Car Accident Lawyers in Middletown, CT

If there’s anything worse than a car accident, it’s the aftermath of a car accident. In case it wasn’t enough to be injured, without a vehicle, and stressed, you also have insurance companies hounding you. How can you possibly know if a settlement offer is fair when you haven’t even had time to process the accident, check out your repair estimates, or check out your medical expenses?

That’s where we come in to help. Our team is ready to learn more about your accident, determine the value of your claim, and figure out how to fight for the compensation you deserve. Set up a consultation with The Dodd Law Firm now by calling us at 475-275-8649.

Car Accidents Are on The Rise

Although car accident numbers dipped during the early days of the COVID pandemic, numbers are back on the upswing. There are many reasons for this—each year, there are more drivers on the road than the year before, making accidents more likely.

Distractions are far too commonplace, and a growing number of drivers comfortably admit to driving while using their cell phone or another device. On top of that, many people are just always rushing. Speeding and driving recklessly can significantly increase the likelihood of an accident.

Unfortunately, this means that you’re likely to be involved in an accident at some point in your life. Knowing your rights after a crash and what you can do to protect yourself is crucial.

What You Should Do After an Accident

It’s easy to spend the moments after an auto accident panicking. But if you can stay calm and remember these basic steps, you’ll be able to gather important evidence, get the medical care you need, and report the accident to the proper authorities. Follow these steps:

• Call and report the accident. Depending on the severity of the crash, you may report it to the Middletown Police Department or call 911. When you call, make sure to let them know about any urgent injuries that need immediate treatment.
• Take photos and video footage. Some types of evidence last forever—police reports, medical reports, and medical bills, to name a few. The scene of the accident is not one of them. If you wait to take photos, you lose the opportunity completely. Get multiple photos of the accident, including both cars from multiple angles, identifying signs and street marking, and all vehicular damage.
• Talk to the police. Make sure that you tell the police what happened. They cannot put it in the accident report if you do not tell them what you observed. You don’t want to risk the report only including the other driver’s side, as it’s likely that their side will not be entirely truthful.
• Seek medical care. Get to a medical facility as soon as possible for a thorough checkup. If you’re badly injured, you’ll likely be taken to the emergency room by ambulance. Otherwise, go to a nearby facility like Middlesex Hospital, Riverside Urgent Care of Middletown, or Priority Urgent Care.
• Reach out to an auto accident lawyer in Middletown. If someone else caused the accident, you’re likely entitled to compensation for your property damage and bodily injuries. However, you’ll need a personal injury attorney to fight for what you deserve.

Accident Laws in Connecticut

It’s important to know and understand local laws when filing a personal injury claim since personal injury laws differ from state to state. In Connecticut, you generally have two years after an accident to file a claim. If the liable party is a government entity—which may be the case if road defects or confusing signage were to blame for the crash—your case has a much shorter timeline, so it’s important to connect with an attorney right away.

Connecticut, like many other states, uses a comparative fault rule when determining if a partially liable party should receive compensation. If you are found to share some blame, you may still receive compensation. However, the amount you receive may be decreased in proportion to your share of liability. If you are more than 50% liable, you cannot receive anything.

How We Can Help You Fight for Fair and Full Compensation As Your Middletown, CT Injury Lawyers

Experiencing a car accident can turn your world upside down in an instant. Beyond the immediate shock and physical pain, you’re thrust into a maze of medical appointments, vehicle repairs, and mounting bills. The thought of adding “hire an attorney” to this overwhelming list might feel like an impossible burden. 

You’re physically and emotionally drained, perhaps even scared of the uncertain path ahead. In this state, it’s natural to believe that the facts of your case are clear-cut and that you can simply negotiate a fair settlement directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. After all, you were clearly not at fault, and your injuries are obvious. Why complicate things?

However, this assumption, while understandable given your circumstances, is one of the most significant and costly mistakes you can make when seeking compensation after a car crash. It’s crucial to understand that insurance companies are not on your side. 

Their primary objective is not to ensure you receive what you deserve; it is, first and foremost, to protect their bottom line. Insurance corporations are businesses driven by profit, answerable to executives and shareholders. Paying out substantial claims, especially fair and full compensation that truly reflects your losses, runs directly counter to their financial goals.

The Insurance Company’s Tactics: A Calculated Strategy

When you attempt to negotiate a settlement alone, you become vulnerable to a sophisticated arsenal of techniques designed by insurance companies specifically to diminish the value of your claim, or even deny it entirely. They are adept at these tactics, employing adjusters who are highly trained negotiators, not compassionate advisors.

