Bridgeport Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal injury lawyers represent those who have been injured due to the negligence of one or more parties. If the victim is fatally injured or killed as a result of negligence, a personal injury lawyer can seek compensation for surviving family members through a wrongful death claim.

It is the duty of the personal injury attorney to represent the best interests of an injured client and advocate for a fair resolution of his or her claim. It is important to contact an attorney early because a personal injury lawyer can help with the following:

1. Investigating the accident: The exact nature of the investigation depends on the cause of the injury. Generally, the process involves obtaining witness statements, reviewing accident reports, etc. to determine (a) how the accident occurred and (b) who is at fault.
2. Collecting evidence: The evidence in your case must prove that the negligence of the defendant(s) caused your injuries and subsequent damages. In addition to gathering evidence of what caused the accident (such as photographs of the scene, witness testimony, etc.), our personal injury lawyers thoroughly review your medical records to assess the cause and severity of your injuries.
3. Hiring expert witnesses: Testimony from relevant experts can help strengthen your claim for compensation. For example, medical experts can testify as to the nature of your injuries, financial experts can testify as to the effects of the injuries on your ability to work, etc. Our attorneys know which experts to hire to help prove your case.
4. Calculating damages: Accurately accounting for all of your losses from a personal injury requires a thorough understanding of your injuries and how they will affect your life long-term (or, in some cases, permanently). Compelling evidence and expert testimony are crucial for establishing the full compensation you are due.
5. Negotiating a favorable settlement: The majority of personal injury claims are resolved via out-of-court settlement. A personal injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to settle the claim. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit and – ultimately – go to court to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Unlike many personal injury lawyers in the Bridgeport area, The Flood Law Firm does not hesitate to take cases to trial if it means achieving a better result for our clients. We have earned a reputation as capable trial attorneys who never hesitate to go to court if defendants and insurers refuse to play fair.

1. Get a free consultation today. Call us at (877) 987-9529 or by using this contact form. We’ll ask a few simple questions about what happened and hear your story. Ask any question and all information is kept 100% confidential.
2. Hire your attorney. We will review a “Retainer Agreement” with you, which makes you an official client and outlines our commitment to you. There is no upfront cost and we will only collect a fee if we secure compensation for you.
3. We notify the other party’s insurance company. This is done with what is called a “Letter of Representation,” and simply lets the other driver’s insurance company know that an attorney is representing you.
4. We build your case. Next, we will begin gathering the necessary info to build your case, including your medical records, bills, and photos of your injuries. We can also put you in touch with top-rated medical help in Bridgeport.
5. We handle all the phone calls. Your attorney will take over any phone calls or communication with debt collectors or creditors who may be harassing you for payment. We’ll also field calls from the other driver’s insurance company.
6. We file a lawsuit. This is the formal request for what you are entitled to as compensation for your losses. This often prompts the other party to settle your claim.
7. We negotiate a settlement or take your case to trial. We will aggressively negotiate fair compensation for your injuries. If the other party is unwilling to agree on this number, your attorney will file a lawsuit.
8. We resolve your case. Whether by settlement or trial if necessary, your attorney will pursue the other party until you are justly compensated for your injuries and the case has been resolved.

Compensable damages in a personal injury claim are categorized as economic and non-economic. You may be entitled to recovery of the following losses for a personal injury caused by someone else’s negligence:

Economic Damages

• All medical expenses, including the cost of transportation via ambulance, emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation and therapy, etc.
• The cost of ongoing and future medical treatment
• Lost wages, if your injuries impact your ability to work
• Loss of earning capacity, if you suffer permanent impairment that affects your ability to work
• Property damage
• Out-of-pocket costs for medical care, such as medications, assistive devices, etc.
• The cost of traveling to and from medical appointments
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Expenses for professionals to perform housework you handled prior to the injury
• Costs related to home-based medical care and support

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disability
• Scarring and disfigurement

A third category of damages, known as punitive damages, may also be awarded in select circumstances. The Connecticut Office of Legislative Research states that punitive damages may be available “when the evidence shows a reckless indifference to the rights of others or an intentional or wanton violation of those rights.”

Courts in Connecticut have discretion in awarding punitive damages. Our personal injury lawyers will collect compelling evidence on your behalf and seek recovery for all of the losses you have sustained.

This will vary between law firms. Unfortunately, many people think they won’t be able to afford an attorney on top of the mounting expenses that come after an injury. However, there are zero out-of-pocket fees for filing a personal injury claim at The Flood Law Firm. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay a fee if we are successful in winning a recovery on your behalf. The thousands spent on investigations, court appearances, filing fees, expert witnesses, and anything else related to your case are at no cost to you unless compensation is secured for your case.

Most law firms do not openly discuss their fees, though we understand this is top of mind for many people. At The Flood Law Firm, our fee is typically 33% of the recovery amount up to $300,000. For amounts above $300,000, our fees reduce on a sliding scale and continue to decrease as the verdict or settlement amount increases.

Do you have questions about how the recovery and payment process works? We welcome your inquiries! Please contact us anytime at no cost or obligation by calling (860) 346-2695.

