Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accident Attorney in Connecticut, CT

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a car accident in Connecticut, you may not know what to do next. Whether your accident took place along I-84 in Hartford or you were on your way to New Haven, a car accident can leave you with life-altering injuries and mounting medical debt. An experienced Connecticut car accident lawyer can represent you today.

When you work with the team at Buckley Wynne & Parese, you get direct access to our senior partners. We know this is a difficult and traumatic time for you and your loved ones, which is why we prepare every case that comes across our desks as though it is headed to trial. Nothing surprises us, and we serve clients statewide. Connecticut is our home, and we are proud to offer you a free consultation to learn how we can optimally help you today.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Connecticut

Between 2023 and 2026, the state of Connecticut had 308,406 crashes, with around 580,659 vehicles involved, and 736,217 people impacted. If you find yourself injured in a car accident, there are certain steps to take that can protect both your physical safety and the safety of a future claim you may decide to file. These steps include the following:

• Move to safety and call 911. When a car accident takes place, the first thing you need to focus on is moving yourself and any passengers to a place of safety and calling 911. The police can also file an official report that can be used as evidence later on.
• Seek medical care. You need to get medical care after a car accident, even if you do not appear to be injured. You could have sustained invisible harm, like internal bleeding or organ damage, and a medical report can add an extra layer of credibility to your case.
• Document the scene. If you plan to file a personal injury claim, it is important that you or someone else document details about the scene and evidence right away. You should take images and videos of your injuries, the accident scene, and any damage to your vehicle.
• Exchange information. It is important that you, or someone acting on your behalf, gather the information of the at-fault party. This can include their basic contact information, their driver’s license number, their license plate number, and their insurance information. You should also collect the contact information of any witnesses, as their testimony can play a major role in your future claim.
• Make no recorded statements to insurance. When it comes to letting your insurance know about the accident, do not make any kind of recorded statement. Instead, provide them with the basic information and refrain from discussing fault. If the at-fault party’s insurance company tries to get ahold of you, do not offer them any information and instead let your attorney deal with them.
• Call a lawyer. Finally, it is crucial that you hire a Connecticut car accident attorney as soon as you can. Car accident laws in the state can be confusing, and it is important to have someone on your side who can help you better understand your rights and meet the mandatory filing deadline for injury claims.

Who Is Liable for a CT Crash and How We Prove It

A number of parties can be held liable for a car crash in Connecticut. These parties can include another negligent driver, a driver’s employer if the driver was working at the time of the accident, the actual owner of the vehicle, the local government body in charge of roadway maintenance, the manufacturer of a defective car part, or a repair garage that provided faulty or negligent maintenance on a vehicle.

Your attorney can gather evidence like the police report, related phone records, statements made by witnesses, black box data, and a reconstruction analysis to help you establish liability. At Buckley Wynne & Parese, our CT auto accident lawyers can help uncover liability in multi-vehicle crashes as well.

To prove liability, the following four legal elements need to exist in your case:

• Duty of care. Every driver on the road owes a legal duty to operate their vehicle safely and obey traffic laws.
• Breach of duty. In a car accident, the liable party breaches their duty of care through a specific act of negligence or reckless action. This might include speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. In 2024 alone, around 3,208 people were killed due to the actions of distracted drivers.
• Causation. Your car crash lawyer must then be able to prove a direct link between the breach of duty and the accident that produced your injuries.
• Damages. Finally, if you have sustained any measurable losses, your attorney needs to prove that those losses were a result of the accident.

Strong accident claims rely on evidence. In Connecticut, a car accident case can be difficult, but with our lawyers on your side, you can rest easy knowing that we won’t give up until every piece of evidence is uncovered.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

In the United States, over 6,500 people are killed in car accidents every day. When it comes to proving liability and recovering the compensation you deserve, one of the most important things to understand is the kind of car accident you were involved in. Doing so can help your attorney better determine who is liable and what kind of damages you might be able to recover.

Over the years, our firm has handled the following kinds of accident cases:

Drunk Driving Accidents

Across the United States, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is illegal. The reckless decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired places everyone else on the roadway in danger. If you were hit and injured by a drunk driver in Connecticut, our lawyers can help.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

When a car accident takes place in Connecticut, all involved drivers are required to stay at the scene and report the accident. Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents still happen. If you have been hit by a driver who fled the scene, an attorney can help you.

