Vehicle accidents often result in devastating injuries for victims in and around New Haven, Connecticut. When these incidents occur, it can be frustratingly difficult for those involved to secure the compensation they require. At Jacobs & Jacobs, we are here when you need a New Haven car accident lawyer by your side. Our personal injury attorneys have the resources necessary to investigate every vehicle accident claim that we take, and our goal is to help clients recover complete compensation for their losses.
If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you want to recover from your injuries as quickly as possible and get your life back on track. But before you make any decisions about your case, you should talk to a New Haven car accident lawyer at Jacobs & Jacobs in a free, no-obligation consultation.
At some point after your accident, it’s likely that you will be contacted by the other driver’s insurance company. It’s critical to be very careful about what type of information you provide. If you have a personal injury lawyer on your side, you should have the attorney handle this call. Without an attorney at your side, you could make a hasty mistake that will limit the amount you can recover.
Jacobs & Jacobs attorneys will work to make sure you understand your claim. We want you to have the information you need to make informed decisions about your case. We have investigators who thoroughly review the evidence and develop your claim to pursue the compensation you need for your injuries.
To quickly access the resources on any section of this page, click the appropriate link below.
Why Choose Jacobs & Jacobs?
How will an Attorney Help With a Car Accident Claim?
How Much Does a Car Accident Attorney Cost?
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Connecticut Car Accident Statistics
Vehicle Accidents Often Result in Severe Injuries
Deadline to File a New Haven Car Accident Claim
Compensation Available for a Car Accident Case
Required Car Insurance in Connecticut
Who is Liable for a Car Accident?
Tips for Dealing With a Car Insurance Claims Adjuster
Steps to Take After a Crash
Contact Our Car Accident Attorney
Watch this video to learn more about what differentiates our New Haven personal injury firm.
A car accident lawyer is going to be an invaluable resource for injury victims struggling to recover the compensation they need. Insurance companies like to put up challenges to injury victims, but they do not like when they have to go up against attorneys. Hiring a New Haven car accident attorney can come with many benefits to you as an injured victim that extend beyond a higher payout, as well. Our car accident attorneys can help your claim in the following ways:
The goal of your New Haven car accident attorney will be to obtain the evidence needed to prove liability. In addition to gathering evidence, an attorney will also ensure that you are evaluated by trusted medical and economic experts who can calculate your total losses correctly. Using all this information, an experienced attorney will handle negotiations with the insurance companies while also preparing the case for trial.
It is normal to worry about the cost of a personal injury attorney – especially when you are already dealing with the medical expenses of a car accident. We understand how much financial strain comes with vehicle collisions. That is why at Jacobs & Jacobs, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge our clients unless we win the case and obtain financial compensation on their behalf. You will not pay us a dime upfront to begin work on your case. You will only pay for legal representation if and when we win.
If we are successful in securing you a monetary recovery, you will pay us directly out of the settlement or judgment award we achieve, not out of your pocket. We charge our fees as a percentage of the overall amount won. We will let you know the exact percentage, based on the work involved in your case, before you sign with us. We are always honest, straightforward and upfront about attorney’s fees.
Motor vehicle accidents are a preventable type of tragedy. Human error is often behind automobile collisions in Connecticut and throughout the nation. Drivers have the ability to prevent most vehicle collisions through due care and attention behind the wheel. When they fall short of the reasonable expectation of care – when they are negligent – car accidents happen. The most common causes of car accidents in New Haven include:
If one or more parties could have prevented your car accident, that person’s insurance company may be financially responsible for your related injuries and bills. If you are unsure of what caused your car crash in New Haven, an investigation may be required to determine fault and prove negligence. It is important not to admit fault at the scene of the crash, and to wait for investigators to decide. This is the best way to protect your right to recover financial compensation.
When we turn to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository, it is important to look at the last full reporting year of data available to analyze the auto accident situation in this state. During the latest reporting year, there were more than 112,000 total vehicle collisions. Out of these incidents, there were:
Unfortunately, a motor vehicle accident often results in catastrophic injuries for those involved. In some cases, this includes severe injuries that can leave a person suffering from long-lasting disabilities. Even relatively minor vehicle accidents can lead to victims sustaining some sort of setback.
Every car accident has three collisions: the vehicle collision, human collision and internal collision. The vehicle collision occurs when the vehicle’s motion is halted by contact with an external object, such as another car or a fixed object. The human collision takes place when an occupant of the vehicle collides with something inside of the car, such as the steering column or windshield. The internal collision is when a victim’s organs strike against one another or the skeletal system from the gravitational forces of the accident.
