Uninsured Motorist Claim Attorney in West Hartford, CT
Each year in Connecticut, there are approximately 92,000 crashes, and they can vary in severity. Some only cause property damage or mild injuries, while others can lead to long-term disabilities and even fatalities.
If you’ve been in an accident with someone who didn’t have insurance, the best thing you can do for yourself is to turn to an uninsured motorist attorney. At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, we’re ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today.
Perhaps some of the most complex types of crashes are those that involve an uninsured motorist. As a responsible vehicle owner, you probably have uninsured motorist coverage, so you may think that the process of getting compensation is easier. After all, you’ll be dealing with your own insurance company.
Unfortunately, insurance companies do everything in their power to keep from paying you what’s rightfully yours. For that reason, an uninsured motorist claim can be a nightmare for many people to deal with.
Table of Contents
- What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in West Hartford, CT?
- Most Common Causes of Uninsured Motorist Crashes in Connecticut
- Why Hiring an Uninsured Motorist Attorney in West Hartford, CT, Is Vital
- Contingency Fees
- Uninsured Motorist Accidents FAQs
- Turn to Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge in West Hartford, CT
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in West Hartford, CT?
To legally drive a car in Connecticut, you need to have liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. You also need to have uninsured motorist coverage, which covers you, your passengers, and your relatives who live with you if they get hurt in an accident with an uninsured motorist.
This type of insurance also covers you if someone hits you and then flees the scene. The standard coverage is the same as your bodily injury liability insurance, so you must have at least $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident. By law, your uninsured motorist insurance can be twice as much as your liability insurance.
In Connecticut, you can also purchase underinsured motorist conversion coverage. If you’re in an accident with someone who’s underinsured, their insurance may not pay for the full compensation value you deserve. However, with this type of insurance, your own company can pay the difference.
Being in these kinds of accidents can be physically and emotionally traumatic, so you deserve to have help from an uninsured motorist lawyer you can depend on. Contact the team at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge to start your claim.
John Kennedy Jr.
Founding Partner
John J. Kennedy, Jr., is the founding partner of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C. In 1988, John formed Kennedy & Johnson, along with David Johnson. John is an accomplished trial attorney, spending most of his more than 42 years practicing in Connecticut, representing injured clients before juries.
Most Common Causes of Uninsured Motorist Crashes in Connecticut
Traffic accidents can occur for a variety of reasons in West Hartford, CT. such as:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents around the country. It’s no different in Connecticut. Each year, approximately 5,200 crashes in the state are attributed to distracted driving.
A driver who takes their eyes off the road even for a few seconds becomes a danger to everyone around them. The most common cause of distractions is using a smartphone, but fiddling with the radio, setting the GPS, eating, and talking while driving can all put others at risk.
Driving Under the Influence
A driver who has had alcohol or taken drugs can easily cause an accident. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is 0.08%, but having just one drink can make a driver less coordinated. This puts everyone on the road at risk.
Whether illegal or prescription, drugs that alter your mood or consciousness are also very dangerous. Drivers can lose control of their cars, fall asleep at the wheel, or experience road rage — all because of the chemicals in their systems.
Speeding
The faster a vehicle is traveling, the less time the driver has to respond to changes on the road. This means that they might not notice hazards with enough time to slow down or stop. This is compounded by the fact that a speeding car will create more force when it hits another vehicle or obstacle, leading to more serious injuries.
Keep in mind, too, that speeding doesn’t only refer to going over the posted speed limit. It also means going too fast for current driving conditions.
Following Too Closely
Following too closely is a contributing factor in more than 30% of all crashes in Connecticut. This action is often connected with either distracted or aggressive driving. It tends to result in rear-end accidents, which can vary in severity depending on how fast the vehicles are traveling.
Why Hiring an Uninsured Motorist Attorney in West Hartford, CT, Is Vital
It’s common to assume that you can quickly file an uninsured motorist claim and get the compensation you deserve, but it’s never a straightforward process. To have the best chance at winning your claim, you need to turn to an uninsured motorist attorney. A car accident attorney will first assess your situation to determine whether you have a claim.
Your lawyer can then begin gathering the evidence to prove what happened. They will also work to demonstrate that you deserve compensation to cover medical bills and more.
If you try to do this alone, you may not be certain of what evidence is most helpful, or you may not have access to experts like those who deal with accident reconstructions. With a lawyer, you can focus on healing from the trauma you’ve suffered without having to worry about gathering evidence yourself.
Your lawyer will then deal with insurance companies. This is not something you ever want to do on your own. Insurers can try a variety of tactics to get you to back off or accept a low offer.
With a lawyer, you have the best chance of getting fair compensation for what you’ve been through. And if the negotiation process doesn’t go well, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and take your case to court.
Something you want to remember is that you don’t have unlimited time to file your claim. The statute of limitations is a very real deadline. If you miss it, you’re no longer able to get any kind of compensation. A lawyer will ensure you meet every deadline.
Don’t try to go through this difficult and stressful process on your own. Rely on uninsured motorist lawyers like us at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge.
Contingency Fees
At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., we handle all Uninsured Motorist Accidents cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid unless and until you receive a settlement or a jury award.
Schedule a free, confidential consultation with a skilled Connecticut uninsured motorist claim lawyer today. Contact us online or call our New Haven law firm directly at 203-865-8430.
Uninsured Motorist Accidents FAQs
What Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Include?
Uninsured motorist coverage covers you, your passengers, and your relatives who live with you if you’re in an accident that involves someone who doesn’t have insurance. To be able to rely on this coverage, the other driver has to have no insurance or have a lower liability insurance than your uninsured motorist limits.
Is There a Time Limit to Uninsured Motorist Claims in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, you have three years to file an uninsured motorist claim. The insurance companies involved have to abide by the law, but they often try to scare victims into accepting lower offers, claiming that they don’t have any more time left.
The complicated nature of uninsured motorist cases makes it vital that you always rely on a qualified and experienced attorney.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Claim if an Uninsured Motorist Hits Me?
After being in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you can claim economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those that have a clear monetary value, including any type of medical expenses related to the injury, from hospital bills to therapy. If your injuries will require ongoing care, you can also claim future expenses.
And if your injuries keep you from going to work and getting the wages that you would otherwise have gotten, you can claim lost wages. In cases where you won’t be able to return to your normal job — or any job at all — because of your injuries, you can also claim future wages.
Non-economic damages are more complex because they involve losses that are subjective. One type of non-economic damage, for example, is pain and suffering. Your lawyer can help you understand the type and amount of damages you’ll be able to claim when you go for a consultation.
Turn to Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge in West Hartford, CT
Being in an accident can leave you with physical and emotional scars that take years to heal. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of the expenses associated with it.
By turning to an uninsured motorist lawyer in West Hartford, CT, like those in our team at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, you can get the help you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Free Case Evaluation
"*" indicates required fields
Office Locations
15 N. Main Street #100 Suite 217
West Hartford, CT 06107
Client Testimonials
Our Results
