ones can be easily avoided. This includes:
- Driving under the influence. Between 2023 and 2025, 7,624 crashes in Connecticut happened because of someone driving under the influence. This behavior is easily avoidable, yet continues to be a common reason for accidents.
- Driving while distracted. This includes texting, changing the music, talking on the phone, and eating. With the common use of phone navigation apps, distracted driving is becoming more common. Taking your eyes off the road for five seconds to look at your phone while driving at 55 mph is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field without looking. There were 5,318 crashes in Connecticut due to distracted driving in 2022.
- Speeding. In a country so reliant on cars for daily transportation, people often forget just how dangerous it really is. Speeding reduces reaction time, making it a common cause for accidents.
Knowing your legal rights after experiencing a car accident is key to your protection.
Steps to Take After Being in a Connecticut Car Accident
After being involved in a car crash, there are several important steps to take to preserve your health and future legal case. Be sure to:
- Call 911 to report the crash and seek medical attention, even if you feel physically okay. Certain injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, can take a while to present symptoms. Having your physical state officially documented at the time of the crash is pivotal to providing the court with evidence in your case.
- Collect the contact and insurance information of the other party involved in the crash. If they are not cooperative, it is important to stay calm. Arguing with them likely won’t change their mind. Wait for law enforcement to arrive and explain the situation to them. They can collect their information on your behalf.If the other driver attempts to flee before law enforcement can arrive at the site, take a photo of their license plate number and car make and model to give to authorities.
- Gather the contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Your attorney will be able to follow up with them later on to get their official statement. During this time, it is important not apologize or admit fault in the crash. Doing so will only be detrimental to your future car crash case.
- Take videos and photos if you can. You will need proof of your visible injuries and damage to your vehicle and other personal belongings, such as a cell phone or clothing. Include photos and videos of the crash site, including any skid marks or nearby property damage caused by the accident.
- Hire a car accident lawyer to help you file your claim at the relevant courthouse, and start the next steps in your case.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause severe injuries for survivors. These injuries can be traumatic and long-lasting, and even result in lifelong disability or chronic pain. Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage. In 2021, throughout the United States, there were 69,473 deaths related to a traumatic brain injury.
- Back injuries
- Whiplash and neck injuries. Whiplash happens when the neck is jerked suddenly during an accident, leading to varying degrees of neck pain. 88% of whiplash patients recover within two months, but a small percentage of patients can experience symptoms for up to seven years after the initial injury.
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns and road rash
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Broken bones and fractures
- Disfiguring scarring. Having to see a visible reminder of the accident can be incredibly damaging to a person’s well-being. They may experience emotional trauma and have to deal with daily interactions surrounding the way they look. Victims can seek damages to help recover compensation for any disfigurement.
- Loss of limbs and amputation
- Crush injuries. These injuries can be common in car accidents, where a heavy object can pin a person, leading to severe injury and even requiring amputation.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mental injuries can be just as damaging as physical ones. Victims of car accidents may experience long-term depression, anxiety, and fear of being in a car. Seeing a professional is nothing to be ashamed of and can help ease emotional pain.
Understanding Auto Insurance Laws in Connecticut
Connecticut law requires that every automobile insurance liability policy include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects people insured under the policy if they are involved in a car accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance or does not have enough insurance.
An insurance company has to pay uninsured or underinsured benefits after the at-fault driver’s available bodily liability insurance is fully used during settlements. This coverage cannot be stacked on top of other policies to increase the amount available after an accident happens.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Connecticut Car Crash
After a car accident, insurance companies will likely reach out to you to discuss the incident. While you do not need your lawyer with you, it is important to only provide adjusters with basic facts about the crash.
Don’t speculate or admit faults in the accident.
It can be helpful to write down what you plan to say before the meeting. Remember, these companies are looking for any reason to avoid paying. If you misspeak, even if you have good intentions, it will likely be used against you.
If the insurance adjuster asks you to make a recorded statement or answer their questions under oath, only do so with your lawyer present. They will be able to help ensure you do not say anything that can be misconstrued.
