Car accidents can comprise more than just vehicle damage. If it is serious enough, it can send you to the hospital and leave you with incredible amounts of pain. Fortunately, you could be entitled to monetary damages to compensate you for your losses, which you can fight for with the aid of a Norwalk car accident lawyer. A skilled personal injury attorney like George W. Ganim, Jr., can help you gather all relevant documents and pieces of evidence required to make a successful case.
What Are the Automobile Insurance Rules?
Connecticut General Statutes § 14-112 requires all drivers in the State of Connecticut to have liability insurance with minimum coverage limits of $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 aggregate for personal injuries and $25,000 for property damage. Drivers must also obtain coverage that will compensate them if they are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
When police investigate a collision, they will prepare a report that could assign fault to one of the involved drivers. Norwalk follows the traditional rule that the driver who caused an accident must pay the damages of anyone who suffers losses as a result.
A claim for compensation must be submitted to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The at-fault party’s insurance company can be held liable up to their insured’s limits of coverage. If the at-fault party’s insurance is not adequate to cover your losses, then your underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation. In the event that the at-fault party failed to maintain any liability insurance then your accident attorney will need to file an uninsured motorist claim in order to secure compensation for your injuries. It is best to hire a local car accident attorney to handle this process for you.
Settlement Offers Might be Inadequate
In the days or weeks after a car crash, you might receive a settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurer. Although you might think it is a good idea to accept the offer and put the matter to rest, Attorney Ganim believes that doing so is unwise in most cases.
When a person is hurt in a vehicle accident, their total injuries and losses might not become clear for some time afterward. If an injury is slow to heal or complications develop, further treatment could be necessary. If you have already accepted a settlement check, these additional expenses will not be covered.
The awarded compensation should cover all of your unreimbursed medical expenses, as well as future medical care that the injury will require. Negligent parties also are liable for the injured person’s lost income and diminished earning opportunities, as well as property damage. A Norwalk auto collision lawyer can assess your losses and push for a settlement that puts you in the financial position you would have been in if the accident had never happened.
Seeking Legal Counsel
Automobile accident cases are often resolved through negotiations. The sooner you begin working with a professional advocate, the stronger your negotiating position is likely to be. Attorney Ganim can identify all possible sources of insurance coverage and demand that you receive the maximum payout that your losses merit.
In the rare case when it is impossible to secure an adequate settlement through negotiation, you can take a lawsuit to trial. Connecticut allows an injured person two years from the date of their crash to file a lawsuit seeking compensation, so you should retain legal services as soon as possible.
Put Your Trust in a Norwalk Car Accident Attorney
If you were in a car wreck and suffered injuries, finding the right attorney could have big impact on the amount of money that you receive. A Norwalk car accident lawyer will work tirelessly until you get the compensation you deserve. Time for action is limited, so schedule a free consultation with Attorney George W. Ganim, Jr. today.