Suffering a serious injury can complicate your life in a variety of ways. In addition to receiving medical treatment and possibly being hospitalized, you could be looking at missed time from work, a permanent disability, and the inability to perform routine tasks. Getting back to full health is not always possible; even when it is, the road can be long and challenging.
If your injury resulted from the negligence or an intentional act of another, you could be entitled to compensation. The costs of an injury can add up quickly, and recovering damages can be essential to cover your expenses.
At Injured CT, we know the difficulties that an injury can present. Our team has decades of combined experience helping victims recover the compensation they need and deserve. Reach out to us today by phone or through our online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our Bristol personal injury lawyers.
What Your Bristol Personal Injury Attorney Will Do on Your Behalf
After hiring a personal injury lawyer, they will take a variety of steps to ensure you recover the compensation you need. Your attorney will take over every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on healing from your injury with the confidence that your financial future is in good hands.
Once hired, your attorney will immediately begin an investigation into the circumstances that caused your accident. Steps they are likely to take include:
- Visiting the scene where your injury occurred to take pictures and note anything of importance
- Obtain copies of any reports of the incident
- Speak with any eyewitnesses
- Consult experts
- Review your medical records relating to your injury
After completing their inquiry, your lawyer will determine the damages you are eligible to claim and calculate the value of your claim. They will then either submit the required paperwork to sue the liable party or file a claim form with their insurance provider.
Whichever path you choose, your Bristol personal injury attorney will complete all the required steps to help you recover the financial compensation you need and deserve. However, most personal injury cases end up settling before the process is complete.
Why Do the Majority of Personal Injury Lawsuits End With Out-of-Court Settlements?
When filing a personal injury lawsuit, the odds are that your case will never make it to trial. The vast majority of these lawsuits conclude with out-of-court settlements. This is because settling is typically in the best interest of both parties.
Taking a settlement deal provides the plaintiff with a much quicker path to recovering the compensation they require. Additionally, they won’t have to worry about the unpredictability of a jury trial. The defendant has the added benefits of paying less in legal fees and avoiding unwanted press coverage of a courtroom trial.
However, you need to keep in mind that it is still possible that your case will go to court. It is essential that you hire an attorney with a history of winning at trial. You may find yourself in a position where the liable party is unwilling to agree to a reasonable settlement deal, leaving you no other option than to attempt to secure the money you need in the courtroom.
The Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bristol
You must familiarize yourself with the corresponding deadlines when attempting to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit in Bristol. The Connecticut personal injury statute of limitations gives injury victims two years to file a lawsuit against the liable party. Should you miss this deadline, you could be out of options for recovering damages.
However, you may find that the circumstances of your case permit you to file a lawsuit even if the standard two-year deadline has passed. Alternatively, you could also encounter a situation where the details of your case place further restrictions on the amount of time you have to submit the required paperwork.
The best way to ensure you are aware of the exact deadline as it applies to your case is by hiring an experienced Bristol personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will review your case to determine your filing deadline and submit the necessary documents before time runs out.
Modified Comparative Negligence in Bristol
Connecticut employs a modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury cases. In this system, multiple parties can be assigned a level of fault for an accident. If you are determined to have been partially responsible for the accident that caused your injury, you may still be able to recover compensation, but the amount you will receive will be reduced.
As long as your fault level is 50% or less, you are still eligible to claim damages. However, the amount you can claim will be reduced proportionately to the level of liability you hold. For example, if your damages are worth $100,000 but you were 20% to blame, you will only be able to recover $80,000.
If your fault level exceeds 50%, you will be barred from recovering compensation and may find yourself in a position where another party is attempting to recover compensation from you if they also sustained damages.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Bristol Personal Injury Lawyer Today
After suffering a serious injury, hiring an experienced Bristol personal injury attorney will significantly improve your chances of recovering the compensation you need and deserve. At Injured CT, we have a long history of winning big for our clients in personal injury cases.
Our team will be with you every step of the way as we attempt to recover damages on your behalf. Contact us today by phone or by completing our online contact form and scheduling your free, no-obligation consultation. A member of our legal team will review your case, advise you of your options and answer any questions you may have.