Bridgeport Personal Injury Lawyer

Were you in an accident in the Bridgeport, Connecticut area? Are you now suffering from serious injuries, with medical bills piling up?

If so, we can help.

As the most populous city in Connecticut, Bridgeport has over 148,000 citizens, according to figures from the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau. Established in 1821, the city is home to the Fayerweather Island Lighthouse, the beautiful Seaside Park, the Discovery Museum, and the Downtown Cabaret Theatre.

Unfortunately, in such a densely populated area, accidents happen every day. Data from 2010 to 2020 shows that “accidents” were the fourth-highest rankable cause of death in Connecticut. The accidents included transportation accidents, falls, drownings, exposure to smoke, and accidental drug overdoses.

If you or a loved one is dealing with a serious injury caused by an accident, you may struggle not only with medical recovery but with finances as well. If your injuries prevented you from going back to work, your financial struggles may reach a critical point.

At Chaffin Luhana, our mission is to help restore injured victims to wholeness in the Bridgeport, Connecticut area. When we take on your personal injury case, we put our decades of national experience to work fighting for you to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Personal Injuries in Connecticut

In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nearly 33,000 workers in Connecticut were injured or fell ill.  That year, Connecticut was among the 19 states that had an incidence rate of total recordable cases significantly greater than the national rate of 2.7.

The number of accidental deaths in Connecticut has seen a sharp increase in the past ten years, as reported by the Department of Public Health. These include unintentional poisonings, falls, and motor vehicle accidents. Other causes of injuries can be dog bites, medical mistakes, accidents on someone else’s property, defective products, or wrongful death.

Meanwhile, there were nearly 300 deaths on Connecticut’s roads because of car accidents, which was greater than the five-year average of 284. Over 1,500 people were injured.

When to Hire a Bridgeport, Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyer

When you’re dealing with an injury, it’s difficult to know whether you should hire a personal injury lawyer. When do you really need one?

If your property damage is minimal and you suffered no injuries whatsoever, you may be able to handle the situation on your own. If any of the following are true, however, you will be better off hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you.

• You can’t go back to work.
• Your injuries require ongoing medical treatment.
• You suffered severe injuries and are now dealing with long-term disability.
• You need help investigating your case and gathering evidence to prove liability.
• The insurance company is causing unnecessary delays.
• The insurance company denies your claim.
• The insurance company offers you a settlement that is below what you require.
• Your situation involves a defective product.
• Your case involves a government entity.
• You need help navigating the legal process.

A Bridgeport, Connecticut personal injury law firm can also help with the expenses of a personal injury case. They typically advance the legal costs, which means you pay only if you recover compensation.

Choosing the Right Bridgeport, Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyer

Finding the best Bridgeport, Connecticut personal injury lawyer for your unique case can be a challenge. There are many personal injury lawyers out there. How might you simplify your search?

This is an important task, as the right lawyer can help you get the compensation you need, while the wrong one may not have the experience needed to fight for your rights.

By taking the following steps, you’re more likely to end up with a personal injury lawyer who will provide the best representation for your case.

1. Research online.

You can find a lot of information about personal injury lawyers in your area by searching online. Do a simple Google search for “personal injury attorney in Bridgeport, Connecticut.” Local attorneys will be more familiar with local and state laws that may affect your case.

Besides search engines, you can also use online legal directories to find attorneys with experience in your type of case. Lawyers.com, Enjuris.com, Lawinfo.com, and Personalinjurylaw.guru are examples of such directories.

2. Look for certain characteristics.

As you search online, look for the following qualifications:

• Experience handling your type of case (premise liability, dog bites, car accidents, etc.)
• Credentials and track record of the law firm—have they recovered sufficient settlements for their clients?
• Testimonials
• Trial experience
• Recognition in the form of awards, leadership in personal injury litigation, membership in legal associations, etc.

An experienced lawyer will know how to manage the complexities of Connecticut law, how to deal with insurance companies, what evidence will be important to your case and how to gather it, how to properly calculate compensation, and what questions to ask experts and witnesses.

