A car accident is no laughing matter. Aside from the potential physical injuries to all parties involved, there is also the chance that there could be financial repercussions, sometimes for years to come.
The best way to handle any car accident, even a seemingly minor one, is to find the best Bridgeport personal injury lawyer available in order to ensure that you and your family are protected. That is precisely why you need us, a Bridgeport car accident lawyer that can get the job done.
Car Accident Statistics for Bridgeport, CT
Car accidents have statistically been on a downward trend in Bridgeport for the last few years. For example, 15 fatal accidents occurred in 2016. By comparison, there were only three such accidents in 2019. Virtually all other types of accidents, serious or otherwise, are also down. This is good news, but it doesn’t mean that an accident could never happen to you or someone you love. When it does, it’s time to call us, as we are a leading Bridgeport, CT lawyer firm that has your best interests at heart.
How Much does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
You might be hesitant to hire a Bridgeport car accident lawyer after a car accident. Many people are. Unfortunately, a lot of individuals have the misconception that hiring such a lawyer will be too expensive. The truth is, it can be far more costly to refrain from hiring a lawyer.
This leaves you legally and financially exposed. If the other party involved in the accident decides to try and sue you for damages at any point, it could potentially cost you everything you work so hard to have. It may mean losing your home or not being able to send your kids to college.
In the end, it is much more financially responsible to hire a lawyer and ensure that you not only get everything that is owed to you, but that your financial health is protected.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Being involved in an accident can be frightening. As such, it isn’t always easy to know exactly which steps you should take immediately thereafter. That’s why we have developed a checklist for you.
Keep one in your car for easy reference. You can even keep it on your phone. Your first step is to call the police. Even if it’s a minor accident, make sure you call them so there can be a record of the accident.
This can help you if the accident was the other party’s fault and they come back and try to sue you later on. Whatever you do, do not leave the scene. Instead, check on everyone involved and make sure they’re okay. Remember to call 911 immediately.
Provided that everyone is okay, you can start to do a few other things while you’re waiting for police and medics. Exchange information but even if the accident was your fault, never admit that verbally or in writing.
Instead, contact us and allow us to handle that side of things. This is especially true if there were injuries involved. However, even an accident that seems like nothing more than a fender bender can come back to haunt you years later. That is precisely why it’s so important to contact the police, medics, and us right away.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
Your settlement will depend on a number of factors. For example, the severity of the accident and whether or not injuries were involved. There may be mitigating circumstances that allow your settlement to be much higher than you would otherwise think.
On average, most car accident settlements are at least several thousand dollars. Some range into hundreds of thousands. Again, your settlement will depend on whether or not any injuries were present, the severity of the accident, and why it occurred.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for My Auto Accident?
In reality, you should contact us right after you contact the police and medical personnel. Even if you don’t contact us on the scene, it’s best to contact us the same day that the accident occurred.
You don’t want to waste time and you don’t want to give the other party an opportunity to get ahead of things. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can start helping you.
Why do I Need a Lawyer?
There are a number of reasons that you need a Bridgeport car accident lawyer. It’s already been discussed that hiring a lawyer can prevent you from suffering severe legal and financial issues as a direct result of the accident.
There are also other benefits to hiring us. If the accident ends up going to court, you will need us for case preparation as well as filing a lawsuit. We can also help you with settlement negotiation. In a worst-case scenario, we can help you navigate the waters of trial preparation and representation.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you need us to protect your rights. If it was your fault, you need us to help mitigate the circumstances.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
This topic has already been discussed, but it’s worth mentioning that the amount of money you can expect to receive will vary depending on a number of factors. Were there any injuries? How severe was the accident? Why did the accident occur in the first place?
If you’ve been injured as a result of someone who is driving recklessly, you might receive much more than someone who is involved in a relatively minor accident. Every case is different. That’s precisely why you need us by your side.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Typically, you can recover economic damages as well as non-economic and punitive damages. In other words, another person who caused an accident in which you were injured may end up going to jail, depending on the circumstances involved.
At the same time, you may be able to get your car repaired or get a new car at no cost to you. You might also receive money for injuries and even additional funds for the trauma, both mental and physical, caused by the accident.
How Is Fault Determined?
This is why it is so important to contact the police as soon as an accident happens. They are able to use a variety of techniques to determine who was traveling at a particular rate of speed and who was at fault for the accident. These factors will allow them to paint a picture of the accident as it occurred in order to determine fault.
Can a Lawyer Help File My Insurance Claim?
We can also help you file a claim with your insurance. Even the best insurance companies are in business to make money. I have a tendency to not pay out any more than they absolutely have to. If there is any question about whose fault the accident was, they may not pay at all.
If you’re having problems getting a fair settlement or if your claim is denied in its entirety, we can help you. We can even walk you through the process of filing a claim or contact your insurance company on your behalf.
What If the Other Driver doesn’t Have Insurance?
If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you need our services more than ever. This can send you into a tailspin of financial issues because you simply have to rely on your own insurance to repair your car and cover the cost of any injuries.
If the accident was the other person’s fault and they don’t have insurance, you have a solid legal case and it’s time to contact us so we can start working on your behalf.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report?
By law, an accident report should be available to you after you request it from your local police department. You will have to fill out a form stating that you request the report and then wait for it to be processed in order to get your hands on it, but there should not be any issues getting the report itself.
However, it does help to have a good attorney on your side. In fact, it could speed up the process considerably when compared to trying to handle things on your own.
Contact a Bridgeport Personal Injury Lawyer at Injured CT for a Free Consultation
At the end of the day, even the most minor car accident can be devastating. You may be injured, but not realize that fact until later.
The other driver may be at fault, yet have no insurance. You may be the one at fault and need legal representation to help you through everything that is likely to occur as a direct result of the accident. Whatever the case may be, you should never hesitate to contact us.
We are here to work on your behalf, but we can’t do that until you contact us. Don’t risk your family’s financial well-being because of something that happened in a matter of seconds. Call us right away.