• Delay, Delay, Delay: One common tactic is to delay the process. They might take weeks to return calls, request repetitive documentation, or put your claim “under review.” This isn’t just bureaucratic red tape; it’s designed to wear you down, hoping you’ll become desperate and accept a lowball offer out of sheer frustration or financial pressure.
• Blaming the Victim: They might subtly, or even overtly, attempt to shift blame for the accident onto you, even when fault seems obvious. They’ll scrutinize police reports, witness statements, and even your own statements for any shred of evidence they can twist to suggest comparative negligence, thereby reducing the amount they owe you.
• Minimizing Your Injuries: Adjusters often claim that your injuries aren’t as severe as you assert, or that they are pre-existing conditions unrelated to the accident. They’ll question the necessity of your medical treatments, the duration of your recovery, and the impact your injuries have had on your daily life. They might argue that a short course of physical therapy is sufficient, ignoring the long-term pain, rehabilitation, or potential need for surgery.
• The “Take It or Leave It” Lowball: Their first offer is almost never their best offer. It’s a calculated lowball, designed to test your resolve and your knowledge of your claim’s true worth. They might present it as a “final offer” or imply that if you don’t accept it quickly, you’ll get nothing at all, pressuring you into a hasty and inadequate settlement.
• Recording Statements: Be wary of requests to provide a recorded statement. While it sounds innocuous, anything you say can be twisted and used against you later to undermine your claim, even if you believe you are simply stating the facts.

The Perils of Going It Alone

Navigating these challenges without legal representation puts you at a significant disadvantage.

• Lack of Legal Knowledge: You likely don’t know the intricacies of personal injury law in Connecticut, the statutes of limitations, or the specific evidence required to prove negligence and damages.
• Underestimating Your Claim’s Value: Most individuals significantly underestimate the full extent of their losses. Beyond immediate medical bills and lost wages, a comprehensive claim includes future medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and sometimes even diminished earning capacity. An attorney knows how to quantify these less tangible damages.
• Missing Critical Deadlines: Legal processes are fraught with deadlines. Missing a filing deadline, for instance, can result in the complete forfeiture of your right to compensation, regardless of the severity of your injuries or the clarity of fault.
• Emotional Vulnerability: Dealing with an injury while battling an unyielding insurance company can be emotionally exhausting. This vulnerability makes you more susceptible to their pressure tactics and less likely to advocate effectively for yourself.

How We Help You Avoid These Tricks and Fight for What You Actually Deserve

This is where our dedicated team of Middletown, CT injury lawyers steps in. We help you level the playing field, avoid these insidious tricks, and fight for the fair and full compensation you genuinely deserve. From the moment you entrust us with your case, we become your unwavering advocate, handling the complexities so you can focus on your recovery.

• Comprehensive Case Investigation: Our process begins with a meticulous and thorough investigation of the crash. This involves:
  • Gathering Evidence: We immediately collect crucial documents such as police reports, accident reconstruction reports, medical records, and bills.
  • Securing Witnesses: We interview eyewitnesses and obtain their statements, often identifying individuals you might not even know were present.
  • Documenting the Scene: We collect photographs and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and your injuries.
  • Attorney Consultation: When necessary, we consult with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and economic experts to strengthen your case and accurately assess damages.
• Accurate Valuation of Your Losses: Once we have a clear picture of the incident, we meticulously evaluate all the losses you’ve suffered, both economic and non-economic. This comprehensive assessment goes beyond just current bills and includes:
  • Economic Damages: Past and future medical expenses (hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, therapies, surgeries), lost wages (both current and future earning capacity), property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident.
  • Non-Economic Damages: This crucial category accounts for your physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and permanent impairment resulting from the accident. Quantifying these can be challenging, but our experience allows us to build a compelling argument for their value.
• Building a Robust Case: With all the available evidence and a precise valuation, we construct a powerful and irrefutable case that clearly proves what you are owed. This includes preparing a detailed demand package that outlines fault, injuries, and all damages sustained, leaving no room for the insurance company to dispute the facts.
• Strategic Negotiation on Your Behalf: Once our case is built, we become the sole point of contact with the insurance company. We will:
  • Handle All Communications: Shielding you from harassing calls and intimidating questions from adjusters.
  • Demand Fair Compensation: Presenting our well-documented demand for full compensation.
  • Persistent Negotiation: Engage in strategic, often protracted, negotiations. We will reject lowball offers, counter with well-reasoned arguments based on evidence, and negotiate for as long as it takes to achieve a settlement that truly reflects your losses. We understand their tactics and know how to counter them effectively.
• Litigation Readiness – Prepared for Court: While we strive to settle cases out of court to spare you the stress of a trial, we are always prepared to go to court if negotiations are unfruitful or if the insurance company remains unwilling to offer a fair settlement. Our readiness to litigate sends a clear message that we are serious about securing justice for you.
  • Filing a Lawsuit: We will prepare and file the necessary legal documents to initiate a lawsuit.
  • Discovery Phase: We handle the discovery process, exchanging information with the opposing side, taking depositions, and responding to legal requests.
  • Trial Representation: If your case proceeds to trial, we will tirelessly represent you in the courtroom, presenting your case to a judge and jury, cross-examining witnesses, and fighting vigorously to secure a favorable verdict.

Our Commitment to You

Choosing our firm means choosing a partner dedicated to your well-being and justice. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us no upfront legal fees. We only get paid if we win your case, either through a settlement or a court verdict. This ensures that everyone, regardless of their financial situation after an accident, has access to legal representation. Our commitment extends beyond legal strategy; we offer empathetic support, transparent communication, and peace of mind throughout the entire process.

Choose The Dodd Law Firm for Your Accident Claim

Are you ready to start your accident claim and pursue the compensation you are owed? Let’s get started. Call our firmer at 475-275-8649 or connect with us online to set up a consultation now.