A reputable law firm will also have the resources you need to present your case in the best light. These include access to a network of experts who can help strengthen your case, as well as a deep knowledge of which cases to reference and laws to evoke to support your position.

Finally, look for an attorney who has experience going to trial. Most personal injury cases are solved in the negotiating room. That’s often good for injured victims, as it may allow them to get a settlement sooner. But it also means that many lawyers lack trial experience. A lawyer with clout in the courtroom is more likely to have the negotiating power you need to get the compensation you deserve.

Chaffin Luhana offers a free initial consultation.

3. Talk to Chaffin Luhana.

During your initial meeting, ask about our history with cases like yours. Find out what their fees are, what staff members may be involved in your case, and what additional resources they offer.

Why Choose Our Bridgeport, Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyers

Chaffin Luhana is a plaintiffs-only law firm, which means we focus solely on representing injured victims. We’ve been doing that for over 13 years, during which our hard-working team has recovered over $1 billion for our clients.

You may find that some law firms divide their time between personal injury and other types of cases. We don’t defend lawsuits on behalf of corporations and we don’t represent insurance companies. Instead, we bring cases on behalf of individuals like you who have been injured and suffered serious losses in life.

Our Experience and Expertise

At Chaffin Luhana, we have an entire team of law professionals working for you. That includes highly experienced personal injury lawyers, an on-staff social worker, mass-tort managing experts, medical records specialists and nurse paralegals, former state and federal judicial law clerks, court-appointed leaders in the National Plaintiffs’ Bar, and more.

Our founders—Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana—have both achieved multimillion-dollar recoveries for our clients. Both have held leadership positions in large, multi-district litigation and have litigated several significant nationwide class actions.

With our combined expertise, we have achieved extraordinary results for our clients in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, personal injury litigation, product liability litigation, and more in state and federal courts across the country.

Several of our lawyers, including both of our founders, have received repeated nominations to the esteemed “Super Lawyers” list. This is a prestigious listing of outstanding attorneys selected each year by the Super Lawyers’ research staff. Through a multi-phase rating process, they select those attorneys best able to assist consumers.

Our Approach to Personal Injury Law

We focus on plaintiffs only, which has allowed us to fine-tune our process to improve your odds of winning your case.

We Communicate

Some lawyers take forever to get back to you, leaving you waiting and worrying about your case.

At Chaffin Luhana, we keep you up to date throughout the legal process. We also give you a myriad of ways to get ahold of us by phone, email, printed letter, or even text message.

We Have a Unique Focus

Personal injury law is all we do! That means we’ve become true experts at it over the years. To date, we’ve helped thousands of victims and families secure the compensation they needed and deserved in their lives. That’s because we do everything possible to properly litigate a case.

We Take Cases to Trial if Necessary

Some lawyers don’t have any trial experience. They negotiate settlements but never go beyond that. That may serve some clients, but there’s no doubt that having trial experience is important—even if only to show the other side that you can take this case to court if you have to.

We regularly take cases to trial. We’re very comfortable in court and know how to fight for our clients there. You can rest easy knowing that if the parties can’t agree, we will not back down because we’re new to the courtroom. We have a reputation for being willing to go all the way, which often serves us well in negotiations.

We Have the Experience You Need

Insurance companies and defendants will logically look out for their best interests—not yours. They may negotiate with you, but they will do so with an eye toward their bottom lines. Your injuries will be of secondary concern to them.

If your law firm doesn’t know what they’re doing to secure records, present the appropriate precedents, and hire the right experts, you could end up getting a lower level of compensation than you deserve.

We’ve been fighting for victims for over a decade now. We’ve represented plaintiffs in some large and complicated cases, sometimes involving thousands of people with similar complaints. When you hire us, you’ll know that we have the experience you need to tip the scales in your favor.

