New Haven Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Attorney in New Haven, CT

A personal injury happens when one party’s actions inflict harm on another. This may result in economic losses and/or physical injuries, and the victim may seek financial compensation for the harm caused by the other party’s negligence or misconduct. If you or a family member is struggling with any type of harm done by another party, an experienced New Haven personal injury lawyer can build a case and pursue compensation on your behalf.

The legal team at Bartlett & Grippe, LLC has extensive professional experience handling a variety of personal injury cases in New Haven and the surrounding areas of Connecticut, including wrongful death cases arising from fatal personal injuries. If you believe you have grounds for legal recourse against another party, it is crucial to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so they can start building your case.

Building a Personal Injury Case in New Haven, CT

The objective of any personal injury case is for the injured plaintiff to recover the compensation they need after another party has injured them. The at-fault party, or defendant, must be proven to be directly responsible for the losses the plaintiff suffered. Many personal injuries result from negligence or failure to exercise reasonable care, but they can also arise from intentional acts of harm.

When you connect with a personal injury lawyer at Bartlett & Grippe, LLC, we will begin investigating the details of the incident that caused your injury. You can rely on our firm to gather the evidence you need to prove how your accident happened, identify the party or parties responsible, and determine the full scope of your damages. Our attorneys can help you understand what wrongful death is and who can make a legal claim If you have lost a family member in a fatal personal injury, we can provide legal representation for a wrongful death claim.

It’s possible for a personal injury or wrongful death case to arise from a motor vehicle crash, a slip and fall accident, medical malpractice, or an illegal act like intoxicated driving. Once your attorney has helped you prove fault for the injury, they can assist you with uncovering all the various forms of compensation you may be eligible to recover. The right attorney on your side maximizes your chance of success with your case.

Awards & Recognition

Bartlett & Grippe, LLC has been recognized in the Best Law Firms® rankings with a Tier 1 regional ranking in New Haven for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. The firm is also home to attorneys who have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for their work representing injured plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death matters.

Founding attorney Frank C. Bartlett Jr. has earned honors such as an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, recognition in The Best Lawyers in America®, and membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group reserved for lawyers who have achieved significant results for clients. These independent accolades reflect the firm’s depth of experience and the level of advocacy available to personal injury victims in New Haven and throughout Connecticut.

Types of Personal Injury Claims

Personal injuries in New Haven result from the same causes that are found elsewhere in the state. Physical assault is one potential cause of a personal injury claim. The violent crime rate in the city is 1.937 per 1,000 residents in the average year. When someone is the victim of assault, the assailant can face both criminal charges and liability in civil court.

Car collisions are another potential cause of personal injuries. High-speed collisions led to 104 deaths in 2023. A dedicated New Haven high speed accident lawyer can assist those involved in these severe crashes. Head injuries can leave parties liable for medical bills. There were 31,338 emergency department visits in the state for head injuries in 2023. Collisions involving rideshare vehicles, trucks, buses, and passenger vehicles commonly result in injury claims that require negotiations with insurers or direct court action.

When someone suffers an injury on another person’s property, that can lead to a premises liability claim. These cases involve situations where someone slipped or fell due to poor lighting or unaddressed hazards on a property. A landowner may also be liable for failing to keep tenants safe from criminal activity.

Other Claims

Dog bites, defective products, and medical malpractice are also common causes of personal injuries. If you have been bitten, a reliable New Haven dog bite lawyer can help you pursue accountability. Injured victims often receive medical treatment at Yale New Haven Hospital, located at 20 York Street, or at Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus, located at 1450 Chapel Street. Civil claims are typically filed and heard at the New Haven Judicial District Superior Court, 235 Church Street.

Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Connecticut

Like other states, Connecticut sets filing deadlines for civil claims. The purpose of statutes of limitations is to encourage timely court filings and preserve evidence while it is still available. In New Haven, plaintiffs must file civil claims within 2 years of discovering the injury. It is important to review the Connecticut personal injury statute of limitations to ensure you meet all legal deadlines. If they discovered the injury later, they would still be required to meet an absolute three-year limit.

