Fighting For Victims of Auto Accidents in Hartford County, Tolland County, and New London County

If you’ve been in a car accident in Connecticut, specifically in Hartford County, Tolland County, or New London County, you’re probably in a great deal of pain. It can be difficult to focus on healing while you’re scrambling to get well, pay for doctors, may be missing work, and losing wages. The car accident attorneys at Tehrani Law Group are here to help!

According to the Crash Data Repository, Connecticut sees almost 100,000 motor vehicle collisions each year, involving a quarter of a million people. Some of the most common accidents happen in the busier areas of Hartford, County, Tolland County, New London County. These accidents cause more than 200 deaths each year and tens of thousands of injuries. Victims and their families often struggle to figure out how to pay for required medical care, as well as how to replace lost income.

At Tehrani Law Group, we help car accident victims and their families bring personal injury claims. Please contact us today to find out more about how we can help. 

TYPES
OF CAR ACCIDENTS

In 2021, 22,162 car accidents happened at intersections, and another 9,319 were intersection related. We see some common accidents at intersections, including:

  • T-bone or Side-Impact Collisions: One car will strike the side of another car, usually because a motorist failed to yield or ran a red light.
  • Rear-End Collisions. A motorist will fail to stop in time and slam into the back of a car stopped at a light.
  • Rollovers: A vehicle trying to make a turn at high speeds is more prone to rolling onto its side at an intersection.

Another 12,000 accidents happen on exit or entrance ramps. Common accidents include:

  • Sideswipes: When a car merges, it might scrape along the side of another vehicle.
  • Single-Vehicle Accidents: A car might swerve out of the way to avoid a crash and end up going off the road itself.
  • Multi-Car Pileups: Highways tend to be congested, and accidents usually result in multiple accident victims with serious injuries.

If you were involved in these or other accidents, Tehrani Law Group can help.

WHAT
CAUSES CAR ACCIDENTS

By the far, the most common cause is negligent driving. A motorist uses insufficient care and quite possibly violates the rules of the road. As a result, they strike an innocent motorist or force that person to take dangerous and sudden defensive action.

Some common examples of negligence include:

  • Speeding
  • Driving while distracted
  • Texting and driving
  • Driving while fatigued
  • Impaired driving
  • Failing to use a turn signal or horn
  • Failing to yield

The common denominator in these accidents is a driver didn’t use the care we expect of someone behind the wheel. Consequently, innocent people get hurt in accidents—sometimes quite badly.

In other situations, a hazardous road contributes to a wreck. A municipality might fail to properly plow or salt the roads, sending motorists flying into a ditch. Other roads are poorly constructed, lack safety features or signs, or are cluttered with construction debris.

WHAT ARE COMMON INJURIES
SEEN IN CAR ACCIDENTS

Even at low speeds, cars will cause serious injuries to any occupant. At high speeds, many accidents are fatal. Our clients are struggling with pain and disability stemming from:

  • Head injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Whiplash and other neck injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Burns
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Lacerations, abrasions, and scarring
  • Broken bones
  • Paralysis
  • Crush injuries
  • Amputation

These injuries warrant immediate medical treatment at the hospital. Alarmingly, some injuries start out relatively minor with the victim feeling only slight pain. Over the next few days, however, symptoms worsen and many people cannot get out of bed. Whenever you feel pain, go to the hospital to have a doctor check you out.

WHAT TO EXPECT
IN A CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM

Your claim begins from the moment you are injured, even if you don’t have a lawyer. We recommend trying to document your accident as best you can, by taking pictures of anything relevant. Also talk to the person who hurt you. If you were in a car accident, for example, you want personal information and insurance information. You should also take pictures of all vehicles involved.

Remember to seek medical treatment promptly. Many of our clients need months of doctor visits and rehab before they become well.

Once you hire a Connecticut car accident lawyer, he will get to work collecting evidence. Your lawyer should also discuss with the defendant’s insurer a possible settlement. Negotiations for a car accident case can take months. You might also attend mediation to help settle the dispute without going to court. A car accident lawyer can lift a heavy burden off your shoulders and allow you to focus on recovery.

Who Do I Sue for Compensation?

Every case begins by identifying who is at fault for the crash. Without fault, a motorist or other party doesn’t have to pay compensation to a victim. Our Connecticut car accident lawyer has regularly sued:

  • Drivers
  • Mechanics
  • Municipalities in charge of roads
  • Car manufacturers

Connecticut law even recognizes that you could be partially at fault for your crash. For example, you might have failed to follow the speed limit or not used your blinker when turning. If your negligence contributes to a wreck, then your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault.

