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Car accidents can quickly become a nightmare. High speeds, aggressive swerving between lanes, and abrupt braking are just some of the negligent maneuvers that many careless drivers are guilty of each day.
Whether it is because they are running late or because they simply have no concern for those around them, negligent driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents.
Hartford drivers should know that they are not alone if a negligent driver strikes them. With the help of a car accident liability lawyer who knows Connecticut law, you will find the assistance you need to find fault and seek to prove liability for your damages.
The Bert McDowell Injury Law team has years of experience handling car accident liability cases, and we are ready to use our professional skills to help you. Get started today by reaching out to your local Hartford office when you call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online.
After being in a car accident, one of your first steps is to find a viable attorney to help with your claim. Insurance companies and negligent parties will do what they can to pay the least amount possible, even when they are liable — including trying to pay nothing at all.
Sometimes, they will even accuse you of being at fault, but know that when you work with a car accident attorney, they will help you fight it.
With multiple parties potentially involved and some refusing to pay compensation for your losses, having a legal professional by your side is often the key to reaching a satisfying settlement. Your car accident liability attorney will:
Your lawyer will take care of these new responsibilities so that you can focus on healing and returning to a normal life once more.
Like many states across the US, a statute of limitations was put in place for personal injury claims.
Car accident losses fall under personal injury law and must be filed before the limit of two years. Filing a claim as soon as possible is ideal for car accidents, as the liable parties and your attorney will want as much time as possible to negotiate before filing a possible lawsuit in the courts.
Although most cases are settled outside of court, victims should work with an attorney as soon as possible to optimize the time to reach an appropriate settlement amount. If you are worried about your case approaching the deadline, you can also explore your options for possibly having the two-year limit extended because of an extenuating circumstance, such as a late discovery of a serious medical condition related to your past crash.
You cannot file a claim unless you prove the other party was at fault for your injuries, and in car accidents, multiple people might be involved.
In these complicated cases, evidence must be thoroughly reviewed and applied in order to solidify who is liable for your damages. Through evidence, expert witnesses, eyewitness statements, and medical diagnostics, your attorney can use the information at hand to build your case, showing how your injuries resulted from one specific party (or multiple at-fault parties).
When approached with a claim, liability and compensation are acknowledged through a settlement agreement, where both parties agree that one party hurt the other and will compensate them for their losses.
Common forms of evidence used to establish liability include:
The police report documents details about the crash and the conclusion of the investigation completed by police officers. While they were not at the scene when the accident happened, they were trained and able to identify how an accident happened, the possible speed, and who was at fault.
Photos and video of the scene support a car accident claim. Photos show the extensive damage, where the cars were, and the conditions at the time of the collision.
In addition, some video footage can be essential to proving liability, especially if it captures the crash as it happened.
Bystanders, passengers, or anyone at the scene can serve as witnesses and provide a statement supporting your claim. Police often try to get information at the scene and have them discuss what they saw.
Since these are often people who were not in either car, their statements hold much value, as they are considered impartial third-party observers.
Especially in cases where there is pushback from the other party or your case is going to court, acquiring testimony from expert witnesses and medical records is key to supporting your case when going to court.
An expert witness is someone who is paid for their professional input and observations, most often connected to:
Medical records can serve as clear indicators that you suffered injuries from a car accident. They may include details of your EMT evaluation, ambulance transport, ER visits, hospital stays, testing/imaging results, medical appointments and co-pays, and medications prescribed.
When presenting medical records and diagnoses to your attorney, you must only include those related to the car accident. Make sure to include imaging and diagnosis, including CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays.
Medical experts like doctors, specialists, and staff can serve as expert witnesses in your claim. They are specialists who come to a diagnosis, determine proper treatment, and understand the impacts your injuries can have on your future.
During their statement, they will provide projections of future medical needs and treatments that further prove the cost and impact of your injuries.
Financial losses and strains are a result of car accidents. Victims will need to replace personal items, like clothes, repair or replace their car, rent a temporary vehicle, and incur significant medical bills.
Further, they will likely experience reductions in income while they are unable to work because of their injuries. These financial losses can have serious impacts on a victim and their families, especially when they are the sole earner in a household.
Economic experts step in to further explain why the losses requested in a claim are correct and how the compensation would offset their losses. These justifications include medical expenses, loss of wages, and the estimated loss of future earnings.
A car accident can happen in many ways. You might be in a parking lot, leaving your driveway, or commuting on the highway in the mornings.
In Connecticut, there were 284,624 accidents in the last three years.
Car accidents happen when drivers are:
When drivers enter the roadway, they take responsibility for their actions while on the road and should use them to promote safety for themselves and others. However, this is not always the case.
Proving liability after a car accident often comes down to establishing a primary reason why the accident occurred, often as a result of another driver’s negligent actions.
Distracted driving is one of the increasing causes of car accidents seen today. Drivers may be talking to passengers on the phone, texting, or even rubbernecking when another crash is in sight.
Drivers should always pay attention to what’s around them when they drive. In addition, driving while highly aware of your surroundings can help prevent an accident, even when someone else is disobeying traffic laws or otherwise not paying attention.
Understandably, one wakes up feeling groggy and tired, but getting behind the wheel when you are not feeling at one hundred percent is negligent and increases your chances of being in an accident. Drivers should do what they can to ensure they are awake and alert enough to be on the road.
Being tired impacts your ability to make decisions, react, and prevent crashes. If a driver finds that they are too tired to drive, they should pull over until they can drive with alertness.
Aggressive driving may lead to catastrophic results. Speeding, swerving, running red lights, and tailing are just some contributing actions to car accidents.
Aggressive driving is illegal because it puts everyone at risk. It also intimidates other drivers, making it difficult for them to make safe decisions to avoid an aggressive driver from smashing into them.
Connecticut recently implemented legislation to help reduce aggressive driving and promote safety among all drivers sharing the road.
While drivers are responsible for doing everything possible to keep the roads safe, so are the government agencies who maintain them.
Many public roads in the city are owned by Hartford County, the City of Hartford, or the State of Connecticut. Learning which agency owns the road is key to determining liability when a road defect leads to your crash.
In addition, requesting compensation from a governmental agency may require a different process, which means speaking to a lawyer as soon as possible is best.
Rain, fog, snow, and high winds are out of our control. But we must decide if the roads are too dangerous for us to use.
Drivers should adjust accordingly by slowing their speeds, turning on their headlights, or pulling over and getting off the road completely if that means they can prevent an accident. Driving too fast for conditions or without the proper precautions can constitute negligence.
Victims of car accidents face pain from their injuries, substantial property damage, and growing medical expenses in the aftermath of a crash. But these bills should not fall on you when the accident was not your fault.
Your case can become overwhelming when you are already responsible for handling your daily tasks, like dealing with injuries, attending medical appointments, running errands, and even doing things around your house. Painful injuries can limit your ability to complete these tasks or require help from loved ones.
If you were in a car accident and are in need of a financial boost from an injury claim, bring on Bert! Your local Bert McDowell Injury Law firm is ready to see how we can help you.
Give us a call today at (203) 633-7449 or complete our online form to schedule a free case review with an experienced Hartford attorney.