How to Find an Accident Lawyer in the New Haven Area

If you suffered injuries and monetary losses due to the negligence of an individual, business, or another party, you could have the right to seek damages. Examples of cases accident lawyers handle on a daily basis include but are not limited to: 

Car Crashes and Other Motor Vehicle Accidents

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2 million individuals suffer injuries due to motor vehicle crashes each year. Suffering catastrophic and disabling injuries in a car or truck accident can change lives forever and potentially cause long-term physical pain, emotional distress, and sky-high medical bills for victims. 

An accident attorney can represent you in all types of motor vehicle accidents, such as:

• Car crashes
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents

Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners must ensure that their premises are reasonably safe for patrons and visitors. If they let dangerous or hazardous conditions persist, such as slippery floors, broken floorboards, and others, property owners or lessees could be responsible for an accident victim’s damages. 

Falls can be deadly and cause debilitating injuries, particularly in the elderly. If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries after a fall due to a hazard or lack of maintenance at a property in New Haven, contact Morgan & Morgan today for help and advice. You could have a case.

Medical Malpractice

Accident lawyers can help victims of medical malpractice get justice. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or other medical professional breaches the general standard of care. Examples of medical malpractice include:

• Surgical and anesthesia errors
• Medication errors
• Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis
• Birth injuries
• Early discharge
• Lack of adequate aftercare
• Failure to order or interpret lab results

Medical malpractice can include a variety of incidents and accidents where a medical professional or institution acted negligently. Medical malpractice cases can be challenging and lengthy to litigate. They typically require a wealth of evidence, including the testimony of medical expert witnesses. Having an experienced and determined accident lawyer in your corner can be crucial in medical malpractice cases. 

Dangerous or Defective Products and Drugs

Defective consumer products and drugs can cause considerable harm to individuals. Dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, and unsafe products can result in recalls and personal injury or class-action lawsuits. You could be entitled to compensation if you got hurt by a defective product or drug.  An attorney can assess your case and inform you of your legal options.

Work Accidents

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a worker suffers an injury every seven seconds in the U.S. If you suffered an injury at work, you can generally file a workers’ compensation claim. However, depending on the facts of your accident, you could also potentially file a lawsuit against a third party and recover additional damages. Third-party liability generally occurs when anyone other than the employer caused the accident, such as another contractor or a property owner. 

Other Accidents

Legal action can arise due to a variety of incidents, including boating and aviation crashes, nursing home abuse, dog and animal attacks, and many other accidents occurring due to others’ negligence. Our dedicated legal team near New Haven can help determine whether you have a case and could pursue compensation.

You can take a number of steps to find a good accident lawyer in the New Haven area, such as: 

Asking Friends and Family for Attorney Referrals

Word of mouth from friends and family can be priceless when you are looking for a good accident lawyer in New Haven. Family members or friends may have had an attorney represent them successfully in the past. Therefore, a good first step in your search can be asking people you trust about their experiences with local accident attorneys. On the flip side, asking for referrals can also be a good way to find out about bad experiences and attorneys to avoid.

Researching Accident Attorneys Online

You can find accident attorneys in your area from the comfort of your home by conducting an online search. Online client testimonials and reviews can also give you a good indication of how clients experienced a specific law firm or attorney. 

Scheduling Free Consultations

Once you have a list of potential attorneys, you can schedule free consultations to get to know a firm or attorney personally. Make sure to inquire about the extent of your lawyer’s training and experience. Questions you could ask at a first consultation can include:

• What is your experience with accident cases?
• Have you handled cases like mine before?
• Have you won at trial?
• Who will be handling my case?
• How frequently will we communicate?
• How much involvement do you expect from a client?

Discussing Fees Before Signing an Agreement

Ask your prospective attorney about fees at the first consultation to prevent any unpleasant surprises later on, such as a steep bill for hourly fees. While most attorneys do not recover a fee if they lose a personal injury case, prospective clients should make certain that this is the case with their choice of firm. 

Moreover, there can be other costs that claimants could be responsible for when filing a lawsuit, such as:

• Court filing fees
• Expert witnesses’ fees
• Costs for pulling official documents
• Transcription costs

Some lawyers tie these miscellaneous costs into their overall fee, while others ask for an upfront payment from clients. Make sure to ask your attorney whether you have to foot the bill for these expenses.