We Have a Mission to Do Good Work

Our mission at Chaffin Luhana is “Doing Good by Doing Right.” At the core of our business, we seek to do work that will benefit our clients and our community. As part of that mission, we created the Chaffin Luhana Foundation, funded with a portion of the profits from the firm. To date, the foundation has donated to dozens of charities, advanced scientific research, worked to combat distracted driving, and awarded scholarships to promising youth.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Every personal injury case involves an injured victim. But other than that, they can be very different.

What type of injury did you suffer? Where did it occur? Who was involved? These factors and more can affect how a personal injury attorney approaches your case.

The Chaffin Luhana law firm is committed to protecting the legal rights of individuals throughout the state of Connecticut. No matter how you were injured or who the negligent parties may be, you can contact us and we will use our skills and resources to fight for you.

Our practice areas include the following.

Car Accidents

In July 2023, multiple vehicles were involved in a major crash on Interstate 95 in Bridgeport. In that incident, the driver of a Mack truck was towing a trailer with an unsecured load that leaked human waste over the highway, making it slick. He was later charged with unsecured load, reckless driving, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

That same month, four people suffered serious injuries after a vehicle crashed into several homes on Chopsey Hill Road.

In 2021, there were nearly 300 fatalities caused by car accidents in Connecticut. According to the “Connecticut Insider,” 2022 was among the deadliest for CT drivers and pedestrians in decades. As of December 12, 2022, a total of 357 crash-related fatalities had been recorded.

According to the Connecticut Post, the most dangerous roads in Bridgeport in 2019 included U.S. Route 1, Park Avenue, and Route 127.

A car accident lawsuit can present unique challenges. As the plaintiff, you have to show that the other person or persons were responsible for the accident. Other parties may have been involved too, such as the car manufacturer, a construction company if there was construction going on at the site of the accident, or even the municipality responsible for the roads.

A Chaffin Luhana Bridgeport, Connecticut personal injury attorney, has the expertise to support you in your case. They will review the police report, assess the accident site, hire experts if needed, and gather information about the other driver to prove fault.

Truck Accidents

In 2021, there were about 5,700 large trucks involved in fatal crashes across the United States, an increase of 18 percent from 2020 and a 49 percent increase over the past 10 years. Nearly 5,800 people died in these crashes. In addition, there were over 117,000 large trucks involved in crashes resulting in an injury, which was an increase from 2020.

Large trucks are often 20-30 times heavier than passenger vehicles. This increases the risk of more severe crash damage and injuries. Victims may be permanently injured and may require medical care for the rest of their lives.

Personal injury cases involving a big truck can also be more complex, as they typically involve not only the driver but also the company he was working for. If that company was lax about maintaining their trucks or if they pushed the employee to drive for long, unsafe periods, they may share in liability.

The lawyers at Chaffin Luhana in Bridgeport, Connecticut understand the importance of fully investigating your case. Identifying all liable parties gives you more options to gather compensation and rebuild your life.

Premises Liability

Property owners have a responsibility to maintain hazard-free premises for visitors. If they allow dangerous conditions to exist, it creates the potential for serious accidents that can cause injuries to victims.

Premises liability lawsuits hold a property owner liable for injuries you may suffer while you’re on their property. As the plaintiff in a premises liability case, however, you have to prove that the property owner was negligent, and that’s not always easy.

It depends on whether you were an invitee to the property, a licensee, or a trespasser. The Connecticut personal injury lawyers at Chaffin Luhana know the law in Connecticut and can help guide you through the complex facets of your case.

Slip and Fall Accidents

According to the city government, many sidewalks in the city of Bridgeport are in varying states of disrepair. The city can be held liable under certain circumstances if someone is injured because of a broken sidewalk. Thus, the city implemented a homeowner sidewalk repair program to encourage homeowners to repair their sidewalks where needed.

If you were injured on a sidewalk or other section of a piece of property, you may be able to recover compensation. You have to prove that the property owner was negligent and that their negligence caused your injury. Like premises liability, there are state laws that apply.

Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability. Typical locations for these types of injuries include sidewalks, swimming pools, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, stairways, decks, apartment complexes, amusement parks, escalators, and even parking lots.

A slip and fall injury can cause you to suffer from broken bones, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, and concussions.

