Stamford, CT, Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
In Connecticut, being an at-fault state means you typically seek compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance. However, if the at-fault driver is uninsured, you may need to explore other options to recover your losses.
In 2023, there were a total of 100,020 car accidents in Connecticut. These accidents involved 240,484 people and resulted in all kinds of injuries, property damage, and other losses.
Because Connecticut is an at-fault state when it comes to motor vehicle accidents, you can usually recover losses from the at-fault party’s insurance, but what if they don’t have insurance? If you have an accident with an uninsured motorist, you need to hire a car accident lawyer for help.
At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, we offer representation for those who are dealing with losses after an accident that was the result of a driver’s negligence. Contact us to speak with a Stamford, CT, uninsured motorist lawyer about your claim.
Understanding At-Fault Laws in Connecticut
In the state of Connecticut, the person who holds the highest percentage of fault in an accident is the one who has to pay damages. The state also follows modified comparative negligence doctrines, which state that you can recover losses even if you were partly at fault as long as you hold less fault than the other party.
Under Connecticut law, drivers have to carry liability insurance with the following minimum amounts:
- $25,000 for property damage per accident that you cause
- $25,000 per person to cover bodily injury liability in accidents you cause
- $50,000 for total bodily injury liability if an accident you cause leads to injuries in two or more people
The problem is that liability insurance doesn’t cover injuries that you sustain if someone else crashes into your vehicle. For that, you would need to have personal injury protection insurance. Connecticut also requires that you carry underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, which covers you if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t have enough insurance or doesn’t have it at all. This insurance has a minimum coverage of:
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per accident
If an uninsured driver hits you or if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run, you won’t have access to the other party’s insurance. This means you recover from your uninsured motorist insurance. If the other party was underinsured and their insurance doesn’t cover all of your losses, your uninsured motorist insurance can step in and provide the rest.
Because of the complexities of Connecticut laws when it comes to motor vehicle accidents, it’s important to hire an uninsured motorist lawyer with experience. Contact us at Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge to speak with our experienced Stamford personal injury lawyers.
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.
Why You Need a Stamford Lawyer for Uninsured Motorist Cases
Since Connecticut is an at-fault state, it’s essential that you prove that the other person holds the majority of the fault. Otherwise, you can’t recover from your uninsured motorist insurance.
To do this, you must demonstrate that the other party had a duty of care toward you and that they breached that duty. Anyone driving a vehicle on the road has a responsibility to do so safely and while following all traffic laws. If, for example, the driver that hit you was speeding, that shows that they breached their duty of care.
You then have to show that the negligent action they took (like speeding) led to your injuries and that you can be compensated for those injuries. This means providing medical records that demonstrate exactly how your injuries occurred and that list all of the treatments you received.
It can be tough to do this on your own, especially when dealing with injuries. Instead, relying on uninsured motorists attorneys provides the chance for you to focus on healing physically and emotionally from the accident.
A lawyer will be able to investigate the claim and gather the necessary evidence. At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, we have contacts with expert witnesses, including medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts. They could be able to provide testimonies to support your claim.
Another crucial benefit of a lawyer for these kinds of cases is that they know how to negotiate with insurance companies. Insurance companies don’t want to pay you — even if it’s your own insurer. They will try everything they can, including making low offers and bullying you into accepting them.
A personal injury lawyer will fight your corner and negotiate aggressively to get you the compensation you deserve. If they see that negotiations aren’t going as well as they’d like them to, then they’ll take your case to court.
Steps to Take After a Uninsured Motorist Accident in Stamford
The moments after an accident can be some of the most crucial. Remember that your safety and well-being come first, so you never want to put yourself at further risk after a collision. This means staying still for a few seconds to take stock of yourself.
Do you feel significant pain? Do you have trouble moving your arms or legs? Are you actively bleeding? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, don’t move. Instead, call emergency services as soon as possible.
When they arrive, have medical professionals examine you. Do this even if you think you’re not injured. Often, the shock of the accident holds the pain back, and you may inadvertently make injuries worse because you don’t know you have them. A medical professional will be able to spot them and get you the care you need.
You then need to call the police. When officers arrive, let them know exactly what happened, and be sure to ask how you can get a copy of the report. You’ll need it for filing a claim with your uninsured motorist insurance provider.
Get as much evidence of the accident as possible. Take photos of your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, street conditions, and anything else that can paint a clear picture of the crash. If there were eyewitnesses, get their contact information.
Let your insurer know you were in an accident. Keep the conversation as brief as possible and immediately contact an attorney for uninsured motorist claims.
Contingency Fees
At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., we handle all Uninsured Motorist Claims 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 personal injury lawyer today. Contact us online or call our New Haven law firm directly at 203-865-8430.
Uninsured Motorist Claims FAQs
How Much Can I Get From an Uninsured Motorist Claim?
Each claim is unique, but most of the time, if you suffer catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injuries, you can recover more than if you suffered only mild injuries. To have a better idea of what you can expect from the claim and the entire filing process, call a Stamford uninsured motorist attorney.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Accidents in Connecticut?
Distracted driving is still one of the most common reasons accidents occur. In 2022, there were 5,200 crashes attributed to distracted driving in the state. Distracted driving can include texting, changing the radio station, speaking with passengers, or doing anything else that takes attention away from the road.
Speeding accidents are also common, leading to potentially serious injuries because of the force that a vehicle traveling at a high velocity creates. Someone who’s speeding will have a much more difficult time stopping to avoid a collision if a hazard unexpectedly appears.
Intoxicated driving also occurs in Connecticut. The state is fifth in the country for impaired driving deaths. A driver who’s under the influence of drugs or alcohol will have slower reflexes and less coordination, making accidents more likely.
How Much Will an Uninsured Motorist Claim Cost?
Contact KJSR for Help in Stamford, CT
The aftermath of a vehicular accident can leave you struggling with serious injuries, a damaged car, and many other losses. If the other person wasn’t insured, the first thing you need to do is contact a lawyer to help you with your claim.
At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, we have decades of experience helping people throughout the state of Connecticut get the compensation they deserve to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and more. With our team of Connecticut uninsured motorist lawyers at your side, you can get justice.
Call our firm today to speak with an uninsured motorist attorney about filing a claim.
Free Case Evaluation
"*" indicates required fields
Office Locations
15 N. Main Street #100 Suite 217
West Hartford, CT 06107
Client Testimonials
Our Results
