What seems like a simple mistake can quickly turn a day that starts like any other into a nightmare. After a car accident, your life can change fast. Not only does a serious accident affect your physical health, but it can have a dramatic impact on your mental and emotional health as well.
On top of these stresses, mounting bills and extended time off work can result in a huge financial burden. When a car accident causes you injuries and financial loss, you need help – fast. Working with a personal injury lawyer can make it possible for you to recover maximum compensation for your losses and help you and your family start on the path to recovery.
Often, car accident victims want to know what kind of a settlement they are likely to receive. So what is the average amount for a car accident in Connecticut? The truth is, each case is unique and an “average” amount depends on a number of factors: the circumstances of your accident, the severity of your injuries, and the damages from the incident.
An easy-going conversation with the team at Gould Injury Law can help you get the help you need faster than if you handle legal matters on your own. Call our lawyers today at 888-WIN-FAST to start your free consultation today.
What Should a Car Accident Settlement Include?
Ideally, your car accident settlement should at least cover all the expenses related to the incident. While no dollar amount can erase the effects of the accident, it should in a way compensate for all damages suffered, whether they are economic (specific financial losses) or non-economic (non-financial losses).
Medical expenses
Many Connecticut personal injury victims have experienced just how fast medical expenses can begin to pile up. Especially in the case of serious or extensive injuries, even the initial medical bills for emergency treatment can easily start increasing.
One of the major factors in your potential settlement amount is the total medical expenses caused by your accident. This will depend on details such as:
- The nature of your injuries
- What treatment was necessary
- What hospital or medical facility provided treatment
To give an example, here is a list of sample charges for various medical procedures at Rockville General Hospital in Vernon, CT:
- Contrast x-ray of abdominal artery: $4,739.33
- CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast: $3,642.06
- Injection of bone cement for fractured spine: $24,822.82
- A singular broken finger or toe: $1081.17
- First 30-74 minutes of care for critically injured: $3,700
- Hospital observation and care (each hour): $550
- Room & Board in the ICU: $4,929.38
These prices may not reflect the exact charges for your injuries and treatment, but they help give an idea of how fast bills can grow after an accident. Especially in the case of serious, life-threatening injuries, the bill for the initial medical treatment can quickly surpass $100,000.
After the initial injuries are treated with an initial hospital stay, there are often additional medical expenses that should be factored into your settlement amount as well.
For example, this could include:
- Modifications to your home or vehicle
- Physical therapy
- Home care
- Ongoing treatment
Your personal injury lawyer can ensure that your settlement includes not only the initial medical costs but also future medical expenses related to your injuries.
Lost wages
Part of your settlement should compensate for your lost wages and earning capacity due to the accident. Your settlement amount will depend on factors such as how many days of work you lost, whether your injuries limited your ability to work in the same capacity, or whether you suffered permanent or long-term disability.
In some cases, a person’s injuries have required either a reduction in the amount of work he or she can perform or a job change. In other cases, a personal injury victim is never able to work again due to a resulting disability.
Call our team at Gould Injury Law for fast legal assistance. When you work with one of our personal injury lawyers, he or she can examine your circumstances and help determine the fair compensation you deserve.
Emotional damages
Economic damages are more straightforward because they have a dollar amount attached to them. While emotional damages are harder to evaluate, you deserve compensation for these damages as well.
Emotional damages that may be a part of your settlement can include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental distress and suffering
- Permanent impairment or loss of function
- Disfigurement
- Loss of the ability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- Loss of consortium
Your lawyer can help you understand which emotional damages you can claim as part of your settlement. While some states have caps on the amount of economic or non-economic damages, Connecticut does not.
How Insurance Limits and Fault Laws Can Affect Your Settlement Amount
Each state has its own laws that can impact personal injury compensation. If your car accident took place in Connecticut, local Connecticut laws would apply, even if your vehicle was registered or insured in a different state.
Working with a local personal injury lawyer who is familiar with state laws is an important step in order to recover compensation both fast and fair.
Connecticut personal injury fault laws
The role fault plays in recovering compensation depends on the state. Connecticut follows a system called “modified comparative negligence.” Under this rule, the car accident victim is able to receive compensation as long as he or she is under 51 percent responsible.
Imagine that the total damages in your potential claim were $100,000 and you were found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident. In this case, you would be able to recover $80,000 of compensation. If you were found to be 51 percent or more responsible, though, you would not be able to receive any compensation.
Connecticut insurance limits
Another factor that can impact the amount of your potential settlement is the insurance limits of the available policies. In Connecticut, the minimum amount of liability coverage required by law is:
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per accident for multiple victims
In addition, uninsured/underinsured coverage is also required by law. This coverage is generally equal to the bodily injury liability coverage. When the at-fault party’s insurance policy is not sufficient to cover your damages, your UM/UIM policy can provide additional coverage.
Thankfully, many people carry more than the minimum coverage. However, in cases where the policy limits are low but the damages are significant, this can impact a potential settlement amount. As seen, the damages in a serious accident can easily go higher than the minimum insurance coverage offers.
A personal injury lawyer may be able to identify additional at-fault parties in order to maximize the compensation you can receive.
Sample Connecticut Car Accident Case Results
The team at Gould Injury Law is dedicated to helping injured car accident victims in Connecticut. For years, we have provided our clients with the fast, reliable legal representation they need.
While past results can not predict future results, we are proud of the successful cases we have won for our clients.
Some of our happy car accident clients include:
- Craig suffered a knee injury that required months of physical therapy and arthroscopic surgery. We settled his case for $100,000, paying for all his bills.
- Tom re-injured his back in a work-related car accident and needed back surgery. After recovering some compensation through workers’ comp, the insurance company for the at-fault driver initially denied his claim. We settled his case for the policy limits of $300,000.
- Jerome was a passenger in a car accident in which he broke his knee and required surgery. After suffering from an infection, he needed additional treatment. We settled his case for $300,000.
- Lola was struck by a driver as a pedestrian. She broke her shoulder and needed surgery. We settled her case for $250,000, and her settlement also included compensation for “doggy daycare” services to walk her dog for nearly two months while she recovered.
- Wayne was hit by a drunk driver and suffered strains and sprains in his back. Initially, the insurance company offered a “top” offer of $15,000. We settled his case for $100,000.
Get Help You Need With “The Fast Firm”
After an accident, the last thing you need is the added stress of dealing with the insurance company. Instead of fighting for you to recover the settlement you need and deserve, these insurance companies are fighting to deny you compensation.
What you need is a team of legal professionals on your side who can represent you and your rights. At Gould Injury Law, known as “The Fast Firm,” our experienced lawyers are tough on the insurance companies and personally committed to each client’s best interests.
By maintaining close communication and collaboration with our clients, we are able to develop a personal relationship with them. We want to understand your story and build a strong case on your behalf.
We want to use our experience, legal knowledge, and dedication for you and your family. Connecticut’s “Fast Firm” is ready to help. Contact our team today to schedule your free consultation, or call us at 888-WIN-FAST.