Dog Bites

Over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over 800,000 receive medical attention for those bites, with children being the most common victims.

While most dog bites don’t require medical attention, thousands of patients are treated in emergency departments and hospitals for dog bites each year. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the average cost of a dog-bite-related hospital stay was $18,200, about 50 percent higher than the average injury-related hospital stay.

Connecticut’s dog bite statute makes a dog’s owner or keeper liable for injuries caused by the dog to someone else’s person or property, as long as that person was not trespassing at the time of the injury and was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.

The state also holds any person responsible for dog bites caused by that person’s negligence, provided the victim can prove that the defendant knew of the dog’s dangerous propensities.

Dog bites can cause serious harm, particularly to children. Connecticut law assumes that if a child under the age of seven is bitten, the owner is liable, unless proven otherwise.

Medical Malpractice

In September 2023, the estate of a man who died in August 2022 filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against two hospitals in Bridgeport. The plaintiffs claimed the hospitals failed to properly diagnose and treat the man’s serious medical conditions, which included sepsis, two days before he died.

In 2016, safety experts from Johns Hopkins Medicine reported that more than 250,000 people die each year due to medical errors in the U.S. That made medical error the third highest cause of death. A recent study showed that about 400,000 hospitalized patients experience some type of preventable harm each year, with medical errors costing the U.S. economy about $20 billion a year.

If you or a loved one were harmed while under the care of a doctor or medical center, you may be able to hold the healthcare providers or the entity they work for liable for damages. Medical malpractice cases are complicated, but a Chaffin Luhana medical malpractice attorney understands the law and can help navigate the process for you.

According to the Connecticut Insurance Department, there were 2,555 total closed medical malpractice claims over the past five years. The average payout to a claimant was $890,333. Connecticut does not have a “cap” on the amount of damages a plaintiff can recover during a medical malpractice case. Punitive damages, however, are limited to the actual cost of litigation.

Workers’ Compensation

In March 2020, a worker was injured on a rock pile at a city facility in the 300 block of Seaview Avenue in Bridgeport, CT. He sustained a non-life-threatening leg injury, and the incident was reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Private industry employers reported 32,700 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Connecticut in 2021, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.0 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of those, 21,700 were more severe, involving days away from work, job transfer, or restriction.

In the state and local government sector in CT, 7,100 injuries and illnesses were reported in 2021, resulting in a rate of 5.2 cases per 100 full-time workers.

In Connecticut, businesses with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. This is a no-fault system, meaning that no matter whose fault the injury was, the insurance will cover the medical costs.

In return for receiving compensation, employees are prohibited (in most cases) from suing their employers or fellow employees for damages arising from work-related injuries or accidents.

If you are injured while on the job, you will probably make a workers’ compensation claim. The insurance company will then either deny the claim or approach you about a settlement. This is a lump sum you receive in exchange for avoiding the hassle of a workers’ compensation hearing.

Though this can be beneficial, it may also be too low to cover your expenses. A Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney can help you make sure you’re getting the best settlement possible. If your claim is denied, they can also review your case to see if you may appeal.

What Is the Process of a Personal Injury Claim in Bridgeport, Connecticut?

When you decide to file a personal injury case, typically you’ll follow these basic steps as you go through the process.

1. Initial Consultation

Most personal injury attorneys—including those at Chaffin Luhana—offer a free initial consultation. This is when you can discuss the facts of your case and get a general idea of what your attorney can do to help you.

Bring whatever evidence you have to the consultation. This includes police reports, witness information, photos, medical records, and personal notes. Your attorney will then give you a professional opinion on whether you have a valid claim.

Should your attorney believe you have a case, you can then discuss whether you’d like to file a claim. Should you decide to do so, you’ll hire a lawyer and move on to the next step.

