Bridgeport Personal Injury Lawyer

Bridgeport Personal Injury Attorney

If you were hurt in an accident that was someone else’s fault, having a knowledgeable attorney on your side could have a beneficial impact on your overall case and on the recovery you might seek. A lawyer can take the time to listen to your needs and goals and develop a personalized legal strategy that aims for maximum recovery in an efficient way. A Bridgeport personal injury lawyer can help you build a strong personal injury claim.

You might have to deal with insurance companies for your own claim as well as the companies representing any parties to the case, and you should be able to rely on your legal team for comprehensive assistance with all of your communications with insurance representatives.

An attorney can make sure your claim is handled fairly and that you receive a reasonable settlement offer. If necessary and a settlement isn’t achieved, an attorney can help build a personal injury case that focuses on the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.

Many cases can be resolved out of court, and this allows the parties to resolve their claims much faster than going through formal litigation. If you need to proceed to trial, you need an attorney you can trust who can advise you about your greatest chance of resolving your claims positively.

Types of Cases That are Considered ‘Personal Injury’ Matters

A personal injury case is any case where someone has been physically injured due to the wrongful actions of another. Common personal injury cases include, but are not limited to:

• Vehicle accidents (motorcycles, cars, buses, bicycles, boats, etc.)
• Medical malpractice
• Product liability
• Negligence claims
• Wrongful death
• Defective products
• Slip-and-fall accidents (premises liability)

A personal injury attorney can discuss your accident and whether you can file a claim in Connecticut.

Deciding Whether Your Accident Warrants Filing a Case

If you were physically injured by the wrongful actions of another, then you might want to consider a legal claim; however, not all cases go through the legal system, given the sometimes costly nature of litigation. Discussing your matter with an experienced personal injury lawyer is usually an important first step, and the attorney can explore the extent and full nature of your sustained injuries.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell right away whether your injuries are serious. However, if you wait to explore whether you have a valid claim, evidence can disappear, and your memory of the accident can fade. If your injury ends up being more serious than you initially believed, it could be difficult to gather all of the evidence you need for a strong and successful personal injury claim.

Deciding Whether the Severity of Your Injuries Lead to a Case

Connecticut laws do not address how severe an injury must be in order to file a claim. Practical considerations and the nature of the claim may dictate whether the costs to document the claim could be excessive and make the legal process prohibitive.

Although an attorney can advance costs for the case on your behalf, they need to believe the recovery value for your injury is enough to fully compensate you for your injuries and cover legal costs and fees. Even if your case seems simple, costs can be overwhelming if your attorney might need to work with professional witnesses for your case.

An attorney can estimate the amount you can expense for reasonable compensation and tell you whether they believe a claim would be successful based on your specific circumstances. An attorney with experience handling various levels of injury severity can also address your recovery. If they believe your claim has no merit or recovery might be difficult, they can explain this to you during an initial consultation and discuss your options.

Amount of Recovery Compensation for a Personal Injury Case

Interestingly, Connecticut does not have a limit to the amount of damages a jury can award for a personal injury matter. There are no laws that limit recovery except for a worker’s compensation claim. If your claim cannot be settled through preliminary negotiations, your recovery amount will likely be decided by a jury at trial.

Generally, a judge can explain to a jury that they can consider two types of damages to award: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are measurable and can include costs for:

• Current and future medical expenses incurred as a result of your injury
• Hospital stays
• Imaging and diagnostic testing
• Counseling
• Physical therapy
• Prescriptions
• Medical equipment that becomes necessary
• Vocational rehab expenses (for any life-changing disabilities from the accident)
• Expenses for equipment and modifications due to permanent loss of mobility, such as a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or remodeling your home to widen entryways and include necessary accommodations
• Home healthcare assistance
• Wage loss
• Lost earning capacity
• Lost employment benefits

Also, non-economic damages can be awarded. These types of damages are more difficult to calculate and are usually case-specific for things like pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of activities, scarring, disability, etc.

Of note, Connecticut does limit the amount of recovery for punitive damages, which are meant to punish the defendant and deter future wrongdoing or negligence. Punitive damages aren’t available in most cases and are usually only available in situations where the defendant’s activities were particularly deplorable or reckless. Punitive damages are usually limited to recovering attorney’s fees.

The amount of recovery you can expect depends upon your particular case. An attorney can discuss these forms of compensation and any other forms of recovery that might be available to you during an initial discussion about your case.

