West Hartford Car Accident Lawyer

Whether you are driving on I-84, through your own neighborhood, or even in the grocery store parking lot, being injured in a crash is always a possibility. Drivers cause accidents regularly in West Hartford, resulting in injuries and losses to innocent people. If someone else caused a collision and you suffered injuries, you need help from a car accident lawyer immediately.

The legal team of Berman, Russo & Merwin handles car accident claims from start to finish for injured clients. We can evaluate what happened in your accident and determine who should be liable for your losses. Our West Hartford car accident lawyers take every possible step to obtain total compensation for victims for medical bills, lost income, and more.

If you would like a free case evaluation and consultation with our firm, reach out today.

Car Accident Liability

The law allows crash victims to seek compensation from liable parties. But what makes a party liable for your accident? Someone should cover your losses if they were negligent or otherwise share legal responsibility under the law.

Most car crashes happen due to the negligence of another driver. Some common types of driver negligence include:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Other aggressive driving behaviors
• Running traffic lights or stop signs
• Failure to yield
• Operating under the influence (OUI)

If a driver engages in one of these behaviors and causes your injuries, their insurance company should cover your losses. You will need to file a claim with their insurer and pursue a settlement, which requires presenting sufficient evidence of liability and your losses.

Drivers are not the only ones who might be liable for a car accident, however. Sometimes, entities or corporations can share liability. For example:

• Uber or Lyft coverage might apply for a rideshare accident
• An employer might be strictly liable for an accident caused by a negligent employee
• A vehicle manufacturer can be liable if a defective car or tire caused your crash
• A construction company or government entity might be responsible for dangerous construction or road hazards

It is essential for your West Hartford attorney to identify all possible liable parties after a car crash. Doing so can increase your chances of obtaining compensation that covers your total losses. Importantly, if your claim is against a government agency, you may only have a matter of weeks to file a notice of your claim. As a result, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can after any accident.

Common Car Accident Losses

You must demand enough compensation to pay for your past, future, and intangible losses. Once you receive a settlement, you cannot return to ask for more, so an accurate calculation of your damages is critical from the start.

Some damages are easier to calculate than others, and you need to consider:

• Medical expenses for treatment you already received
• Future medical expenses
• Lost income and lost earning potential
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Property damage

In many cases, non-economic losses like pain and suffering make up a substantial portion of victims’ total losses – and can also be the most complicated to calculate. For this reason, you should always consult with a lawyer before accepting a settlement offer. If you do not, you could be left with significant uncompensated losses.

Do You Need A Lawyer To Get Compensation?

After a car accident, you may be considering trying to handle your claim yourself. After all, most car accident claims are settled out of court, and if your case is not going to trial, you may feel like the easiest course of action is settling your case without professional assistance.

As an accident victim, it is critical to keep in mind that the other side is trying to settle your case for as little as possible. In fact, the other driver’s insurance company will gladly deny your claim if they can find any way to do so. Minimizing your losses benefits the insurer’s bottom line, and adjusters are trained to find ways to limit payments.

Some ways that they try and minimize the amount they pay out include:

• Starting with an extremely low initial offer to make later offers look better
• Attempting to categorize your injuries as pre-existing conditions
• Pressuring you to provide a recorded statement during which they try to trick you into saying things that can hurt your claim
• Misrepresenting the types of damages you are entitled to

Fortunately, by working with a lawyer, you can protect your rights and ensure that you obtain a fair settlement or award for your claim. A West Hartford car wreck attorney can evaluate your injuries and other losses and determine how much your claim is worth. Additionally, your lawyer will represent you in all settlement negotiations, making it much more likely that the insurance company will make a fair offer. If they do not, your lawyer will likely file a lawsuit to pursue damages on your behalf.

How Much Will A Car Accident Attorney Cost?

You may be wondering how much it will cost you to retain an attorney. There are no up-front costs associated with retaining a lawyer, as most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. Contingency fee arrangements mean that any legal fees that lawyers collect are contingent on the outcome of the case. If you do not recover any compensation, your lawyer will not make any money. If you obtain a settlement or award, your lawyer will take a pre-arranged percentage of your compensation. This type of arrangement ensures that anyone who needs legal help after an accident can get it.

Learn More From Our West Hartford Car Accident Attorneys

If you have suffered injuries in a car crash caused by someone else, there is a good chance that you are eligible for compensation. At Berman, Russo & Merwin, we know how to get victims like you the settlement or award they deserve and will only collect legal fees if we win your case.

Contact us or call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation with a car accident lawyer in West Hartford.