Stamford Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should not be left suffering the consequences of someone else’s mistakes. Fortunately, the legal system does give victims a way to seek compensation for their losses: a personal injury claim. When you pursue an injury claim, you have the chance to demand fair compensation from the other party and be made whole.

The process of getting what you deserve through a Stamford, CT personal injury claim can be challenging, thanks to insurance companies that protect their bottom lines above all else. With the team at The Dodd Law Firm, you can fight for a settlement that covers your losses. Call us at 475-275-8649 to set up a free consultation right now.

Why You Need an Injury Attorney in Stamford, CT

Personal injury claims are often complex and overwhelming, especially when you are also recovering from injuries, missing time at work, and managing other consequences of an accident. It’s easy for your claim to get pushed to the back burner, making it less likely that you will receive the compensation you deserve.

This is where a dedicated personal injury attorney can help. We work to support people in Stamford and the surrounding communities. We understand how victims are often treated by insurance companies and how many are convinced to accept low settlement offers. The insurance company’s primary goal is not to ensure you have enough money for your medical bills and lost wages; they simply want to protect their bottom line. You need an advocate whose sole priority is to get you what you are owed.

The Role of a Stamford Injury Attorney in Your Case

An injury attorney in Stamford begins by thoroughly investigating your accident to determine who is responsible and  to understand the full extent of your injuries. This initial assessment is crucial for building a strong case. From there, they will evaluate the true worth of your claim and start gathering the necessary evidence. By the time they contact the other party’s insurance provider, they will have a clear understanding of what you should receive and what they are aiming for.

Most cases are resolved during negotiations. However, if the insurance company is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, your attorney will be prepared to take your case to court and represent you there. Having someone ready to litigate sends a clear message to the insurance company that you are serious about your claim and will not settle for an unfair offer.

Understanding the Full Scope of Your Claim with an Injury Attorney in Stamford, CT

Many people underestimate the full value of their personal injury claim. A settlement should cover all the ways the accident has impacted your life, not just the most obvious ones.

Compiling the Evidence To build a compelling case, an attorney must gather and organize a variety of documents and information. This process often includes:

• Medical Records and Bills: All records related to your injuries, from emergency room visits to physical therapy appointments, are essential. An attorney can help you collect these and ensure that nothing is missed. This includes bills for prescriptions, medical supplies, and even travel to and from appointments.
• Accident Reports: The official police report provides a foundational account of the accident. This document often contains key details about the scene, involved parties, and any contributing factors.
• Witness Statements: Eyewitness accounts can be powerful. An attorney can interview witnesses and collect their statements to corroborate your version of events.
• Photos and Videos: Visual evidence from the accident scene, including pictures of vehicle damage, your injuries, and road conditions, can be very persuasive.
• Lost Wage Documentation: Pay stubs, tax returns, and letters from your employer are used to calculate the income you have lost due to your injuries. This includes both past and future lost earnings.

Getting Fair and Full Compensation in Stamford, CT

There are several types of compensation you may be entitled to after a personal injury in Stamford, CT. A settlement often includes compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: This is frequently the largest component of a settlement. You can seek compensation for every bill you receive, the money you spend on transportation to and from appointments, and even over-the-counter supplies you buy for your care. This also includes costs for long-term care or future medical needs.
• Lost Wages: If you have to take time off work, you should be compensated for that. If your injuries are serious enough to affect your ability to work permanently, your attorney will also seek additional money to cover future income losses. This can include diminished earning capacity if you can no longer perform the same job you did before the accident.
• Property Damage: If your vehicle or personal property was damaged or totaled in the accident, a fair settlement should include money for that loss. This can cover repair costs or the replacement value of the item.
• Pain and Suffering: This is for the physical and emotional distress caused by your injuries. The amount you get for this depends largely on the seriousness of your injuries, as well as their long-term impact on your daily life. An attorney can help quantify this non-economic damage, which is often difficult for an individual to do on their own.

Protecting Your Rights Against Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are not on your side. Their business model is built on paying out as little as possible on claims. They have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job it is to minimize your settlement. They may use tactics such as:

• Delaying the Process: They might postpone responding to your calls and emails, hoping you’ll become frustrated and accept a low offer just to get the process over with.
• Lowballing Your Offer: They will often make a first offer that is far below the actual value of your claim, hoping you are unaware of what you are truly owed.
• Using Your Words Against You: An adjuster might try to get you to admit fault or say something that could be used to weaken your case during recorded conversations.
• Claiming Your Injuries Are Not Serious: They may argue that your injuries are pre-existing or less severe than you claim, even if you have medical documentation proving otherwise.

An attorney serves as a shield between you and these tactics. They handle all communication with the insurance company, ensuring that your rights are protected and that you do not inadvertently say anything that could harm your case.

Navigating the Legal Process

The legal system can be difficult to understand. From filing the correct paperwork to meeting deadlines, there are many procedural hurdles that can trip up someone without legal knowledge. An attorney handles all of this on your behalf, so you can focus on your recovery.