Both the human collision and internal collisions can cause severe to catastrophic physical injuries for car accident victims. At Jacobs & Jacobs, our New Haven personal injury lawyers regularly help clients who have sustained the following types of injuries in these incidents:
Any of these injuries sustained during a car crash have the potential to lead to a person incurring significant medical bills. In extreme car accident cases, wrongful death may occur.
Additionally, if a person is unable to work while they recover, they will be unable to earn the money necessary to support themselves and their family. Our attorneys can help you pursue fair financial compensation for the full extent of your physical injuries and emotional trauma.
One of the most important things for people to realize is that they need to report a motor vehicle accident injury as soon as possible. The vast majority of vehicle accident cases in New Haven will be resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. Most insurance carriers require that the accident be reported within a day or two after the incident occurs. Failing to promptly file an accident report could result in the insurance carrier delaying or denying the claim.
Additionally, if a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party becomes necessary, crash victims need to be aware that the time limit of the Connecticut statute of limitations for these claims is two years from the day the injury occurs. This means that crash victims have a two-year window from the date of the crash occurs to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver in their case. Failing to do so within this time frame will result in the victim being unable to recover the compensation they are entitled to.
Although rare, there are some exceptions to Connecticut’s statute of limitations on car accident cases. If the injured party is a minor under the age of 18, for instance, he or she will typically have two years from the date of his or her 18th birthday to file an injury claim. You may have less than two years to file, on the other hand, if you are suing a government entity. It is important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after an automobile accident to avoid missing your deadline.
There may be various types of compensation available to New Haven vehicle accident victims. At Jacobs & Jacobs, our auto accident attorneys have a reputation of success when it comes to recovering complete economic and non-economic compensation on behalf of our clients. In the aftermath of a car accident in New Haven, this compensation can include:
The total amount of compensation available to car accident victims in New Haven will vary depending on the circumstances surrounding each particular case. In general, the more severe a person’s injuries, the more likely they will be to receive a larger settlement. The overall compensation will also depend on the insurance limits of the at-fault driver.
It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle without the required amounts of automobile insurance in Connecticut. The state uses a 25/50/25 insurance requirement, meaning $25,000 in bodily injury insurance per person, $50,000 per car accident and $25,000 in property damage coverage. These three types of liability insurance cover the damages caused to other people, not the policyholder. For this reason, drivers are strongly encouraged to purchase additional insurance, such as first-party coverage to pay for their own losses.
If you get into an accident with a driver in Connecticut who is illegally driving without insurance or if you are injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may have to turn to your own insurance provider for coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverage, for example, will pay to repair your vehicle regardless of what caused your property damage – including vandalism and acts of god. Similarly, medical payment coverage can pay for your medical bills if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough bodily injury insurance.
Connecticut law follows a principle known as the “3rd party liability doctrine” as far as car accidents are concerned. This means that when one driver is at fault for causing or failing to prevent an auto accident, they are held liable for any damages that occur. This means that the at-fault driver may be responsible for the victim’s:
As a crash victim, it is necessary to determine who or what caused the accident before you can file an insurance claim. The at-fault party in your case could be the other driver, his or her employer, a vehicle part manufacturer, the government, or other parties. Then, you or your attorney will need to prove that the party is at fault for the crash before an insurance company will accept the claim and grant you insurance benefits.
Soon after getting into a car accident in New Haven, you will be contacted by someone known as the insurance claims adjuster. This is an agent who has been hired by the car insurance company to assess your claim and determine if you are eligible for benefits. The claims adjuster may work for the insurance company or a third party. He or she does not work for you and does not want what is in your best interests. The adjuster’s goal is to convince you to settle your claim for as little money as possible.
When discussing your claim with an insurance adjuster, do not admit fault or apologize for the accident. Politely decline to give the adjuster a recorded statement, as this could give the insurer information to use against you later. If you are sent any documents by the insurance company, such as a medical authorization release form or release of liability waiver, don’t sign. Bring the documents to an attorney for review.
While you may be impatient to settle your car accident case, it is vital not to rush into a fast insurance settlement. Car insurance companies often undervalue initial settlement offers to see if a claimant will jump at the chance to resolve the case and not bother to negotiate for a fairer amount. Once you release the defendant from liability, you cannot go back and reopen your case to seek a higher amount. Before accepting a settlement, bring your claim to a car and motorcycle accident attorney in New Haven to find out how much it is worth.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident caused by the careless, negligent, or intentional actions of another driver in New Haven, contact the law firm of Jacobs & Jacobs today. We have an extensive track record of success handling all types of vehicle accident cases, regardless of the severity. Our goal is the same with every client – to ensure that they recover the compensation they are entitled to. When you need a New Haven car accident lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (203) 777-2300.