A New Britain car accident lawyer is a handy assistant whenever you are involved in a car accident. The New Britain personal injury lawyers at Injured CT will ensure that you get your settlement claims made in good time. They will also press the insurance provider on your behalf, and you receive the amount that is commensurate with the damages you have incurred.
With a lawyer’s experience, you will not be turned down by the defendants’ efforts to understate the truth about the accident. Your case will also be presented more clearly, and the processing of your claims will be made much faster.
Getting involved in a car accident is something out of the ordinary, and your reaction to the incident will be different. Knowing what to do in the event of a car accident is essential. It ensures that you take the necessary steps to gather evidence and make the necessary reports. It is also a valuable way of getting yourself the treatment and first aid attention that you require.
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Connecticut Car Accident Statistics
In 2018, there were 276 fatal car accidents reported in Connecticut. These led to 294 deaths which translate into 8.2 deaths per 100000 population. These numbers are on the rise due to the following reasons:
- Distracted driving
- Over-speeding
- DUI
- Driving while fatigued
- Driving in unsafe conditions or an unsafe vehicle
They reflect the driving habits of drivers and the need always to have legal assistance at hand. If someone whose bad road habits cause an accident on the road, it is vital that you have somewhere to turn to for a legal course of action.
How Much does a New Britain Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
A New Britain CT car accident attorney usually operates on a contingency basis. These are the legal fee arrangements that make it possible for the lawyer to represent you. Most accidents cause you to spend a lot on medical expenses and hospital bills. With the contingency payments, you will be able to get legal representation without making any payments upfront. There is no retainer fee required under this arrangement, and you will only be required to pay once the lawyer has succeeded in getting your compensation for the auto accident.
The typical contingency rates for a New Britain car accident lawyer average between 25% and 40%, with most lawyers asking for a third of the settlement amount as their payment. If you are not comfortable with a contingency arrangement, you can always opt to hire a lawyer who will charge you at their rate. Hiring a lawyer means that you receive total compensation and pay them separately.
What Should I do After a Car Accident?
The moment an accident has occurred, make sure that you contact the police. Reporting the incident to the police enables them to make a record of it and start the investigation. They can also send some officers immediately to the scene in addition to medical service providers.
Never should you leave the scene of the accident. Leaving is likely to attract punitive damages as it is considered a criminal act and aggravates things for the other parties involved. The best thing you can do at the moment is checking on the other parties that have been involved in the accident. At this moment, you can exchange your contact details and insurance information with them. The information is beneficial for your settlement claims and makes the settlement more amicable.
Evidence of the scene will be beneficial, and as such, you should record the accident scene. Take as many photos of the damage as you can, remembering to take them from all angles. Doing so allows you to preserve a snapshot of the accident scene in a manner that will make court representation easier. Your case and insurance settlement will also be more accessible when there is something for the investigator to work with. Fresh evidence of the accident in its original state means that you have the best and most convincing form of evidence to present to the police and for your New Britain car accident lawyer to use.
You should also never admit to being the one at fault, no matter how bad the situation looks. Also, seek medical attention and ensure that your injuries are attended to. First aid is essential for all the parties involved in the accident as it ensures that they can stay alert and awake for long enough to report to the police once they arrive. It also keeps you in the right state of mind to handle the situation and take things as they come.
Finally, get in touch with a car accident lawyer and inform them of your condition. The lawyer is beneficial at this point and ensures that you have initiated a legal course of action that will ultimately ensure that your damages are paid for. It also helps inform your insurance provider about the accident and send in their private investigator. When you have all the relevant parties involved and the police have arrived, the rest is simple.
What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
The settlement for a car accident falls between $14000 and $28000, with the average settlement for most cases being $21000. For the accidents that cause more severe injuries or if the driver was found to be under the influence, your settlement will be significantly higher.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for my Auto Accident?
When you have been involved in a car accident, it is vital that your lawyer is one of the first parties informed. Informing them early keeps them aware of the event so that when you start with the legal proceedings, they can easily make time for you and take on your case. Informing the lawyer early ensures that you have enough time to prepare all the evidence and facts and file a car accident settlement lawsuit before the timeframe expires.
Benefits of Hiring a New Britain Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident lawyer is beneficial for preparing your case and ultimately filing the lawsuit. With their vast experience in the legal field, they will be in a better position to negotiate your settlement. Their skill makes it possible to negotiate more reasonable amounts for the settlement. The lawyer will also be better positioned to get you the best representation in court, and while you are away from the court, they will ensure that the court case keeps ongoing. As such, you get to push through and, as such, get paid for your damages.
Preparing you for the trial is something most lawyers are well-versed in. The lawyer will ensure that you are well prepared and know what you should expect once the case is taken to court. You will be prepped for the questions to expect and any tricks that the defendant might use to reduce the settlement amount. Lawyers are also skilled at overcoming challenges and barriers that are put in your way.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for my Damages?
When you have kept a record of the expenses incurred as a result of the car accident, you will be likely to receive a higher amount. A record of all the bills is required as well as a report from the police. In case the other driver was behaving erratically at the scene of the car accident, and if they aggravated the situation, punitive damages would be awarded to you.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
There are three main types of damage that you can recover when you file a lawsuit following a car accident. They include:
Economic Damages: These include the bills and medical expenses you incur while seeking treatment after the car accident. It also includes lost wages that you incur when you miss work following the accident.
Non-Economic Damages: The emotional trauma following the accident is considered to be damaged in itself. Suffering pain while recovering is also non-economic damage and can be compensated after being well-argued out in court.
Punitive Damages: The other driver’s unacceptable behavior can cause them to be charged more for the settlement paid to you.
How is Fault Determined?
The vehicle’s position and the state they are in are used to determine the guilty party in the car accident. The amount of damage that is meted out to both vehicles will also show which of the vehicles was going at an excessive speed, thus causing the damage. The insurance investigator looks at all the evidence to determine which insurance company will be paying for the damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
From the car accident date, you have two years within which the claim must be filed. Exceeding this duration means that you will be barred from filing the claim, and you will not receive your damages. Working with a lawyer will also ensure that you beat this deadline and have everything filed in good time.
How Can a Lawyer help me file my Insurance Claim?
Many years of experience in the car accident field mean that the lawyer has enough experience working with insurance companies. They will be better placed to get your claims filed better. All the legal documentation required for the claim will also be done on your behalf and gathering of evidence and facts to support the claim. The lawyer will also ensure that your claims are processed through the proper channels and do not get stuck in the system.
What Can I do if Insurance denied my Claim?
If the insurance company denies your claim, you can always appeal their decision. You can also take them to court and file a lawsuit against the insurance company or broker who was selling the premiums to you.
Do I have a Case?
Only a lawyer can determine whether you have a case or not. By looking at the events and circumstances surrounding the accident, they will tell you how much of a case you have. As such, you will be able to know whether or not to go ahead with the claims filing.
What if the other driver doesn’t have Insurance?
If the other driver does not have insurance, then your settlement will be handled by your insurance provider. An Uninsured Motorist cover is handy for taking care of such situations and can be added as an insurance cover. Then you have this cover, the uninsured motorist will be covered, and the damage that they cause will be paid for.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report?
Getting in touch with the police department where you reported the accident in the first place is one way to obtain a compiled report about the accident. You can also use the police website to search for your particular accident using its date and get the complete details in the form of a digital document.
A car accident lawyer is beneficial whenever you are involved in a car accident. They ensure that your claims are made in good time and negotiate the best settlement for your damages. Injured CT in New Britain, has the best lawyers for your legal needs. Experienced lawyers are always available to help your car accident case get the legal attention it deserves.