There are more than a few ways to find the right lawyer for your case. Here are our best tips on what to keep in mind as you search for your attorney:

• Choose a lawyer with trial experience. Not all lawyers have courtroom experience, and your case may or may not go to trial. If it does, be sure your lawyer has a successful track record for your particular case type.
• Hire a lawyer who practices the type of law you need. Not all lawyers are equally equipped, and yours should be able to show you past examples of successful outcomes for the same type of case as yours. If you hire a lawyer who normally represents insurance companies, for example, there may be unintentional bias and the results might not end in your favor.
• Meet your lawyer in person. Make sure that you not only discuss your potential claim before deciding on a lawyer but meet him or her in person.
• Find a lawyer you’re comfortable with. Your case could take months, or in certain cases, even years to resolve. Be sure to choose a lawyer you feel confident about working with. Go with your gut. At The Flood Law Firm, many of our clients become close friends long after we have resolved their cases. They remain a part of our growing law firm family.
• Friend or family referral tips. You may hear of a lawyer through someone you know. In this case, make sure the lawyer handles the same case type (personal injury) and check for yourself if the lawyer is right for you, rather than taking another person’s word for it.
• Ask a lawyer you know. If you’ve used a lawyer in the past, their experience may not be a good fit for this new case. Having a previous connection to a lawyer does not guarantee a favorable outcome. Ask the lawyer to refer your case to the right law firm.

It is in your best interest to consult an attorney about your personal injury case as soon as possible. Your first priority should be receiving medical care for your injuries. Once your injuries are stable and/or you have been released from the hospital, you should contact a Bridgeport personal injury lawyer promptly.

Delays can lead to the loss of important evidence and leave less time to prepare a strong claim. What’s more, Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 imposes a time limit of two years to file a lawsuit on all personal injury claims. If you fail to bring a claim within this two-year time limit, you will likely be barred from recovering compensation.

Your first meeting with a lawyer will most likely be a free consultation, preferably in person. How do you prepare? First, there’s no need to be intimidated. Your lawyer understands that you didn’t go to law school and won’t speak to you in legal jargon. Here are tips to prepare when you’re meeting with a lawyer for the first time:

• Be honest. This may be the single most important factor. During your time, your lawyer will be trying to determine whether you have a case, and the only way to do that is with the facts. While it’s normal to want to gloss over our mistakes as humans, lying to your lawyer ruins your credibility. Let him or her help you by being as transparent as possible.
• Come prepared with details. In order to determine whether you have a case, your lawyer will need as much factual evidence as possible. This includes the timeline of events, photos, or medical documents for any injuries, all related medical bills, etc. It’s especially important to know the order in which the events happened.
• Focus on the facts. Your lawyer understands that you have suffered. However, your free initial consultation should be spent assessing the facts of your case, rather than using the time to process emotions. As much as you can, try to focus on providing your lawyer with details unclouded by your feelings. This will help you both know how to proceed.
• Ask questions. If you don’t know what a term means, don’t nod your head as if you do. Now is the time to clarify anything you don’t understand, and know that it’s okay to ask questions. Your lawyer is expecting you to have them. Plus, it’s free!
• Find the right fit. Meeting your lawyer is not a one-sided evaluation. Your lawyer is also looking to see if it will be a fruitful endeavor to pursue your case based on your time together. Both parties should be on the same page with this to ensure the best possible outcome.

It’s best to know what to look for when choosing a lawyer. Start with asking the questions below:

1. How much experience do you have with this type of case?
2. Are you prepared to take my case to trial if necessary?
3. What is your success rate at trial?
4. How much is my case worth?
5. What potential challenges do you see with my case?
6. Will I owe any fees if my case loses?
7. Which attorney at your firm will be handling my case?
8. How is your law firm different from others in the area?
9. Do you provide client references?

You are not automatically entitled to compensation after suffering a personal injury. It is important to be aware of what your attorney needs to prove to recover damages in your case.

The elements of a personal injury claim are:

1. The defendant(s) owed you a duty of care: First, you must establish that the party or parties that caused your injury had an obligation to exercise reasonable care in performing an act that posed a risk of foreseeable harm. One of the simplest examples of the duty of care is the obligation motorists have to obey traffic laws and avoid risky behavior that can lead to an accident.
2. The defendant(s) violated this duty through negligence: Negligence is the failure of an individual to take reasonable action that a prudent person would take to avoid causing injury to someone else. The evidence must demonstrate how the actions of the defendant(s) deviated from the acceptable standard of conduct in the given situation (e.g., a motorist who knowingly exceeds the speed limit and causes a crash would almost certainly be considered negligent).
3. The negligence of the defendant(s) caused your injuries: You must prove that the negligent or wrongful actions led directly to your personal injury.
4. Your injuries resulted in damages: In addition to presenting evidence of your injuries, you must also show proof that you sustained economic and non-economic damages as a result.

Each of these elements is difficult to prove on your own. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is essential for uncovering all of the necessary evidence, identifying all of the liable parties, and maximizing your compensation.

You do not technically have to hire a lawyer. However, it is in your best interest to do so. The legal process can be daunting and time-consuming: submitting documents, finding quality medical care, communicating with the other driver’s insurance company and their lawyers are just a few tasks that can quickly become overwhelming. Unfortunately, insurance companies might also pressure you to settle quickly or deny your claim in full!

Did you know that studies show injured victims who hire a lawyer receive an average of 40% more for their claim than when not hiring a lawyer?

You may not imagine that a simple fender bender could turn into a lawsuit. But when the insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly or dismisses your claim altogether, you need an experienced attorney to fight on your behalf. Enlisting the help of an attorney releases the burden of a lawsuit into the hands of an experienced litigator. Our law firm will do all the work while your only job is to heal.

As a general rule, it is always worth bringing a personal injury claim if you were harmed through no fault of your own. Insurance may cover some of your losses, but the only way to be “made whole” after an accident caused by somebody else is to take legal action against the individual(s) responsible.

This is especially true if you suffer a catastrophic personal injury. Serious injuries require extensive medical care and can have wide-ranging effects on one’s life. Insurance might pay for only a portion of the expenses, leaving victims to bear the majority of the burdens (economic and non-economic) on their own.

You do not have to suffer by yourself if the negligence of another results in personal injury or the wrongful death of a loved one. The Bridgeport personal injury lawyers at The Flood Law Firm have obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. We can put our experience, resources, and passion for winning, to work for you.