The personal injury attorneys at Morgan & Morgan understand the financial chaos that victims face, with medical bills and other expenses racking up while compensation may be some time away. When we take your case, you do not pay a dime unless and until we win.

Trusting Your Gut Feeling

Finding a good accident lawyer is also about your personal comfort level. Consider choosing the attorney or law firm that genuinely cares and wants to help you get justice. If you attend the first meeting and feel uncomfortable or find that your questions and concerns remain unaddressed, it is time to move on and find a better match. 

If you suffered injuries in any kind of accident that happened due to another’s fault, you need to protect your legal rights as soon as possible, which should include:

• Filing an accident report
• Taking photographs of the accident scene and your injuries
• Gathering contact information of witnesses
• Visiting a doctor as soon as possible even if you feel fine
• Attending all follow-up medical appointments and adhering to the care plan
• Collecting evidence and receipts of your damages
• Contacting an accident attorney as soon as possible

What You Should Not Do

Knowing what not to do can be just as important after an accident. The following could severely hamper your rights to legal recourse and should be avoided at all costs:

• Posting any facts about your accident or injuries to social media
• Admitting fault or apologizing at the scene of an accident
• Discussing your case with anyone other than your attorney

Knowing what you are responsible for when it comes to attorney’s fees is essential if you do not want to risk being out of pocket after a lawsuit. Most accident lawyers work with a contingency agreement, which means that you do not have to pay upfront fees. The lawyer will recover their fee only if you win and receive a settlement. If you lose the case, you are free to walk away without having to pay your lawyer, even if they spent weeks working on your case.  

However, it is crucial to note that not all personal injury attorneys work with a contingency fee arrangement. Some attorneys charge retainers or hourly fees that could leave you with thousands of dollars to pay, whether you win or lose your case. Discussing the issue of fees with your prospective accident attorney can be essential before agreeing to hire them.

There is no way to predict the exact value of your case. However, after assessing your particular accident and circumstances, as well as your damages, an accident attorney in New Haven may be able to provide you with a rough figure. 

Generally, your overall settlement can include economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages can include: 

• Medical expenses and future medical costs
• Loss of income and future income losses
• Property damage
• Household assistance
• Transport costs
• Out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages can be subjective and complicated to calculate as they do not come with receipts or dollar amounts. However, after a significant injury, your non-economic damages could be considerable and can include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of life enjoyment

Accident victims typically find it challenging to estimate their damages and future expected expenses. However, in order to fight for a full and fair settlement in your accident case, you will need to know what your case is worth. An accident lawyer from Morgan & Morgan can help. Contact our Connecticut office to find out more.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the vast majority of personal injury cases are resolved out of court and never go to trial. However, individuals filing a lawsuit should be prepared to go all the way. Any case could potentially go to trial, especially if fault in an accident is unclear or a lot of money is at stake. 

Parties in civil cases have the option to agree to a settlement at any time before trial. Out-of-court settlements can have a number of advantages, such as a guaranteed result, privacy, and a timely resolution. 

A personal injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan can protect your legal rights and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. Should it come to trial, they will present your case in the strongest possible terms.

The correct timing can be vital when it comes to filing a personal injury claim. If you are still receiving treatment or are in the middle of recovery, filing a lawsuit can be tricky. You may not yet know the scope of your injuries and future expenses, and neither does your doctor. After an accident, especially one that caused serious injuries, you generally must reach maximum medical improvement before your doctor and attorney can estimate the extent of your future medical treatments and expected damages.  

However, it is generally a good idea to seek legal advice as soon as you can after an accident, so you can get clear on your options and the best course of action. Most states have stringent deadlines when it comes to filing personal injury lawsuits. In Connecticut specifically, according to the General Statutes of Connecticut section 52-584, you generally have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Filing too late could prevent you from recovering damages. An attorney can help determine the appropriate timing for your lawsuit.

Morgan & Morgan understands the emotional and physical pain—as well as financial consequences—that accident victims face. We have won billions in trial verdicts and helped countless individuals recover the settlements they need to go on with their lives. Our compassionate and tenacious accident lawyers work closely together with clients, providing them with the legal counsel and personal attention they deserve. 

We do not shy away from fighting large corporations or litigating complex cases. When Morgan & Morgan takes on your case, our attorneys will work tirelessly to fight for justice and compensation on your behalf. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.