Connecticut Car Accident Lawyers at Carter Mario

Help When You Need it Most

It is natural and reasonable for people to assume they will not be injured in a car accident if they follow the rules of the road. Unfortunately, careless drivers cause terrible collisions in which innocent victims suffer severe injuries. At Carter Mario, our Connecticut car accident lawyers are ready, willing, and able to help you in your fight to obtain justice and compensation for your injuries.

Areas Our Car Accident Lawyers Serve

The Carter Mario Law Firm has offices located throughout the State of Connecticut. Our statewide presence allows us to serve multiple communities, including:

When Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer in Connecticut?

You should retain a Connecticut personal injury lawyer immediately following an automobile collision. Insurance companies act quickly to investigate car accidents to deny valid claims and gather evidence to prepare a legal defense. The skilled lawyers at Carter Mario can help build your case, ensuring you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Minor Car Accidents in Connecticut

Many automobile collisions result in victims suffering non-life-threatening injuries. While seemingly minor, injuries from a car crash can affect your life due to the resulting pain. Minor injuries from an auto accident still require you to undergo expensive medical treatment.

Filing A Car Accident Claim If You’re A Passenger

If you were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a car accident, there are both advantages and disadvantages to your legal position. On the one hand, your status as a passenger makes it extremely difficult for either driver’s insurance company to argue you caused the collision. On the other hand, if both drivers deny fault, you have to make claims with both drivers’ insurance companies which will prolong the length of your case.

Partial Fault in a Car Accident

You may still have a viable car accident claim even if your actions contributed to the collision. Connecticut is a modified comparative negligence jurisdiction, which means you can obtain financial compensation if a judge or jury finds you less than 50% at fault for a car accident. Any award you receive in court is reduced in proportion to your level of negligence, e.g., a $20,000 award is reduced to $15,000 if a judge or jury finds you were 25% at fault.

Suing for Hit-and-Run Accidents

If the driver of the vehicle which struck you fled the scene of the collision, you still have a viable personal injury claim. Under Connecticut State law, drivers must purchase uninsured motorist coverage. Car accident victims struck by uninsured drivers or drivers who flee the accident scene, i.e., hit-and-run accidents, can seek financial compensation from their personal insurance.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, you must sue your own insurance company via an uninsured motorist claim. Essentially, your insurance company “pretends” to be the unknown driver who struck you and defends the lawsuit by raising any potential defenses the unknown driver could have asserted. This means your insurance company can still deny fault or argue you suffered no injuries.

Catastrophic Car Accidents in Connecticut

While many car accidents only cause minor injuries requiring nominal medical care, some car accidents result in victims suffering catastrophic and life-threatening injuries. Victims of catastrophic car accidents usually require emergency medical treatment, surgery, and extensive follow-up medical care such as physical and occupational therapy. Worse yet, a catastrophic motor vehicle accident can also result in victims suffering life-ending injuries.

Wrongful Death Claims

If you had a close family member die because of a serious car accident, you could pursue a wrongful death claim. Under Connecticut State law, only the personal representative of a car accident victim’s estate can pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of the estate against the at-fault driver. The victim’s estate can claim damages for the victim’s medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of life, and for the victim’s pain and suffering.

Damages Available in Connecticut Car Accidents

The term “damages” is another way of classifying your losses and the compensation you seek. The State of Connecticut allows you to seek compensatory and non-compensatory damages. Additionally, you may also be able to seek punitive damages depending on the facts surrounding your collision. 

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are easily quantifiable losses designed to make a victim “whole again.” A compensatory damages claim allows you to seek compensation for your economic losses and out-of-pocket expenses. You can claim your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage as compensatory damages. 

Non-Compensatory Damages

Non-compensatory damages are the losses you suffered that do not have a set dollar amount. You can claim non-compensatory damages for the physical pain and suffering you endured. Additionally, you can claim non-compensatory damages for the mental and emotional anguish you experienced due to the collision. 

Punitive Damages

Unlike compensatory and non-compensatory damages, punitive damages are designed to punish the at-fault party. Punitive damages are not calculated based on a victim’s injury or financial losses but are meant to act as a deterrent. To claim punitive damages, you must prove the at-fault driver acted with reckless indifference, gross negligence, or malice.

Proving Damages in a Car Accident

To obtain financial compensation, you must prove your damages by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%. This requires you to present evidence proving the collision caused your injuries and subsequent medical treatment. Proving your damages at trial requires you to testify, along with presenting your medical records and bills, and possibly testimony by an expert medical witness if your injuries were particularly severe.

Common Types of Car Accident Cases

The auto accident attorneys at Carter Mario have been successfully representing injured victims throughout Connecticut for over 30 years. Our law firm routinely represents victims who suffered injuries due to:

• Motor vehicle collisions
• Uninsured / Underinsured motor vehicle collisions
• Rideshare collisions (Uber / Lyft)
• Motorcycle collisions
• Truck collisions

Connecticut Car Accident FAQ

In addition to being physically traumatic, car accidents cause significant disruptions and confusion in the lives of innocent victims. Insurance companies are not helpful as they often deny valid claims to demoralize and discourage injured victims. The car accident lawyers at Carter Mario offer free initial consultations to victims and their families.

What is the Statute of Limitations on Car Accident Claims in Connecticut?

A statute of limitation is a legally imposed time limit for filing a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for civil claims in Connecticut is two years. For example, if you were injured in a car accident on January 1, 2022, you must sue the at-fault driver by January 1, 2024, or else you are precluded from pursuing your claim.

How Do I Pay For A Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer?

The car accident attorneys at Carter Mario represent injured victims on a contingency fee basis. We do not charge any upfront legal fees or expenses. Instead, under our Zero Fee Warranty, you only pay our law firm if we negotiate a settlement that you approve or win your case at trial.

Steps To Take Following A Car Accident In Connecticut

The time following a car accident is crucial for the future success or failure of an injured victim’s personal injury claim. Specifically, evidence regarding how a collision occurred is most readily available immediately after a car accident. To strengthen your claim, you should:

• Contact 911 and report the collision
• Seek medical treatment at a hospital, urgent care center, or your primary care provider
• Obtain the names and contact information of individuals who may have witnessed the collision
• Photograph the scene of the accident, including both vehicles
• Exchange insurance information with the other driver, but avoid discussing the collision
• Do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company
• Retain the services of a Connecticut car accident attorney

Trust Carter Mario Law Firm’s Experience

The Connecticut car accident lawyers at Carter Mario have been successfully fighting insurance companies on behalf of car accident victims for over 30 years. During this time, our car accident attorneys have earned numerous awards due to their litigation skills, in addition to obtaining over one billion dollars for our injured clients. Finally, the results our Connecticut car accident lawyers have obtained can be seen in the numerous 5-star reviews written by former clients.

Our car accident lawyers represent victims from Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury, Somerset, Torrington, New Canaan, Thompson, New London, and other locations across the state.

Contact us today to speak with a personal injury attorney and for a free consultation on your car accident case!