Fatal Car Accidents

At Buckley Wynne & Parese, we know that no amount of money will bring your loved one back to you after a fatal car accident. However, it can help you deal with some of the financial burden that follows your loss. In addition to medical bills, a fatal car accident claim may also help you recover funeral and burial costs.

Catastrophic Injury Accident

Catastrophic injury accident cases can include traumatic brain damage, severe burns, and spinal cord injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered any of these injuries in a Connecticut car accident, our attorneys can help you recover your due compensation and seek justice.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving is one of the deadliest causes of accidents in the nation. Whenever a driver does something that takes their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel, they are distracted. Common distracted driving actions include texting, eating, drinking, and adjusting the radio.

Uninsured/Underinsured Accidents

If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Connecticut, there are still ways of recovering due compensation. Your attorney can help you exhaust the at-fault party’s insurance coverage and then seek the rest of your necessary damages under your underinsured motorist coverage.

Connecticut Car Accident Laws You Must Know

There are a few Connecticut car accident laws you should understand when pursuing a car accident claim, including the following:

• Under Connecticut General Assembly § 52-584, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim.
• Modified comparative negligence. In simple terms, in order to recover monetary compensation, you cannot hold more than 50% of the fault in a car accident. The compensation you receive will be reduced by the percentage of fault you share. If you are 51% or more at fault, you will be barred from recovery.
• Since 1994, Connecticut has operated as an at-fault tort state. This means that drivers can seek compensation for a car accident from the at-fault driver’s insurance instead of their own.
• Connecticut holds certain insurance minimums for car accidents. All drivers are required to carry a minimum auto liability limit of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
• All drivers in Connecticut are required to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). This coverage financially protects you if you are hit by a driver who either has no insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for your damages.

Damages You Can Recover

When you are injured in a car accident, you may be able to recover different types of damages, depending on the cause of the accident and the extent of the harm. Damages can include:

• Economic damages, such as all related medical bills, lost wages, and necessary future care
• Non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of the enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages, including medical bills related to the death, burial and funeral costs, and loss of companionship.

Keep in mind that the more serious your injuries, the more damages you can potentially recover. If you sustain an injury that leaves you permanently disabled or requiring long-term care, the value of your claim can go up.

Why Choose Buckley Wynne & Parese

For over 140 years, the team at Buckley Wynne & Parese has sought justice on behalf of clients statewide. We have handled hundreds of personal injury cases in court and have recovered millions on behalf of those we have served. While past results do not guarantee future success, our senior partners can manage your case with the confidence and competence you deserve.

FAQs

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Connecticut?

A: Connecticut operates under a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that you only have two years from the time of your accident to file a car accident claim; otherwise, your case will be dismissed, and you will not be able to recover any kind of compensation. For this reason, it is essential that you hire an attorney right away.

Q: What if I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?

A: If you were partially at fault for the crash in Connecticut, there are still chances to recover compensation. Thanks to state law, if you share less than 51% of the fault in an accident, you can recover compensation reduced by the amount of fault you do share. However, if you share more than 50% of the fault, you will not be able to recover compensation.

Q: How Much Is My Connecticut Car Accident Case Worth?

A: The value of your Connecticut car accident case is dependent on the extent of your damages, the exact behavior of the at-fault driver that led to the accident, and whether or not you hold some fault. The more severe your injuries are—such as in the case of traumatic brain damage or spinal cord injuries—the higher your compensation is likely to be valued.

Q: What if the Other Driver Was Uninsured or Fled the Scene?

A: If the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene of the accident, you still have legal options available to you to recover due compensation. In these cases, it is wise that you reach out to an attorney as soon as you can. Our law firm can help you seek compensation through UIM coverage.

Q: Should I Talk to the Insurance Company Before Hiring a Lawyer?

A: No, you should not speak with the insurance company before hiring a lawyer. Right after the accident happens, reach out to an attorney who can represent you and protect your rights from any predatory or avoidant behavior of your insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance company. Your lawyer can take care of any communications with insurance companies.

Q: How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?

A: The costs to hire a car accident lawyer can vary from case to case and lawyer to lawyer. Several factors can significantly affect the costs associated with hiring an attorney, including the duration and complexity of your car accident case and the education, skill level, and experience of your attorney.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Connecticut Today

When the time comes to hire a Connecticut car accident lawyer, the team at Buckley Wynne & Parese is here to serve you. We invite you to contact us online or by phone today and schedule a free consultation.

Available 24/71-800-445-2278

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