Dealing with the aftermath of a motor vehicle crash or other type of accident in Connecticut can be overwhelming – especially if you were injured or impacted in a way that may reveal injuries later.
Questions that commonly arise include:
- What should I do immediately after an accident?
- Should I speak with the insurance company before calling a lawyer?
- Do I really need a lawyer?
- How do I know if I have a personal injury case?
- How do I find the right personal injury lawyer?
Fortunately, the steps to take during this stressful time are clear, and once you connect with an experienced team of injury lawyers like those of Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner, they will take care of everything on the way to securing the highest level of compensation for you.
What should I do immediately after an accident?
The first priority after a motor vehicle crash, a fall in a big box store, or any other type of accident that leaves you injured is your safety and health.
- If you are able, move to a safe location.
- Call 911 if anyone is seriously injured.
- Call the police immediately after an accident to document the scene and file an official report – or notify the property owner/manager in the case of a slip-and-fall accident.
- See a doctor as soon as possible even if your injuries seem minor. Injuries like whiplash or concussions can have delayed symptoms.
- Take photos and videos of the scene of the accident, including the vehicles involved, the visible damage, and your injuries.
- Get the names and contact information of other drivers, passengers, and any witnesses – but don’t engage in conversations about what occurred, speculate about how the accident happened, or say anything that could be construed as admitting fault..
- Provide only the basic information required (name, insurance and contact information) to the other parties.
Should I speak with the insurance company before calling a lawyer?
Yes, you should notify your insurance company. You also should speak to a lawyer immediately. A skilled personal injury lawyer will help to navigate all the items below.
Most auto insurance policies contain a clause requiring you to report an accident or incident even if you weren’t at fault. Failing to notify your insurer could be considered a breach of contract, potentially leading to a denial of coverage later. Your lawyer can do all of this for you.
If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may need to file a claim under your own policy – and you must have reported the accident to access these benefits.
Most importantly, never speak to the at-fault party’s insurance company before speaking to a lawyer, give a statement to that company, or sign any documents sent by that insurer.
The goal of that at-fault party’s insurer is to settle claims for the lowest amount possible, and they will attempt to use anything you say to shift blame toward you and reduce the value of your claim.
The personal injury lawyer you retain can handle all communication and negotiations with the insurance companies on your behalf.
Do I really need a lawyer?
Yes. If you have suffered any injury and financial loss due to someone else’s negligence, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible – in part because the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Connecticut requires filing within two years from the date of the injury or accident.
The attorney will evaluate the facts and evidence and advise you about your options. Situations in which you should definitely get an injury lawyer include:
- You suffered injuries that required medical treatment, causing you to miss work.
- An insurance company is disputing fault or presenting a minimal settlement offer that doesn’t even cover your medical bills.
- The legal circumstances of the case are complex, which is often true in accidents involving truck accidents, workplace injuries, and medical malpractice claims.
- The state’s laws allow for shared fault for accidents and injuries. For example, under Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence law, you may be able to recover damages if you shared 50 percent or less of the responsibility for a motor vehicle accident.
How do I know if I have a personal injury case?
A successful personal injury claim generally requires proving four elements of negligence: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
- Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal duty to exercise a reasonable level of care toward you – such as following traffic laws and operating a vehicle safely.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant breached that duty of care by failing to act reasonably as prudent person would have under similar circumstances – such as running a red light.
- Causation in Fact: Your injury would not have occurred except for the defendant’s negligent act. For example, running a red light caused a driver to hit your car, causing your injuries. (There is also Proximate Cause: The harm suffered was a foreseeable result of the defendant’s negligence.)
- Damages: You suffered legally recognized damages as a result of the defendant’s actions. This typically includes medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
In determining the value of your injury case, an injury attorney will document the severity of injuries, the expenses due to the injuries, the impact on your life, employment status, future earning potential, and other factors.
How do I find the right personal injury lawyer?
Billboards for personal injury lawyers and firms line Connecticut highways and injury firm TV ads seem to air nonstop on networks reaching Connecticut audiences.
Finding the right personal injury legal team amid all that noise can be a challenge. While large firms with extensive advertising budgets might seem like an obvious choice, a smaller, successful injury law firm can often provide distinct advantages.
Here’s what an injury firm like Rome Clifford Katz & Koerner offers that many large firms may not.
- Personalized attention and direct access to your lawyer
- Specialized expertise and a focused approach
- More flexible and tailored legal strategies
- Trial lawyers who have tried numerous cases to verdict
- A focus on quality over quantity
- Proven successful track record of results over decades
Our attorneys offer a free consultation on all injury cases. It’s an opportunity not only to evaluate your case and discuss strategy but also for you to ask us about our experience, our outcomes, reviews and testimonials, as well as our fee structure.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle crash or in any other circumstance, call our award-winning injury lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 860-232-3000.
Those seeking a consultation about an injury case may also email Partner Alan Rome at arome@rckklaw.com, Partner Chris Sica at csica@rckklaw.com, and Partner Steve Katz at skatz@rckklaw.com.
From left, Partners Alan Rome, Chris Sica, and Steve Katz.
About RCKK Law
Rome, Clifford Katz & Koerner is a Hartford-based law firm whose attorneys collectively have nearly 100 years of experience in a wide variety of legal areas. Whether you are dealing with a motor vehicle accident, a Workers’ Compensation injury, or a Family Law matter, our skilled lawyers will aggressively advocate on your behalf. We represent individuals and businesses in Connecticut and throughout the New England states.