2. Investigating Your Case

An experienced attorney will spend significant time investigating your case. This is often an extensive process and may include the following steps:

• Conducting a second interview. Your attorney will gather more details about your injuries and any medical treatment you received and/or may need in the future.
• Getting the documents together. Your Connecticut attorney will work with you to get all your medical records, police records, pay stubs (to determine lost wages), and other related documents for review and submission with the claim as necessary.
• Talking to witnesses and experts. If there were witnesses to your injury, your attorney will reach out and attempt to speak with them. At this stage, the firm should also contact any experts who may help support your case.
• Determining what caused the accident that led to your injury. Though the cause may seem very clear in some cases, in others it may involve multiple parties, faulty products, or other factors.
• Examining other potentially liable parties. Many times, there is more than one liable party. Your lawyer will investigate to determine if there were others involved and whether they may share in liability.

3. Documenting Your Damages

How much money are you owed in your personal injury case?

Your Bridgeport, Connecticut attorney will work to help you figure this out. You’ll start with your property damage and medical expenses. Then you’ll look at things like long-term care costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Once you have a final figure, your attorney will ask for that amount in your insurance claim or lawsuit.

4. Filing the Lawsuit/Claim

Most personal injury claims are resolved through informal settlement negotiations with the insurance company (or companies) involved.

To get the process started, your lawyer will send a “demand letter,” which includes a summary of the accident, details of the harm you suffered, a statement of complaint against the defendant or parties responsible, applicable statutes under which you are entitled to compensation, and the compensation you’re seeking.

After receiving this demand letter, the hope is that the insurance company will work with your attorney to settle out of court. Only sometimes will you need to take the next step and sue.

5. Negotiation and Settlement

Having a personal injury lawyer on your side during negotiation with the insurance companies is one of the critical reasons it’s best to hire an attorney. Insurance companies always have attorneys working for them. If you’re dealing with other defendants, they are likely to have representation too. Therefore, it’s helpful to have a personal injury attorney on your side during the negotiating stage.

Your attorney will handle all communications with the other side on your behalf. Sometimes insurance companies will initially offer you less than what you deserve. An experienced attorney will be prepared for this and will know how to be sure that the settlement agreement is to your advantage.

Negotiations take time. Most cases settle within a few months to a year. If the negotiations stall, you may decide together with your attorney to file a lawsuit. Again, your attorney will handle the paperwork at this stage. Sometimes, simply filing a case will be enough to bring the other parties back to the negotiating table. If not, the case proceeds to trial.

6. Filing a Lawsuit and Going to Trial (If Necessary)

When settlement negotiations come to a standstill, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit. This marks the beginning of your personal injury litigation and may result in your case going to trial.

The trial process can be lengthy and intense. But if the other side is not being fair, a lawsuit can be worth it in the long run.

After filing your case, your attorney will start preparing your case for trial. This involves the discovery process, which includes submitting written questions to the other side and requesting the defense to produce relevant documents.

When it’s time, your lawyer will then present your case before a judge or jury. The judge or jury, in turn, may side with you and award a judgment or side with the defendant and dismiss the case.

Once the judgment is made, both sides have a limited amount of time to either accept the decision or file an appeal.

Testimonials and Success Stories

Below is a small sampling of the testimonials we have received from our clients:

Client Testimonials

$4 Million Recovery

“I was very pleased with the representation that I received for my case. I had a positive experience with this firm and I would recommend your firm to my family and friends.”

– Judy R. Product Liability Injury Client

Auto Personal Injury Recovery

“It’s a shame that the insurance companies put you through this…I’m glad there are people like you out there because the insurance companies would walk all over victims otherwise.”

– Mark S., Personal Injury Client

Automobile Accident Victim

“I didn’t know what to expect since I never needed an attorney before. You took care of everything and were there for me.”

– Vicky B., Personal Injury Client

Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut Personal Injury Law

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

A personal injury claim is an official declaration made by an injured person against another person, entity, or multiple entities believed to be at fault for that injury with the goal of obtaining compensation. This claim is usually sent to the appropriate insurance company or is filed in the form of a personal injury lawsuit with the court system.

How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim in Bridgeport, CT?