They manage the entire process, including:

• Filing a Lawsuit: If negotiations fail, they will prepare and file a formal lawsuit against the at-fault party.
• Discovery: This is the phase where both sides exchange information and evidence. Your attorney will handle depositions, interrogatories, and other information-gathering requests.
• Trial Preparation: If the case proceeds to trial, your attorney will prepare all the arguments, gather witnesses, and build a presentation to be made in court. They will represent you in the courtroom, presenting your case to a judge and jury.

By letting an attorney manage the legal complexities, you free yourself from the burden of learning a new system while you are trying to heal.

The Advantage of Having a Stamford Injury Attorney

Working with an attorney who is familiar with the local legal landscape in Stamford, Connecticut, can be a major advantage. They understand the local courts, judges, and legal professionals. 

This local insight can be invaluable during negotiations and, if necessary, in court. An attorney who regularly practices in the area is often better prepared to anticipate the strategies of the opposing counsel and navigate the specific procedures of the local court system.

Choosing to hire an injury attorney in Stamford, CT is a significant decision. You are entrusting them with a critical part of your future. It’s important to find someone who will be a dedicated advocate, focused entirely on securing the best possible outcome for you. They should be someone who will fight for what you are owed, allowing you to concentrate on your physical and emotional recovery.

Personal Injury Laws in Connecticut

The laws governing personal injury claims in Connecticut are intended to protect victims who have suffered injuries because of another person’s mistake or malice. However, they also strive to protect people from fraudulent or overblown claims, which is why there are limits on when and how you can take action against someone.

Connecticut, like many other states, follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine. This means that the victim of an accident can receive compensation if they are partially at fault. However, if they are 51% or more at fault for the accident, they cannot receive anything. This law serves to protect victims, since liability is shared to some extent in many cases. The victim’s compensation is also decreased proportionately to their share of liability.

It’s important to know the statute of limitations to avoid missing key deadlines and requirements. In Connecticut, a claim must be filed within two years from the date of the injury, the date when the injury was discovered, or the date when the injury should reasonably have been discovered. In the majority of cases, this simply means two years from the date of the incident. There are exceptions—if the defendant flees the state to avoid being sued or intentionally conceals their liability, the statute of limitations is paused.

Different Types of Personal Injury Claims

The Dodd Law Firm has handled a wide range of personal injury claims, giving us the in-depth knowledge and experience you look for in a law firm. Some of the cases we accept include:

• Vehicle accidents: Car, motorcycle, truck, and pedestrian accidents are tragically common in Connecticut and across the United States. Reckless drivers are usually to blame, with most wrecks caused by speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and other avoidable mistakes. The financial losses can be catastrophic, and we’re here to fight for the compensation you deserve.
• Premises liability: Property owners must keep their residential or commercial property safe for visitors and consumers. When they fail to light an area properly, perform basic upkeep on stairs and other fixtures, or clean up spills and other obstacles, they may be liable for any injuries that follow.
• Dog bites: Dog owners are expected to keep their dogs contained and under their control at all times. This means keeping them fenced or on a leash. When a dog owner loses control, either by intentionally letting the dog run loose or by accident, they can be held liable for any damage their pet causes.
• Defective products: Unsafe products are a massive problem in the United States, with most defective products not caught until someone is injured or killed. When a product is unsafely designed, manufactured, or marketed, we help victims recover what they’ve lost.

 

Why You Need an Attorney

Personal injury claims can be incredibly complex and overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with injuries, time away from work, and other consequences of your accident. It’s easy for your claim to fall to the bottom of your to-do list, making it less and less likely that you’ll ever get the compensation you deserve.

That’s why we strive to serve the people of Stamford and surrounding communities. We know how victims get treated by insurance companies and how many victims are conned into accepting low settlements. The insurance company doesn’t care if their offer is enough to pay your medical bills and lost wages—they simply want to protect themselves from a lawsuit and pay you as little as possible to make that happen. You need an advocate whose only priority is to get you what you’re owed.

We’ll start by thoroughly investigating your accident, figuring out who’s liable, and getting an understanding of your injuries. From there, we’ll determine how much your claim is worth and start compiling evidence. By the time we contact the other party’s insurance provider, we will know how much you should get and what number we’re aiming for. Most cases settle during negotiations. Should they be unwilling to negotiate in good faith, we will take your case to court and represent you there.

Getting Fair and Full Compensation

There are several types of compensation you may be entitled to after a personal injury. Settlements often include compensation for:

• Medical expenses: This is often the largest part of a settlement. You can ask for compensation for every bill you receive, the money you spend getting to and from appointments, and over-the-counter supplies you get for your care.
• Lost wages: If you have to take time off of work, you should be compensated for that. If your injuries are severe enough to affect your ability to work permanently, we will ask for additional money to cover future losses.
• Property damage: If you have a vehicle or personal property that was damaged or totaled in an accident, a fair settlement should include money for that loss.
• Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering can have a debilitating effect on your quality of life. The amount you get for this depends largely on the severity of your injuries.

Get Started Now—Contact Dodd Law Firm

Our team is ready and waiting to help you with your personal injury claim in Stamford. It’s easy to set up a consultation. Just call us at 475-275-8649 or reach out to our team online.