Connecticut Personal Injury Attorneys

The last thing on your mind as you begin your day is that you might get into an accident that could change your life. Sadly, thousands of people in Connecticut each year are injured in personal injury accidents. An unexpected injury can burden you and your loved ones with medical bills, lost wages, and more stress than you can handle. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help in a situation like this.

For over five decades, the injury lawyers at The Dodd Law Firm have been fighting for the interests of accident victims throughout Connecticut. Our law firm only works on behalf of the injured and their loved ones, not big corporations, or insurance companies. When you work with us, you’ll know that your interests are our top priority. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Claim?

During a personal injury claim in Connecticut, the responsibility to prove negligence rests with the injured party. This is why it’s essential to retain a skilled accident lawyer to handle your claim for you. Your attorney will have experience conducting accident investigations, dealing with insurance companies, and convincing a judge or jury to take your evidence seriously.

To have a solid personal injury case, you must be able to show four main elements:

1. Duty of care owed— The party at fault for your injuries owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident.
2. Duty of care breached— That same party must have carelessly or intentionally breached their duty of care.
3. Causation established— There is a link between the breach of duty of care and your accident.
4. Damages suffered— The damages you suffered were a direct result of the accident.

A skilled personal injury law firm will be able to create a strategy for your case with the best possible chance of success.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

The attorneys at The Dodd Law Firm focus their practice on representing victims of all types of personal injuries. We represent clients in cases involving:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Premises liability
• Dangerous products
• Dog bites
• Wrongful death

We also handle issues involving workers’ compensation and Social Security disability.

Compensation You Can Recover Through a Personal Injury Claim

If you’ve been seriously hurt due to another party’s negligence, you have likely experienced various physical, emotional, and financial challenges. You may be facing mounting medical bills, having to take time off from work, learning how to navigate life with some new limitations, or dealing with the emotional aftermath of an accident.

The losses resulting from an accident or personal injury are known as “damages.” The purpose of a personal injury claim is for you to hold the responsible party accountable through the recovery of full damages. Some of the things you may be able to collect compensation for include:

• Medical bills
• Prescription medication
• Future medical care costs
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Counseling services
• Pain and suffering

Additionally, when negligence or wrongful actions result in the death of a loved one, eligible survivors may seek just compensation through a wrongful death claim.

Connecticut Laws That Impact Personal Injury Cases

If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim, it’s important to understand the different ways the legal system may come into play. Specifically, Connecticut has several personal injury laws that could impact the outcome of your case.

Time Limits on Filing

Every state places time limits for filing a lawsuit called a statute of limitations. In Connecticut, you have just two years from the date of the accident to begin your case.

Comparative Fault

It’s not unusual for an insurance company to try to shift the blame in the injured party’s direction. Depending on the state’s laws, this could reduce an award or even allow for a claim denial. Connecticut uses a modified comparative fault rule, which reduces damages to the degree that the person was at fault. So, if you were found to be 10 percent at fault, your damage award would be reduced by 10 percent.

Dog Bite Cases

In Connecticut, a dog owner is considered strictly liable, regardless of the animal’s past behavior. Dog owners don’t get a pass for the “first bite” but may not be held liable if the person bitten was trespassing, abusing, or tormenting the animal.

Damage Caps

Some states place damage caps on personal injury lawsuits. Connecticut currently doesn’t have these caps. In fact, the state even allows punitive damages in medical malpractice cases, which can increase an award substantially.

Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you’ve been hurt through no fault of your own, you may think you only need to make a few phone calls or fill out some forms to get fairly compensated. If only it were that simple. Insurance companies are in the business of selling policies and collecting premiums, not paying out claims. You’re unlikely to get the fair and equitable treatment you deserve at a difficult time in your life.

A personal injury attorney’s role isn’t just for taking cases to court in Connecticut. Your lawyer can handle every aspect of your insurance claim, including negotiating a fair settlement agreement with the insurance company when the time is right. If your case does proceed to litigation, your lawyer will fight for your best interests in court, demanding maximum compensation for your damages.

There’s a common misconception that only wealthy people can afford an attorney. We believe you can’t afford NOT to have strong legal counsel in your corner. All of our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only charge a fee if we obtain compensation for you. You pay us nothing upfront.

