Personal Injury Law in Hartford, CT
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Hartford? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Hartford, CT can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Hartford relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Hartford, CT
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Hartford
The Connecticut Department of Public Health states that injuries are a major cause of death and disability in Connecticut. Many people across the state every year die as a result of falls, suffocation, and motor vehicle traffic crashes. In Hartford, from 5 to 24 years of age, motor vehicle traffic crashes and traumatic brain injury are leading causes of unintentional injury and death.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Hartford, CT
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Connecticut
A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations, and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either a settlement or a court appearance. In Connecticut, like most states, it’s best to try to settle outside of court, and most cases do. However, if no settlement negotiations are successful, you will file a summons with the court. This summons will be delivered to the defendant for a fee by a State Marshall. This requires a response from the defendant that will lead to the lengthy discovery process and eventually, to trial. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and the factors that impact the final amount. Between 2008 and 2013, medical and work loss costs combined due to injury deaths alone were between $2.35 and 2.77 billion dollars per year, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. To help combat some unnecessary or excessive fees, the Connecticut Insurance Department recommends that you always know what medical facilities are near you, or where you work in Hartford, that are within your network. After compiling things like medical costs, and work loss costs, in addition to many other factors, your personal injury claim could become significant. If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in CT, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all. If your Connecticut personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. To compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. Connecticut does not have any damage caps on economic damages, such as medical bills, or noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering. However, the state does have a varying cap on punitive damages. The injured party in a personal injury case has a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit, as established by state law under the statute of limitations. Generally, the clock begins ticking from the date of the injury or its discovery. However, proving the discovery date can be complex, as it requires evidence showing when the plaintiff became aware of the injury. In Connecticut, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. This means that in Hartford, you have exactly two years from the date of the incident to file your lawsuit. Failing to act within this timeframe will likely result in your claim being dismissed. It’s crucial to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Waiting too long can jeopardize your ability to recover the compensation you deserve. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process and help ensure your claim is filed on time. Pursue a personal injury claim in Hartford against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Connecticut state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States. With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. If you still have more questions about Hartford law, we can help!Connecticut Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in Connecticut
Statute of Limitations in Hartford, CT Personal Injury Law?
Work With an Experienced Hartford, CT Lawyer
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