Documenting Your Personal Injury Damages

It’s vital to keep all important documents that might be related to your injuries and damages. Retaining these documents can help your attorney recover the maximum compensation for your injuries. Some documents are especially helpful to show the full extent of your damages. Be sure to hold on to documents regarding:

• Medical bills – including copies of all bills, treatment records, hospital invoices, emergency room visit documents, urgent care notes, doctor visit documents, prescription bottles, and pharmacy printouts.
• Lost earnings – including pay stubs, records to show missed days from work because of the accident, and statements reflecting any benefits you needed to use for work.
• Job duties – your work may be able to give you a letter detailing your job duties before and after the accident and can discuss whether your performance of basic job duties has been negatively affected following the accident.
• Property damage – any mechanics’ records, receipts from any auto body shops you visited that show vehicle damage, any receipts or documents that discuss any other damaged property like a purse, cellphone, laptop, tablet, etc., and receipts from any replacement items.
• Wrongful death – if the accident unfortunately resulted in the loss of a loved one, retain your burial and funeral receipts.
• Pain and suffering – detail the degree of pain you’re experiencing in a journal or request records from a doctor where you address your pain levels in order to be able to give a complete picture of your discomfort level.

Deciding Whether to Settle Your Case

If you receive a settlement offer that does not resolve your claim, another option to resolve your dispute is a trial. Attorneys can prepare your claim as if a jury trial is likely an eventuality. By approaching your case in this way, an attorney can make sure they are prepared for a trial and gather all information necessary to support your case, including working with professionals who have experience addressing cases like yours.

There are other alternatives to a jury trial, which include arbitration and mediation. Arbitration is a proceeding where the parties can agree on a neutral arbitrator who can decide on any issues in a dispute. Usually, an arbitrator is a retired judge or an experienced lawyer who is familiar with relevant Connecticut laws and has handled many personal injury matters.

Arbitration is a similar process to a jury trial, where evidence is presented in a conference room, and you testify about the accident and your sustained injuries. The arbitrator is the decision maker and usually provides a written decision following the conclusion of the arbitration proceeding. Usually, the parties agree in advance that the arbitrator’s decision is binding. You cannot appeal an arbitrator’s decision except under extremely limited circumstances.

Another resolution method other than a trial is mediation. In mediation, the mediator is usually a retired judge or experienced lawyer. Of note, mediation is not binding since the goal of the process is to facilitate negotiation between the parties. Also, your attorney usually presents the entire discussion of your claim, and you might not need to testify at all.

The parties go back and forth in negotiating with the selected mediator. Mediations can be successful in resolving disputes while also avoiding the anxiety and expense of going to trial. Mediations are without any obligation to settle, and the discussions are confidential. When attorneys and parties cannot agree on a fair settlement amount, but the parties want to avoid a trial, mediation can resolve a claim with the help of an experienced mediator.

Each method of resolving a claim has risks and benefits. An attorney can further discuss your specific case and provide recommendations about the potential options available to resolve your claim.

An attorney can provide care and attention to each client’s individual claim. The sooner you contact an attorney with experience handling cases like yours, the more time they have to build you a solid case to secure maximum recovery for your damages.

FAQs

Q: What Percentage of an Award Do Most Personal Injury Lawyers Take?

A: A personal injury attorney typically takes a specified percentage of the total recovery, but this amount shouldn’t be a surprise and should be included in your written fee agreement. Costs can be affected by:

• The case complexity
• The experience of the attorney
• The fee agreement
• The outcome of the claim
• Attorney expenses and administrative fees
• Other services required

Usually, a personal injury lawyer won’t charge anything unless they win the case, but you may negotiate the attorney charges before signing a contract.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Personal Injury?

A: In Connecticut, the personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date the injury occurs. If you do not bring your claim before the deadline, you usually lose the chance to recover any compensation. It’s vital to consult with an attorney quickly after a personal injury accident since an attorney can discuss all legal deadlines and also work to preserve any evidence that’s necessary for your claim.

Q: How Should I Deal With an Insurance Claims Adjuster?

A: Insurance companies typically put business interests above all else and don’t consider your interests (even your own insurance company). They’ll likely try to minimize your compensation as much as possible. When speaking with an insurance adjuster, keep your answers short and don’t offer unnecessary information. If you are asked for a recorded statement, discuss it first with a personal injury attorney.

An initial low settlement offer might be provided, and an attorney could handle negotiations with an insurance company to ensure you receive maximum compensation.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

A: The cost to hire a personal injury attorney in Connecticut depends on many factors, including:

• The experience level of the attorney you’re considering
• The number of hours they might spend on your individual case
• The complexity of your case, since usually the more complex the case, the higher the attorney costs might be.

You might find a Bridgeport attorney worthwhile for your personal injury case.

Contact Experienced Bridgeport, Connecticut Attorneys to Handle Your Personal Injury Matters

At Dolan Injury Lawyers, PLLC, our team can investigate your circumstances, and our attorneys can resolve your case as swiftly as possible. If you were hurt in a personal injury accident, contact the skilled Bridgeport legal team at Dolan Injury Lawyers, PLLC. Contact our office as soon as possible to set up an initial consultation and get back to moving on with your life.