Hartford Left Turn Accident Lawyer

Left turns present a challenge in any driving situation, whether you’re the one turning or someone else is turning through your right-of-way. In any situation, these accidents can result in serious and debilitating injuries, as they often involve “t-bone” side impacts or a head-on collision.

While the costs of a left turn accident can be high, encompassing lost wages and vehicle repairs, in addition to medical bills, injury victims at least have one recourse: they can file an injury claim against the at-fault driver with the help of an experienced Hartford injury lawyer.

The associates at Bert McDowell Injury Law have years of experience overseeing auto damage claims. Lead attorney Bert McDowell even worked directly for insurers in the past, giving him a unique perspective on the factors that impact settlement sizes and a claim’s overall chances of success.

There’s no risk to you when you speak with us during your initial consultation, so call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online to schedule your free case review today!

How Can a Claimant Benefit From a Hartford Left Turn Driving Accident Attorney?

An accident can leave a victim with many repercussions, regardless of who caused the crash.

An attorney can take many of the most time-consuming and tedious tasks off of your hands while also raising the potential size of your eventual settlement.

When you retain the representation of a Hartford left turn driving accident attorney, you’ll gain the following:

• An accurate valuation of your accident’s damages: When you report the accident to the negligent party’s insurer, they will conduct an investigation into the events of the accident and review the damages that you have incurred. Then, they will compare this information to their policy and assign a value to the damages you faced. An attorney can carry out their own independent investigation to ensure that you are receiving a comprehensive damage valuation, including common costs that tend to be left out of settlement offers.
• Start to finish claim management: Your attorney will be able to handle deadlines, paperwork, communication with the liable party’s representation, and more on your behalf. Most claimants won’t have extensive experience with the claim process, so an attorney can help you ensure that every aspect of your damage recovery claim is orderly for the steps of litigation to proceed.

• Professional resources and legal advice: There is a lot of information out there, and a claimant could easily be misled or misinformed when trying to determine the best way to handle their own claim. When you have questions or concerns about your claim, your attorney can provide professional insight from their own experience and knowledge, offering advice for every situation.

• Help understand the laws surrounding your case type: An attorney can walk you through what Connecticut statutes may have an impact on your claim and how, as well as outcomes for cases similar to yours that could inspire the best strategy for your own unique situation.

• Support through negotiations for a final settlement: For many claimants, one of the most daunting steps is negotiating a final settlement. Even after damages are thoroughly investigated and documented, both parties must agree on the final value. An attorney can represent an accident victim through negotiations, combatting any attempts to lowball your claim.

• Preparation for a lawsuit if needed: Not every claim will reach this step, but in cases where the negligent party’s insurer and the claimant cannot reach an agreed-upon settlement amount, the accident victim may need to file a formal lawsuit to recover the cost of damages. An attorney will prepare your case for a possible lawsuit and jury trial, strengthening your hand while pressuring the other side to settle instead of deal with litigation.

What Mistakes Should an Accident Victim Avoid Making?

A crash event is always a shock. In this sensitive time, an accident victim may fall for common but harmful mistakes that could impact the value of their claim. Some actions can possibly put the entire claim at risk, so it is important to be aware of each precaution.

When filing a damage recovery claim with a negligent driver’s insurance company, a claimant should remember not to accidentally make these detrimental mistakes:

• Apologizing for the accident
• Waiting too long to complete important tasks
• Believing that the insurance adjuster has your best interest at heart

In any case, keep contact with the negligent party and their representation to a minimum, especially before you retain a lawyer. They will be recording each and every statement you make, and they may ask for information that is not necessary to handle the claim but that they could nevertheless use to reduce your available coverage.

Hiring your own attorney can allow you to avoid all of the above mistakes while delegating stressful conversations with insurers to their offices.

What Frequently Causes Left Turn Accidents?

Almost anything can cause an accident, but most left turn accidents are caused by driver error simply because of how much focus and attention is required to successfully cross through oncoming traffic.

No two accidents will play out the exact same way, but some of the most commonly reported factors that cause left-turn collisions include:

• Visual obstructions
• Misjudging the speed of oncoming vehicles
• Distracted driving
• Running red lights
• Speeding

Injuries Associated With Left Turn Accidents

A simple driving maneuver like turning left can leave a motorist with severe injuries. The NHTSA reports that there are roughly 6 million accidents at intersections every year across the U.S. and an overwhelming percentage of those accidents are left turns.

Left turns require more attention, and for good reason. There is more to observe when you are turning left, which means a driver has a higher chance of missing an important visual cue.

Data for how these turns affect Hartford, specifically, is sparse, but a study from San Francisco in 2019 showed that 40% of traffic deaths were related to left turns where the motorist overlooked a pedestrian, cyclist, or other vulnerable party in their way.

Some of the most common injuries that motorists who face left-turn accidents endure include:

• Head injuries, including concussions and other TBIs
• Neck injuries such as whiplash
• Shoulder injuries
• Collarbone breaks and fractures
• Chest injuries like broken ribs
• Internal bleeding
• Paralyzation
• Burns

What Damages Can I Recover From a Left Turn Accident?

After a left turn driving accident in Hartford, a claimant may recover a settlement award for a combination of the following:

• Medical bills, including the cost of continued treatment for serious injuries
• Physical rehabilitation
• Lost wages and compensation for future wages lost because of a new temporary or permanent disability
• Property damages, such as the cost of vehicle repair or replacement
• Compensation for emotional distress, pain and suffering, and mental anguish
• Mental health services, like therapy for PTSD

How Can a Claimant Prepare to File for Damages?

While having an attorney can be a valuable resource while a claimant walks through the process of settling their insurance claim, the following tips can be useful for claimants to keep in mind before they even file:

• Report the accident at the scene, cooperate with responding officers
• Document the scene of the accident with pictures and videos of property damage
• Immediately seek medical attention for injuries
• Be strict about following doctor’s orders regarding follow-up care
• Take photos of your injuries and the healing process
• Contact an attorney before talking with insurers

When working with our attorneys at Bert McDowell Injury Law, know that there is no cost for an initial case review.

Our firm also promises never to charge any upfront fees when handling left-turn accident claims. Instead, we work on contingency, which means that we will only take a small, agreed-upon percentage of the final settlement.

A Hartford Left Turn Driving Accident Law Firm Can Support You Through Your Damage Recovery Claim

An accident can be unpredictable and unavoidable but still leave you with consequences to bear. Taking on injuries, expenses, and other burdens because of another motorist’s mistake will feel frustrating.

Fortunately, a Hartford left-turn driving accident attorney can help you jumpstart your financial recovery — without sacrificing too much more of your own time and energy.

When you retain a lawyer, you gain a whole team of experienced professionals who want to see your claim succeed. The main objective of an auto accident injury law firm is to protect the present and future financial well-being of crash victims.

Your lawyer will do this by thoroughly investigating your case, documenting damages, and building a strategic claim with a high chance of receiving all appropriate damages from insurers.

The first step to finalizing a damage recovery claim with a Hartford auto accident attorney is to schedule an initial consultation. The team at Bert McDowell Injury Law has associates standing by to help you.

This meeting is a great chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and learn more about how the injury claims process works. To schedule your free in-person or online consultation with an experienced Hartford attorney, call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online today.