Bridgeport Car Accident Lawyers

Help for When You Need it

A car accident is a jarring and unexpected event. In addition to recovering from your injuries, you now face the prospect of dealing with an insurance company which will search for any reason to deny your claim. The Bridgeport, CT, car accident lawyers at Carter Mario Law Firm can help you protect your rights!

When You Should Talk with a Car Accident Lawyer in Bridgeport

The time following a car accident is crucial because evidence, such as potential eyewitnesses forgetting how the collision occurred, may become unavailable. Because you likely require treatment, it will be difficult for you to investigate the facts of your crash without proper legal representation. As such, you should contact a Bridgeport car accident attorney immediately following the accident.

Different Kinds of Car Accident Claims

According to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository, 96,167 automobile collisions were reported in 2022. Each of these collisions has its own unique set of facts. Sadly, a common feature of many car accident claims in Connecticut are efforts by insurance companies to shift blame onto the victims and minimize their injuries.

Innocent Drivers Injured In Car Accidents

You should retain an experienced Bridgeport car accident attorney if you were involved in a collision while driving your vehicle. If you were hurt while driving your vehicle, you must prove the negligent driver caused the crash and also prove your injuries. Specifically, you must prove these issues by a preponderance of the evidence, i.e., 51%, to win your case.

Car Accident Claims as a Passenger

If you suffered an injury while riding as a passenger in another person’s vehicle, it is unlikely you will be blamed for the accident. Outside of unusual circumstances, passengers are nearly always blameless. However, you will have to make claims with both drivers’ insurance companies if neither driver accepts fault for the collision.

Partial Fault in a Car Accident

You can still make a car accident claim even if you are partially at fault. Under Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence statute, CT Gen Stat § 52-572h, you can still recover if you are found to have been no more than 50% negligent. However, the amount you recover is reduced based on your level of negligence, e.g., a jury awards you $10,000, but you only receive $8,000 because you were 20% at fault.

Suing for Hit & Run Accidents

Connecticut requires drivers to purchase uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is designed to protect you if you are struck by a driver that lacks insurance or if the negligent driver fails to remain at the scene of the collision. This coverage allows you to sue your insurance company, which assumes the legally fictitious role of the driver who struck you for your lawsuit.

Catastrophic Car Accidents

While most motor vehicle accidents cause non-life-threatening injuries, catastrophic car accidents cause victims to suffer life-altering injuries. Specifically, devastating car accidents cause victims to suffer injuries which leave them permanently physically disabled. Catastrophic car accident victims often need life-saving emergency medical care and extensive physical and occupational therapy.

Wrongful Death in Vehicular Collisions

The worst types of car accidents are those which cause victims to suffer fatal injuries. A victim’s estate can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver to obtain financial compensation for the victim’s medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The money from a wrongful death claim is distributed to the victim’s surviving family members.

Bridgeport Car Accident Claim Damages

To receive financial compensation from a personal injury claim, you must prove your damages, i.e., the losses you suffered. According to CT Gen Stat § 52-572h, you can claim compensatory and non-compensatory damages in a car accident case. Connecticut also allows you to seek punitive damages.

Compensatory Damages

An economic damages claim is meant to compensate you for your financial losses. Specifically, you can claim your past and future medical expenses. If your injuries temporarily or permanently affect your ability to work, you can claim your past and future lost wages.

Non-Compensatory Damages

Unlike economic damages, a claim for non-economic damages is intended to compensate you for losses which are not readily quantifiable. You can seek financial compensation for the physical pain your injuries caused you to endure. You can also seek monetary compensation for the mental suffering you experienced.

Punitive Damages

A punitive damages claim is not designed to compensate you for your injuries. Instead, it is meant to financially punish the person who caused your injuries. Claiming punitive damages requires you to prove the other driver operated their vehicle recklessly or with gross negligence.

Proving Damages

Generally, you must present evidence of your injuries and financial losses to prove damages resulting from a motor vehicle accident. If your case goes to court, this will require you to testify regarding your injuries and present documentary evidence, such as your medical records and bills. If your injuries are life-threatening, your case will likely require testimony by an expert medical witness.

Common Types of Car Accident Cases

At Carter Mario, our experienced Connecticut car accident lawyers have been practicing for over 30 years and have successfully navigated thousands of car accident cases. We will investigate your car accident and collect evidence to build a solid case.

Drunk Driver Accidents

Under CT Gen Stat § 14-227a, people are prohibited from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drunk drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes because of reduced reaction times, which is why the statute exists. Despite this motor vehicle law, innocent victims continue to be injured in car accidents due to drunk drivers.

Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial trucking is strictly regulated from the State to the Federal level. Unlike typical passenger vehicles, commercial trucks can cause devastating damage due to their size and weight. Because of this, commercial truck accidents often result in life-changing or fatal injuries.

Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare apps are often the go-to form of transportation when you don’t have a car or need a driver. Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft drivers do not undergo specialized training, and there is a high incentive to ignore driving laws to reach destinations faster so they can give more people rides.

Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle riders are more susceptible to serious injuries as they do not have the physical protections of an automobile. If a negligent driver strikes you, you can sustain life-threatening injuries.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Drivers involved in crashes must remain at the scene of the collision, according to CT Gen Stat § 14-224. That said, negligent drivers will sometimes flee, resulting in a hit-and-run. These hit-and-run accidents often push those who sustained injuries to file uninsured motorist claims against their insurers.

Bridgeport Car Accident FAQs

Obtaining financial compensation for the injuries you suffered from a car accident requires you to file a personal injury claim. The personal injury claims process is often stressful and confusing. At Carter Mario, our Bridgeport car accident attorneys provide injured victims with free and confidential case evaluations.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

You should obtain medical treatment immediately following a car accident. Additionally, you should also contact the police and report the collision. If your injuries are not severe, and if you are able to do so without risking your safety, you should document the scene of the collision by taking photographs and also collect the names and contact information of individuals that witnessed the collision.

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

Like all states, Connecticut imposes a time limit by which you must file a personal injury lawsuit for your car accident. This is known as a statute of limitations. According to CT Gen Stat § 52-584, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit.

How Much Do I Have To Pay For A Bridgeport Car Accident Attorney?

At Carter Mario, you do not have to pay any upfront legal fees for our services. Our Bridgeport car accident lawyers represent injured victims on a contingency fee basis which means we do not get paid unless we negotiate a settlement which you approve or win your car accident case at trial. Under our Zero Fee Warranty, our legal fee will never exceed the amount of money you receive.

Trust Carter Mario Law Firm’s Experience

Carter Mario Law Firm has spent over 30 years as a personal injury law firm fighting on behalf of injured victims. Our Bridgeport car accident attorneys have recovered over one billion dollars on behalf of our clients. For a free consultation contact us today!