A personal injury claim is about recovering damages from the person or entity whose negligence caused your accident. You will have to prove that the other party violated a duty owed to you. Your personal injury attorney can help.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Bridgeport, Connecticut?

According to Connecticut law, you have two years from the date of the injury—or from the date you discovered the injury—to file a personal injury claim. This is called the state’s “statute of limitations.”

There are exceptions to this rule:

• For product liability actions—If you were injured by a defective product, you have three years from the date the injury occurred or was discovered to file a claim.
• A workers’ compensation claim is different and must be filed within one year from the date of injury. For fatal cases, a victim’s loved one has two years from the date of the accident or the onset of symptoms of the occupational disease, or one year from the date of death, whichever is later.
• Claims against the government or state must be filed more quickly. You must give written notice to the relevant government body within 90 days of the injury if it was brought on by a dangerous road or sidewalk. If it was brought on by a municipal employee, you have 180 days.
• If the defendant leaves the state, the statute of limitations is stopped for up to five years (up to seven years after the accident).
• If the defendant tries to conceal their liability, perhaps by hiding their role in the accident, the statute of limitations is stopped until the victim discovers they can sue. The defendant must have hidden the facts on purpose.

It always takes time to gather evidence, file a claim, and go through the legal process, so file your claim as soon as you can. It is important to consult right away with an attorney to discuss the statute of limitations applicable to your claim. Statutes of limitations can vary greatly and change from time to time. Every day could be the last day you are able to file your claim so it is important not to wait.

How is CT Pain and Suffering Calculated?

There are two key steps to calculating pain and suffering. The first is to identify the total value of your economic damages. The second involves multiplying that number by a figure that best fits the circumstances of the case to determine pain and suffering.

Economic Damages

Economic damages (also called “special” damages) are tied to a specific, identifiable cost. These include:

Medical expenses

Your medical bills will show proof of your expenses, and those expenses can be directly figured into your settlement amount. This is typically the largest part of your total damages.

If your medical team determines you will need more surgeries, treatments, therapies, and prescriptions in the future, your attorney and/or the court may figure out an estimated cost for these as well.

Lost wages

If you can’t return to work because of your injuries, you may recover your lost wages. Connecticut law allows you to be compensated for these as well as for any tips or bonuses you may have missed out on.

If your injuries are so serious that they prevent you from working in the future, your attorney will factor your future lost wages into your damages total. These figures will be calculated based on your wages at the time of the accident.

Lost potential earnings (future earning potential)

For severe injuries that permanently affect your ability to do your job, the law allows for you to recover for lost earning potential. If you are a surgeon, for instance, and the injury permanently injured your hands, preventing you from continuing in your chosen profession, your attorney will calculate these damages by examining the severity of your injuries and the work you are likely to do in the future.

The final figure reflects the difference between the amount of money you would have earned in your lifetime from your former position minus the amount of money you’re likely to earn considering the long-term injury.

Property damage

If the accident caused property damage (such as damage to your car in a car accident), your lawyer will figure these costs into your demand for compensation.

Out-of-pocket expenses relating to the accident

Usually when you’re injured, it’s not just your medical expenses and lost wages that you have to account for. You’re likely to incur additional expenses such as travel to medical treatments, parking fees, car rental fees, and the like. Other possibilities are housekeeping or childcare expenses.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages, also called “general damages,” include pain and suffering and those listed below. Non-economic damages are variable from case and no two cases are alike. Your attorney will assess the unique circumstances of your case to ensure that an appropriate calculation of your damages.

Pain and suffering

Most people suffer from physical pain and discomfort during and after an accident. Other forms of pain and suffering include emotional or psychological suffering, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Insurance companies and attorneys may use the following formulas to calculate or ballpark these damages:

• Portion of medical expenses: Your attorney will multiply your economic damages by a certain number, generally between 1 and 5 depending on the severity of the injuries. For example, if your economic bills total $10,000, your pain and suffering offer may be $10,000 to $50,000.
• Per diem approach: With this method, your attorney or insurance company assigns a certain amount every day from the day of the accident until the day you reach maximum recovery. For example, if the amount is $100 and it took 30 days for you to recover, the pain and suffering amount would be $3,000.
• Other: Other methods may be used to calculate these damages. Some computer programs, for instance, base the amount on the type of injury and the type of medical treatment applied. Many insurance companies have their own formulas.