Evidence to Gather for Your Car Crash Claim
Victims of car accidents in Connecticut generally have two years from the date of the crash to file their legal claim. However, if they do not discover their injuries until after the crash, that two-year clock starts from the date of their discovery. There is a strict three-year final deadline for cases to be filed, even if you don’t discover your injury until later on.
While this timeline may seem long, it is vital to file as soon as possible. Preserving evidence becomes more difficult the longer you wait, making your chances of a successful legal claim lower. Your lawyer can exist in gathering and preserving:
- Relevant 911 transcripts and incident reports
- Copies of your medical records, detailing the extent of your injuries
- Eyewitness testimony
- Testimony from professionals about their opinion on what caused the crash
- Photos and videos taken at the time of the incident of the crash site, your visible injuries, and damage to your vehicle and other personal belongings
- Footage from dash cams, surveillance cameras from nearby businesses and residences, and traffic cameras of the accident
- Documentation of your emotional losses, such as notes from your therapist or testimony from your loved ones
- Documentation of your financial losses, such as your medical bills and lost income from work
- Any other proof that can provide clarity to the court leaning in your favor
How Courts Determine Fault in a Connecticut Car Accident Case
In order to determine how much compensation will be awarded to the victim and who will pay it, courts in Connecticut assign everyone involved in the car crash a percentage of fault. Any compensation awarded to you in your case will be reduced by your own percentage of fault, ensuring that the wrongdoer only has to pay what they are responsible for.
However, if you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the crash, you will not be able to recover any compensation. For example:
- If you were excessively speeding at the time of the accident, you may be assigned 30% of the fault.
- If the driver who hit you was texting and driving when they swerved into your lane, they may be assigned 70% of the fault.
- If you were awarded $100,000, it would be reduced by 30%, making your final settlement $70,000.
Types of Damages You Can Request in Your Car Crash Claim
During car crash cases, your lawyer will request a certain amount of compensation when filing your claim. This amount is based on your financial and emotional losses since the accident and resulting injuries. Victims of car accidents are allowed to request compensation to help them recover money for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability and disfigurement
- Their medical bills, such as medications, surgeries, mental health therapy, physical therapy, mobility aid devices, and medical supplies
- Lost income due to missing work from their injuries
- Damage to their vehicle
- Damage to their other personal belongings, such as clothing or a bag
Your lawyer will be able to help calculate the maximum amount of damages that can be requested in your unique situation.
Punitive Damages in a Connecticut Car Accident Case
Depending on what happened during the car accident, victims may be able to request punitive damages on top of regular damages. Punitive damages are awarded to victims when the wrongdoer’s actions are extremely egregious.
For example, if the driver who hit you during the crash was driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may have to pay punitive damages.
These damages, while helping to further compensate the victim, were designed to punish the guilty party and deter similar actions from happening in the future.
Your Connecticut car accident attorney can help determine if punitive damages can be requested in your case. Punitive damages are typically awarded to help victims pay for litigation and legal costs.
Mediation During Car Accident Cases in Connecticut
Before taking your case to trial, it can be helpful to attend mediation with the other party involved in the crash.
Mediation is overseen by a neutral third-party, called a mediator. They do not make any legal decisions during mediation sessions, but help all parties and lawyers involved in the case come to an agreement about their legal issue.
Mediation can help you save time and money, compared to a full trial. If you and the other party can agree, you will submit a signed agreement to the court for final approval. If you cannot agree, the case will proceed to trial, where a judge or jury will determine the outcome.
You will want to have your lawyer with you during mediation sessions. They can ensure your rights are not violated and add an extra layer of legal protection. Contact our Connecticut mediation lawyer for more information.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer From Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-At-Law
Contact Suisman Shapiro today to learn how our attorneys can assist you in your car accident case. We have years of experience helping Connecticut residents secure compensation after car crashes.
While compensation cannot take away the pain of what happened, it can help you recover your financial losses and hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. We help residents of New London County, Windham County, and Middlesex County get the justice they deserve.
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