Do I Need A Bridgeport Car Accident Lawyer to Get a Settlement?

When a negligent driver injures you in a Bridgeport, CT accident, you don’t immediately think about car accident attorneys. When you’re seriously injured, you must prioritize emergency medical care over everything else. Once you move beyond the initial post-accident crisis, a legal consultation should be priority number two. As you consider your next step, ask yourself, “Do I need a Bridgeport car accident lawyer to get a settlement?” 

“Yes” is the most prudent answer to this question

Long before you recover from your injuries, you’ll encounter legal issues, financial losses, potential disabilities, and unanticipated lifestyle transitions. When a car accident attorney represents you, a legal team works on your behalf. As your representatives, they prepare your case and protect your rights while you take time to rest and recover. 

Why shouldn’t I handle my car accident claim without a lawyer? 

You can probably handle your injury claim without legal assistance, but ‘probably’ doesn’t mean you should. Unless you have experience dealing with claims adjusters, you might not realize that they’re treating you unfairly. If you negotiate your own settlement, you’ll always wonder if you should have demanded more.

Of course, the choice is yours alone. Before you decide you don’t need a lawyer, consider these additional questions. 

Will the liability insurance adjuster offer me a settlement?

Even if an insurance adjuster contacts you within hours of your accident, they may never offer you a settlement. When an insurance company initiates contact, they follow an agenda dictated by an insurance company. Here are just a few of a liability adjuster’s immediate tasks. 

• Get the injured person’s version of the accident. 
• Learn more about their injuries. 
• Assess them as a potential witness.
• Control the case to prevent them from contacting an attorney. 

Many adjusters have no authority to settle your case

In some cases, an insurance company’s adjuster  will have minimal or no settlement authority. Alternatively, the insurance company’s representative may be an independent adjuster billing the company for their services. In these situations, the person with whom you communicate will have no right to offer you anything unless the company grants it. 

You must ask the insurance adjuster for a settlement

As a liability claim involves unresolved legal issues, a liability insurer doesn’t have to offer you a settlement. They initiate settlement negotiations to prevent litigation, minimize future losses, save defense costs, and avoid the appearance of bad faith. 

And yet, in many cases, if you don’t ask for a settlement, a liability insurer may eventually close their file and hope you simply go away. 

Why do I need a car accident attorney to get a settlement? 

A car accident lawyer puts their law firm’s legal skills to work for you. They know how to resolve injury claims because they do it every day. They can hear your accident version and identify relevant legal issues. When evaluating a serious injury, they know which factors matter. They become seasoned negotiators because they’ve learned to work through insurance company delays and rationalizations. 

Attorneys realize that a settlement can’t undo your accident-related trauma, but it might help you live a better life. To recover fair damages for their injured clients, car accident attorneys do what’s necessary 

Discuss your case for free

When you contact a car accident lawyer, they will schedule a complimentary consultation to talk about your accident. During this initial appointment, they listen to your version and discuss your injuries. Based on the information you share, a lawyer can identify any legal issues and let you know if they can help you.  

Execute a representation agreement 

A free legal consultation doesn’t obligate you or an attorney to work together. If the relationship feels like a good fit, you formalize it with a written agreement. Representation agreements must comply with ethical and professional standards described in the Connecticut Practice Book. They outline both parties’ rights and responsibilities, and they explain the law firm’s contingency fee arrangement.  

Handle your case without sending a bill 

It may be months or years after your accident before you recover enough to settle your claim. During that time, your attorney works on your behalf without sending you a bill. When your attorney resolves your case, they receive a contingency fee based on a percentage of your settlement. 

Connecticut General Statutes set contingency fee percentages. They allow 33 & ⅓ percent on awards or settlements up to $300,000. Percentages decrease as a settlement amount increases. 

Investigate your accident

Once a law firm formally represents you, a legal team investigates your accident, reviews the evidence, and prepares your case. 

• Obtain statements: drivers and witnesses 
• Obtain formal documents: police reports, ambulance reports, etc.
• Conduct site investigation: inspect, diagram, and photograph
• Confirm vehicle information: inspect damage, confirm ownership
• Consider experts: determine if your accident requires expert analysis 

When you consult with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident, you enhance their efforts to document key evidence that supports your case.

Place all responsible parties on notice

Sometimes more than one person can cause or contribute to an accident. When an attorney investigates your claim, they identify all negligent or responsible parties. They notify each potential defendant in writing about your injury claim. Attorneys also request that they report a claim to their insurers. Parties responsible for a Bridgeport car crash may include: 

• The negligent driver
• The vehicle owner
• A negligent repair or maintenance operation 
• A manufacturer that produced a defective vehicle or vehicle part
• The entity responsible for a defective, worn, unsafe pavement  

Evaluate your Injuries 

Attorneys and liability insurers rarely have the same opinions about an injury claim’s settlement value. After an insurer establishes a claim value and sets a loss reserve, they usually try to settle for a lower figure. If they make an offer, it might not adequately indemnify you for your damages.

A Bridgeport car accident attorney researches your injuries and evaluates your case based on multiple factors. 

• Their knowledge of similar injuries
• How your injuries affected your life and lifestyle 
• Incurred medical bills, lost income, future economic losses
• Your pain, suffering, scarring and other non-economic damages
• Recent settlements with similar injuries
• Recent court awards for similar cases 

Send a demand letter 

An attorney usually initiates settlement negotiations when you’ve reached maximum recovery. They usually begin the process by sending a formal demand letter to the insurer. The letter may explain their negligence theory. It also demands a dollar settlement amount to compensate you for your injuries. 

Negotiate your injury claim 

When the insurer is willing to negotiate fairly, attorneys may be able to resolve your case informally. This may involve phone conversations, letter exchanges, or sitting down together to hash out the details. 

Do I have to file a lawsuit to get a settlement? 

Bridgeport car accident attorneys settle many cases without filing a suit. These often involve minor injuries or serious cases where a person has reached maximum recovery. Lawsuits are usually unavoidable when the statute of limitations is close and an injured person’s recovery status remains unpredictable. 

This often occurs when a person sustains catastrophic injuries that require extensive treatment and recovery times. In situations such as this, an attorney must file a lawsuit to preserve their client’s right to make a claim at a later time. Attorneys also file lawsuits when the responsible party’s insurer doesn’t negotiate fairly. 

Do I need a Bridgeport car accident lawyer to get a settlement?

If you’ve sustained injuries in an accident, you already understand that recovery takes time, energy, and effort. You need time to heal. You probably shouldn’t subject yourself to the ongoing stress of handling your own injury claim. 

When you consult with a car accident lawyer, your initial appointment is free. During your discussion, you can learn more about your legal options. An attorney will offer feedback and share information to help you make an informed choice.