If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Connecticut, you must be able to prove negligence to get the compensation you deserve. Personal injury cases depend on showing that someone else’s carelessness caused your injury and subsequent losses.

This is where your lawyer steps in to help—having the right personal injury attorney by your side can make a significant difference in the strength of your case. Call The Dodd Law Firm at 203-272-1883 to set up a consultation right away.

Grasping the Concept of Negligence

In personal injury cases, negligence simply means that someone failed to act with reasonable care, leading to harm. In Connecticut, this concept is critical because it forms the basis of holding someone responsible for injuries. If you can show that the other party was careless and that carelessness caused your injury, you can pursue compensation.

For instance, if a driver doesn’t obey traffic signals and causes an accident, they could be considered negligent. The gray area comes into play when you consider what “reasonable care” is. You have to think about what an average, reasonable person would do in a given situation to minimize the risk of harm—and then compare those actions to what the at-fault party actually did.

 

Components of Negligence

To prove negligence, you need to establish four key components. First, you must show that the other party had a duty of care towards you. As an example, drivers must follow traffic laws to keep everyone safe on the road. Second, you need to demonstrate that the other party breached this duty. This may happen if a driver runs a red light, ignoring traffic signals. Third, you must prove causation, which means that the breach directly caused your injury. Finally, you need to show damages, which are the losses you experienced due to the injury, such as medical bills or pain and suffering.

 

What Are Damages?

In the world of personal injury law, it all comes down to damages. The term “damages” refers to your actual losses from an injury or accident. For example, in a car accident, you may have medical bills, vehicle repairs, or a totaled vehicle, and time away from work, among other losses. In a medical malpractice case, you may have medical expenses related to the incident itself and any further care needed to address the provider’s error, long-term care needs, and the loss of your ability to work.

 

Demonstrating Your Damages

To show your damages in a personal injury case, you need to provide evidence of your losses. Start by keeping all your medical records and bills, which can demonstrate the financial impact of your injury. If you missed work due to the injury, gather documents like pay stubs and employer statements to show lost wages. Besides financial losses, you can also claim damages like pain and suffering. In this situation, personal statements, doctor reports, and testimonies from family and friends can help illustrate the emotional toll the injury has taken on you.

 

Key Connecticut Personal Injury Laws

Understanding the laws in Connecticut is vital for handling your personal injury case. One key law is the statute of limitations, which sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. In Connecticut, you typically have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury claim. Missing this deadline generally leads to losing your right to seek compensation.

Another important law is the comparative negligence rule. This rule means that if you are partly at fault for the accident—up to a maximum of 50%—you can still receive compensation, but it might be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 20%. A strong personal injury lawyer can help you understand how these laws may affect your case.

 

Choose The Dodd Law Firm for Your Personal Injury Claim

If you’ve suffered a personal injury in Cheshire, the team at The Dodd Law Firm can help you fight for justice. Let’s discuss your injury and your next steps—give us a call at 203-272-1883 or send us a message online to schedule a consultation now.