Your car accident may result in injuries to yourself and passengers, as well as damage to your vehicle. But not all accident costs are obvious at first. You might be unable to work for an extended period of time, making it difficult to support your family. Medical expenses can add up quickly, especially if your injuries are more serious than initially diagnosed. Your vehicle may be a total loss, leaving you without transportation. In a worst-case scenario, your bills can top six digits at a time when your income is close to zero.
Connecticut is a “fault state,” meaning the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the cost of injuries and damages. Your first step is immediately filing a claim with the driver’s insurance company. If you run into trouble settling your claim, you can file a lawsuit against the driver in civil court. In the meantime, though, you still have bills to pay.
Settlements are more complex than they appear
Unfortunately, the legal process is difficult to navigate. Getting your medical expenses covered, for example, requires you to make a claim under your own car insurance policy if it includes Medpay/Medical Payments Coverage. You might also have to file a claim through your personal health insurance. If you do not have enough coverage, you could end up paying out of your own pocket. The good news: Eventually, the other driver will be responsible for covering your medical costs. The bad news: That happens only after your claim is settled, which can easily take up to a year.
You face other legal hurdles if the driver who is at fault has either no insurance or too little insurance to cover your expenses. In these cases, you must file an uninsured motorist claim or an underinsured motorist claim, respectively, against your own insurance.
Cut through the challenges with an expert adviser
If you have been in an accident, determining what you deserve as fair compensation is a complicated legal path. If you’ve been injured, you may be out of work and struggling to support your family. Taking on another task, especially one where you are not familiar with the rules, is overwhelming. One innocent mistake on your part can undermine your claim. You may feel like you are at the mercy of government bureaucracy and a giant insurance company.
Car accident attorney Jeremy Vishno, of Vishno Law Firm, has been helping people just like you in Fairfield County, Connecticut for over 25 years. His personal, down-to-earth style enables him to customize a legal case to serve your situation. He will fight on your behalf to secure justice and a fair financial settlement for you and your family. Contact us today for a free consultation.