Failing to take appropriate legal action in a timely manner would result in the case being dismissed by the court. Beyond meeting this strict legal deadline, timely court filings can benefit the plaintiff in several ways. Prompt action allows the injured party to present a strong case while witnesses still have a clear memory of events and while important documentation is still readily accessible.

Building a Wrongful Death Claim in Connecticut

Not all personal injuries are survivable. When someone’s death results from another party’s misconduct or wrongful acts, the representative of the estate can file a wrongful death claim in court. Consulting an experienced New Haven wrongful death lawyer is vital for managing these complex legal filings. The administrator who files the claim could be named in the will or appointed by a probate court.

Wrongful death claims can lead to compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses tied to the fatal injury or illness, lost earning capacity, and the pain and suffering of surviving loved ones. The courts focus on the value of the decedent’s life and related losses. Any recovery claimed through legal action then goes to the estate, which can distribute funds according to the will or state laws. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is generally two years.

Claiming Compensation for a Personal Injury Case in New Haven, CT

An injured plaintiff in New Haven can seek compensation for any economic losses. In most personal injury cases, claimable economic damages include medical expenses, property losses, and lost income. Our team can help you calculate the average personal injury settlement amount based on the specific facts of your case. However, some injuries cause lasting damage. A plaintiff may be eligible to seek compensation for ongoing medical expenses and lost earning capacity if they have been permanently harmed.

Additionally, it is possible for an injured plaintiff to claim pain and suffering compensation from the defendant. It may seem difficult to assign a monetary value to physical pain, emotional suffering, or psychological trauma, but your attorney can provide valuable guidance and maximize this aspect of your recovery. Generally, the more serious the injury, the more the plaintiff can potentially receive in compensation for pain and suffering.

Your New Haven personal injury lawyer can accurately calculate all of the economic damages you can include in your case, and they will also help you determine suitable compensation to seek for pain and suffering. They can also address any other issues that arise with your case, such as allegations of comparative fault or options to file insurance claims after vehicle accidents.

What to Do After a Personal Injury in New Haven

The time after a serious accident can be overwhelming. Taking a few practical steps can protect your health and help your attorney build a strong personal injury claim:

1. Get medical attention right away. Even if symptoms seem minor, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries are not immediately obvious, and prompt treatment also creates important medical documentation.
2. Report the incident. For vehicle crashes, contact law enforcement so a police report can be created. For falls or injuries on someone else’s property, notify the property owner or manager and ask that an incident report be made.
3. Gather evidence if you can. Take photos of the scene, vehicles, hazards, visible injuries, and anything else that helps explain what happened. Collect names and contact information for any witnesses.
4. Keep track of your losses. Save medical bills, receipts, estimates, pay stubs showing missed work, and notes about how your injuries affect your daily life and ability to work.
5. Be careful when dealing with insurance companies. Adjusters may request recorded statements or push for a quick settlement. Before signing documents or giving detailed statements, consider speaking with a New Haven personal injury lawyer about your rights.
6. Contact an attorney as soon as possible. Early legal help makes it easier to preserve evidence, address liability disputes, and navigate insurance and court deadlines.

Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in New Haven, CT

While most personal injury victims can eventually recover, sometimes this is not the case. When a personal injury is fatal, the executor or administrator of the estate may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for causing the fatal injury. A wrongful death case is a type of personal injury case that enables the family and beneficiaries of the victim to hold a defendant accountable for the death of the victim.

It’s important to note that a wrongful death claim is a civil action seeking compensation for damages; it does not seek to punish the defendant for violating the law. However, depending on the manner in which the defendant caused the death, it is possible for them to face criminal prosecution from the state as well as a civil wrongful death claim from the family of the victim. Bartlett & Grippe, LLC has extensive experience resolving wrongful death cases for clients in New Haven.