Loss of consortium

Loss of consortium is a legal term that describes the loss of a partner or spouse’s physical companionship, including a sexual relationship. If you were injured in such a way that it affects your relationship, you or your spouse could be eligible for these damages.

There is no concrete formula used to calculate these damages. Your attorney and a judge/jury will make their best estimate.

Loss of enjoyment of life

A severe accident can completely change your life. Depending on your injuries, you may no longer enjoy your normal activities or go about your daily routine as you did before. The value of this claim depends on your injury and how it has affected your daily life.

How Much is a Personal Injury Settlement Worth?

Most personal injury cases settle for between $10,000 and $100,000, but some may be much higher depending on the case.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

When you hire a Bridgeport, Connecticut attorney, you rarely have to pay anything upfront. Most personal injury lawyers represent clients on a contingency basis. That means you pay only if your attorney wins your case. This makes it affordable for any victim of a personal injury to obtain experienced legal help.

Your attorney will set the contingency fee based on a case-by-case basis.

This covers the attorney’s fees, but keep in mind that there may be other fees involved, including filing fees, expert witness fees, postage and copying charges, and other similar fees. Check with your attorney to find out how these will be covered.

How Should I Prepare for My Initial Consultation?

To prepare for your initial consultation with your attorney, make a list of questions to ask. These may include questions about your lawyer’s experience and fees, or about their track record of cases like yours. Then gather all the relevant documents you have, including police reports and medical records.

Finally, think about your ultimate goal. What do you hope to achieve with your claim? By making this clear to your attorney, you increase the likelihood that you will both be on the same page as you move forward.

What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident in Bridgeport, Connecticut?

Always check yourself and anyone with you for injuries first, and call 911 if you need to. Get out of danger as soon as you can—pull over to the side of the road and/or get out of the car if you were in a car accident, for instance. Next, contact the police if the situation calls for it. (If you were in a car accident or were assaulted.)

Even if you don’t believe you were seriously hurt, see a doctor. Injuries like back and neck strains can take time to develop. You may not be aware of them at first, but if you see a doctor, you will have the proper medical records to support any claims you may make in the future.

Notify your insurance company or your employer as needed, then gather all the information you can at the site of the accident. Finally, contact your personal injury attorney for advice. Never accept the blame for the accident. That includes offhanded comments like, “I’m sorry,” or “I didn’t see you!” as these can be used against you later. Keep quiet until you talk to your lawyer.

What if the Accident Was Partly My Fault?

Connecticut has a “comparative fault” law that allows you to recover against any other at-fault party, even if you were partially at fault. The amount of your eventual recovery will depend on what percentage of liability is attributed to you.

If you were over 50 percent at fault, you wouldn’t be able to recover damages. But if you were 50 percent or less at fault, you can recover the corresponding percentage of your damages.

What Are Punitive Damages?

If the other party acted in a reckless or particularly egregious manner, you may decide to file punitive damages against them. These punish the defendant for especially harmful conduct and/or to deter them and others like them from ever behaving that way again. These damages are awarded at the court’s discretion.

How Long Will It Take to Settle My Case?

Personal injury cases that are solved out of court are usually resolved within eight months to a year. If the parties cannot agree and drag the case out—perhaps by going to trial—it may take 2.5 years or more.

It will also depend on how long you take to recover from your injuries. Settlement negotiations usually begin after you reach what’s called “maximum medical improvement,” meaning you are not likely to improve further after that point.

Your Trusted Personal Injury Lawyer in Bridgeport, Connecticut

If you were injured in an accident in the Bridgeport, CT area, contact us today for a free initial consultation. We know how these accidents can seriously disrupt your life. We want to empower you to recover the damages you’re owed so that you can begin to put your life back together.

Call us today at (888) 480-1123.