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In Personal Injury, Criminal Law And Other Legal Matters

3 Reasons To Hire A Lawyer After A Connecticut Car Accident

While many choose to handle their claims themselves, there are several reasons why it may benefit those injured in car crashes to obtain legal counsel.

Motor vehicle collisions are all too common in Connecticut and often result in serious injuries or death for those involved. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were 278 traffic-related fatalities across the state in 2017. Many who suffer injuries in auto accidents, or the families of those who are killed in traffic wrecks, choose to handle seeking compensation for their associated losses on their own. However, there are several benefits to hiring a personal injury attorney to assist them.

Navigating the claims process

Following motor vehicle accidents, people often rely on their own insurance providers or at-fault motorists’ insurers to recover compensation for their associated losses. It may seem like a straightforward process: file a claim and receive a settlement. However, those injured in auto collisions may face a range of obstacles in recovering the compensation they deserve. This includes having their claims denied for reasons such as the insurer believing they were at fault for the wreck.

Personal injury attorneys generally recognize that the things people say and do following a car crash may be used against them during the claims process. Lawyers may advise clients of the information they should provide in order to help increase their chances for approval. In the event their claims are denied, legal representatives may be able to help people appeal the decision.

Calculating damages

When filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, people need to know the damages they have suffered, including their noneconomic and economic losses, to ask for fair compensation. However, calculating the intangible and future costs of auto accidents can be difficult. Lawyers who regularly handle these types of cases often have an understanding of how to calculate the worth of noneconomic injuries, and they may help ensure people do not miss anything when they are determining what they are owed.

In an effort to resolve claims as quickly as possible, and to protect their own bottom lines, insurance companies commonly offer car accident injury victims monetary settlements. Though, these offers are often for much less than what is fair. Recognizing lowball settlement offers and undeterred by the challenge of going up against large insurance companies or their legal teams, an attorney may help clients negotiate for a more appropriate amount.

Understanding of the laws

There are several laws that apply to personal injury claims that, on their own, may be difficult for injury victims to understand. For example, the state imposes a two-year statute of limitations on such actions and has a modified comparative negligence law that allows people to seek damages provided they are found 51% or less at fault for causing the collision. Legal representatives typically have a thorough knowledge and comprehension of these laws. They may ensure their clients take action within the two-year time limit and help them determine their level of fault.

Dealing with the insurance companies or at-fault drivers following Connecticut car accidents may only add to the challenges those who are injured experience. An attorney may guide them through the process, looking out for their rights and best interests to ensure they receive the assistance they need and deserve.