If you bear the majority of the blame, then you will not receive any compensation. For this reason, we need to drill down to fully understand what happened.

Proving Fault in Car Accidents

It’s our job as your lawyer to examine the case and establish who was negligent and is responsible for your injuries. Negligence is when a person fails to use reasonable caution that results in an injury done to another individual. While most of us might assume it’s always the other driver, it could be mechanical failure, damage to the road, or poor maintenance.

How is Compensation Calculated in Car Accidents?

How much you are legally entitled to get depends on fault.  If it’s 100% the other driver’s fault, then you have no responsibility to pay anything.  If you contributed to the accident you may still be entitled to some compensation.  

In Connecticut even if you’re partially responsible if the other driver is established to be 51% responsible or more, you can collect compensation. This is known as Comparative Negligence in Connecticut.  It can be very complex and easy to miss a detail trying to handle these cases without our experience.  Especially if you’re suffering from a traumatic brain injury.

Types of Compensation for Financial Damages in Car Accidents

It’s important to keep a detailed record of all of your expenses related to the incident. This should include costs related to medical visits, lab tests, physical and or occupational therapy, and any other expenses related to your car accident.

We will seek the maximum compensation for our clients, which usually includes damages for:

  • Property damage, such as the cost of repairing your vehicle
  • Lost income
  • Loss of future income
  • Medical care
  • Future medical care, such as ongoing rehabilitation
  • Pain and suffering

There is no meaningful “average” settlement to discuss. Everything will depend on the unique facts of your case, which a lawyer can analyze.

Uninsured Motorists

Sadly, about 6% of Connecticut drivers lack required insurance. When these motorists slam into victims, there is very little money to pay compensation. Unless the negligent driver also has money in the bank, victims might only have their own uninsured motorist insurance policy to fall back on.

This is insurance you pay for, but it will cover accidents caused by uninsured drivers. We have found that insurance companies are rarely eager to pay benefits, and they come up with creative reasons for denying claims. You should contact our firm immediately if an uninsured motorist hit you. We can also help if you were the victim of a hit and run.

What To Do After A Car Accident

If you’re standing road side after a car accident reading this, try to breathe slow and calm. After a car accident there are some steps you need to take.

  • Get medical attention 
  • Help others if you’re able
  • Get your car out of the road, if you can
  • Take photos of the car, injuries, and the scene
  • Get as much information as possible from witnesses and the other driver.  You should be getting their contact information and insurance
  • File everything in a special place to show your legal representative
  • Call your Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer at Tehrani Law Group

Connecticut’s
Statute of Limitations

Connecticut’s statute of limitations lays out the maximum amount of time a victim has to bring a lawsuit. You want to meet this deadline. If you go over, the defendant can immediately ask a judge to dismiss the case, and you will be unable to sue the defendant later.

The statute of limitations for personal injuries is two years from the date of your injury. For example, if you get into a car accident and break a leg on January 1, 2022, you must file a lawsuit before January 1, 2024. Contact Tehrani Law Group today. We can begin investigating the accident to determine who is at fault and get a lawsuit filed, if necessary, to protect your rights.

MISTAKES TO AVOID
in a Car Accident Claim

Ideally, a car accident claim should compensate you for all your losses. Unfortunately, we have seen accident victims make certain mistakes that compromise their ability to receive fair compensation. Our firm is dedicated to your rights, so we recommend avoiding some common mistakes.

  • Don’t admit fault to the other driver. Your words will later be used against you. After all, if you accept fault, then the rules of comparative negligence mean you will receive less compensation. You can express concern and ask the driver if they are okay, but don’t say, “I’m sorry” or anything like that.
  • Don’t flee the scene. It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident. In addition to facing criminal charges, you will probably not receive necessary compensation.
  • Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster. This adjuster could also be fishing for an admission on your part, or they are looking for evidence that your injuries aren’t serious. If any adjuster reaches out to you, refer them to your lawyer.
  • Don’t stop going to rehab. You should be 100% committed to getting well. That means taking all recommended rehabilitation. If you don’t, the other driver could claim you are partially responsible for your lingering disabilities.

If you avoid these mistakes, you will improve your chances of a fair settlement and make it harder for an insurer to ignore your claim.

CALL OUR
CONNECTICUT CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

The moments following a car accident are some of the darkest you might experience. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Please call Tehrani Law Group to find out more if you can bring a car accident claim. Our consultations are free.