Following an accident that results in a catastrophic injury, recovering compensation from the liable party can be critical for covering your medical expenses and other related costs. A catastrophic injury can be incredibly expensive, and the effect on your day-to-day life can be devastating. Fortunately, an experienced New Haven catastrophic injury attorney can help.
At Connecticut Trial Firm, we know the challenges faced by catastrophic injury victims. Our team has a proven track record of winning big for our clients, including securing a $100 million verdict, which is the highest bodily injury verdict ever won in Connecticut. Reach out to us today to schedule your free consultation with one of our New Haven personal injury lawyers.
Steps an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Attorney in New Haven Will Take on Your Behalf
When you secure the services of a New Haven catastrophic injury lawyer, they will immediately get to work building your case to give you the best possible chance of recovering the money you need and deserve. With your lawyer handling your legal case, you will be free to focus on your health.
Your lawyer is likely to begin by conducting their own investigation into your accident. The aim of this investigation will be to gather evidence and prove the fault of another party. The steps involved in this inquiry will most likely include:
- Going to the site of the accident that caused your injury to take pictures, note down observations, locate potential witnesses, and collect copies of any available security footage
- Obtaining a copy of the police report
- Interviewing eyewitnesses about what they saw
- Consulting expert witnesses
- Going over your medical files that relate to your injuries
Once your attorney has completed their initial investigation, they will review all the losses you endured and calculate the full value of your claim. Your lawyer will then file the documents required to submit an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider of a personal injury lawsuit with the court before the deadline outlined in the state’s statute of limitations.
As they prepare your case for trial, your lawyer will also engage in negotiations with the opposition in an attempt to reach a settlement agreement. If no deal can be agreed upon before the pre-trial process has concluded, your attorney will fight for a favorable verdict at trial.
The Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side
When dealing with an insurer following an accident, you need to understand that these companies do not actually care about your well-being. Instead, insurance providers are focused on protecting their profit margins at all costs. In this pursuit, they will do whatever they can to deny or devalue your claim.
Insurance adjusters have a whole playbook of tricks they will attempt to employ in their attempt to minimize the amount of money you are able to recover. The best way to protect yourself is by declining to speak to a representative from the insurance company until you have hired a lawyer to represent you.
Once you have obtained the services of a New Haven catastrophic injury attorney, the insurer will be blocked from contacting you directly. Instead, all communication will run through your lawyer. This will help minimize the ability of the insurance company to take advantage of you and give you the best chance of securing fair compensation.
The Comparative Negligence Rule in Connecticut
When assessing fault and determining the eligibility of injury victims to pursue damages, Connecticut uses a comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, an injured party has the right to pursue damages as long as their level of liability is 50% or less. However, injury victims who share in the fault for their accident will not be able to recover the full value of their claim.
Instead, the amount they are able to pursue will be reduced in direct proportion to their level of liability. For instance, if it is determined that you were 20% to blame for the accident that caused your injuries, the most you could recover from the primarily liable party would be 80%.
With this example, if your damages are valued at $100,000, the maximum compensation you could recover would be $80,000.
The Majority of Catastrophic Injury Cases Are Resolved Through Settlements
When attempting to recover compensation following a catastrophic injury, you should know that the majority of these cases are resolved through out-of-court settlements. The reason for this is that settling is usually in everyone’s best interest.
Agreeing to a settlement deal means recovering money more quickly for the victim while avoiding unwanted media attention that could accompany a trial for the defendant. Furthermore, neither side will be at the mercy of an unpredictable jury.
However, you must still prepare your case for the courtroom. There is always a chance that you will be unable to agree to terms on a settlement, necessitating a trial. In this situation, having an attorney who is prepared to fight for you in court will significantly improve your odds of a favorable outcome while also increasing your leverage during settlement negotiations.
Get Started With an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Attorney Serving New Haven Today
When pursuing compensation after suffering a catastrophic injury, having an experienced attorney by your side will greatly increase your chances of getting the money you deserve. At Connecticut Trial Firm, we are committed to providing our clients with the best legal service available. As our name indicates, we are never afraid to take a case to trial.
Contact us today by filling out our online contact form or giving us a call and schedule your free initial case review with a member of our team.