We Work With Clients Across the State of Connecticut

Our experienced Connecticut personal injury attorneys are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. We serve the entire State of Connecticut and in these cities:

Middletown      Waterbury

New Britain      New Haven

Hartford           Bridgeport

Westport          Stamford

Norwalk           Bristol

Danbury          Meriden

Contact an Experienced Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you love was recently hurt in any type of accident in Connecticut, you may be entitled to compensation. The Connecticut personal injury attorneys at The Dodd Law Firm want to hear about your situation. At your free initial consultation, we will walk you through the entire legal process, from proving fault to achieving a full and fair settlement. Call our Cheshire office today at 203-272-1883 or contact us online to schedule your appointment today.

Connecticut Personal Injury Claims: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the general statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Connecticut?

Connecticut law establishes a strict two-year statute of limitations for filing most personal injury lawsuits under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584, beginning directly from the specific date the accident or injury occurred. Failing to file your formal legal claim within this standard two-year window will permanently bar you from recovering any financial compensation through the state court system.

How does the discovery rule affect filing deadlines for hidden or delayed injuries?

When an injury is not immediately apparent, the discovery rule allows the two-year filing period to begin on the date you reasonably should have discovered the harm. However, Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 enforces an absolute three-year statute of repose from the date of the actual negligent act, meaning no claims can be brought after that timeframe.

What is the legal definition of comparative negligence in the state of Connecticut?

Connecticut uses a modified comparative negligence system detailed under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h, which means injured parties can still pursue financial recovery even if they share some responsibility for the incident. The fundamental rule is that your individual percentage of assigned fault must not be greater than the combined percentage of fault attributed to all the defending parties involved.

How does shared fault impact the final financial recovery in a personal injury settlement?

If you are found partially at fault, your total compensation award is reduced directly in proportion to your exact share of blame pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h. For example, if a jury awards one hundred thousand dollars but determines you were twenty percent responsible, your final monetary recovery will be reduced to eighty thousand dollars.

What happens if a plaintiff is found to be fifty percent or more at fault for an accident?

Under comparative fault rules outlined in Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h, if you are assessed at more than fifty percent responsible for the accident, you are completely barred from recovering damages. Crossing that specific threshold eliminates your right to any financial compensation, making the precise allocation of fault by insurance adjusters or juries critically important to every single case outcome.

Are there caps on economic and non-economic damages in Connecticut personal injury cases?

Unlike many other states across the country, Connecticut generally does not impose any statutory caps on compensatory damages. This means that juries and insurance settlements can fully account for all measurable economic losses and subjective non-economic hardships, such as physical pain and suffering, without arbitrary legislative limits restricting the final amount.

What special notice requirements apply when filing a claim against a government municipality?

If your personal injury involves a defective public road or bridge, Connecticut General Statutes § 13a-149 requires that you provide formal written notice to the municipality within ninety days. For other types of municipal claims or injuries occurring on local government property, the strict written notice deadline is extended to six months from the date of the accident.

How long does an estate have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Connecticut?

When personal injuries tragically result in a fatality, the victim’s estate has two years from the exact date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-555. Additionally, state law mandates that this type of legal action cannot be brought more than five years after the original negligent act or omission occurred.

What specific requirements are mandatory when pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Medical malpractice claims in Connecticut require the plaintiff’s attorney to conduct a thorough pre-suit investigation and obtain a written opinion letter. This certificate of good faith must come from a similar healthcare provider confirming there is clear evidence of medical negligence before the official lawsuit can proceed in court.

What steps should an injured individual take immediately following a motor vehicle accident?

Immediately following any accident, you should prioritize seeking medical attention to properly document all injuries, as hidden trauma can worsen over time. You should also report the incident to local law enforcement, gather contact information from eyewitnesses, take detailed photographs of the scene, and avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters prematurely.

How are economic damages calculated in a typical Connecticut personal injury claim?

Economic damages are calculated by totaling all objective, out-of-pocket financial losses resulting directly from the accident and subsequent injuries. This specific category encompasses all past and future medical treatment bills, hospital expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and necessary property repairs or replacements incurred by the victim.

What factors influence the overall duration of a personal injury legal case?

The total time required to resolve a personal injury claim depends heavily on the complexity of liability issues and the extent of medical treatment required. Cases involving severe permanent injuries, disputed fault allocations, or multiple corporate and insurance defendants frequently require extensive discovery and negotiation, often taking many months or even years to reach a fair settlement.