Why You Should Hire a New Haven Personal Injury Lawyer

It’s natural to have a lot of difficult legal questions in the aftermath of a personal injury or a family member’s wrongful death. The decision to hire a personal injury attorney provides you with the support of an invaluable asset in this situation, and the legal team at Bartlett & Grippe, LLC is confident in our ability to address the unique issues you are likely to face in the aftermath of your accident.

The sooner you contact our New Haven personal injury attorney, the more time we will have to build your case based on personal injury laws.

Our goal in every personal injury claim in Connecticut is to maximize our client’s recovery as efficiently as possible. If you have the option to file an insurance claim after your accident, you can trust us to defend you against insurance companies likely to push back against your claim for compensation. We are skilled at building cohesive personal injury claims and can assist you in resolving the case through settlement negotiations or representing you in litigation.

Proving Fault in a Personal Injury Claim

An experienced attorney can help prove fault in your claim. An attorney can collect and review evidence needed to prove your case.

If you have concerns about the cost of hiring legal representation, this is no cause for alarm when you choose Bartlett & Grippe, LLC. We only charge our client a fee if we successfully secure a settlement for their case, and our fee is a percentage of the total compensation recovered. If there is no recovery for the client, they pay no fee, so there is no financial risk in coming to our firm for the legal counsel you need to recover from a personal injury.

FAQs

What Are the Odds of Winning a Personal Injury Claim?

The odds of winning a personal injury claim can be highly favorable once you secure the evidence and documentation you need to prove your case. One mistake injured parties make is failing to secure high-quality legal representation early in the case. Once you have guidance from an experienced injury lawyer, they can guide you through the process with confidence. A fair settlement can go a long way toward relieving the financial stress you are under.

How Long Does an Injury Claim Take to Resolve?

The length of time that it takes to resolve an injury claim varies considerably. Straightforward claims that do not involve the courts may be resolved through negotiations with insurers. More complex cases or claims involving disputed liability or the court system can take longer to settle. Legal representation can play a key role in streamlining the process.

What Is the Average Fee for an Injury Lawyer?

Since each personal injury claim is unique, there is no set “average” fee for an injury lawyer. What many injury lawyers share in common is that they provide services on a contingency-fee basis. This means that clients do not have to pay up front for legal services. Rather, the lawyer deducts a set percentage from the settlement or court verdict. The fee should be disclosed in the attorney-client agreement.

Do Certain Injuries Pay More?

Yes, the value of an injury claim is largely dependent on the degree of harm incurred by the injured party. Catastrophic injuries are a special class of injury that the courts acknowledge. Traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, and spinal cord injuries are all considered catastrophic injuries. An attorney can assess the severity of your injury, gather supporting documentation, and discuss the setbacks you suffered when calculating the value of your claim.

How Can I Maximize the Compensation I Receive?

You can maximize the value of the compensation you receive by working with an experienced injury lawyer. One key step when maximizing compensation is clearly establishing fault so you are not falsely accused of contributing to your own injury.

An attorney can refute any allegations and gather the documentation that is needed to secure a favorable outcome to your claim, so you are not burdened with the financial consequences of another party’s negligent acts.

Contact Our Team of Lawyers to Get Help With Personal Injury Cases

You have a time limit for filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim in New Haven, so it’s important to connect with an attorney you can trust as soon as possible. If you are ready to learn what a seasoned New Haven personal injury lawyer can do for you, contact Bartlett & Grippe, LLC today to speak with a member of our team. With our legal team engaged, you can rest assured that you are getting the quality legal support you need to successfully resolve your case.

Joseph R. Grippe

Joseph Grippe, a partner at Bartlett & Grippe, LLC, is an accomplished trial attorney with 15 years of experience in civil litigation. Specializing in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace injuries, and medical malpractice, he has recovered millions in settlements for clients. With a unique perspective from representing both plaintiffs and major insurance companies, Joseph has tried numerous cases, earning favorable verdicts reported by the Connecticut Law Tribune. His expertise in Connecticut litigation makes him a trusted advocate for injury victims seeking justice.

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