Connecticut Personal Injury Litigation
Moore Kuehn focuses on all areas of personal injury litigation. Personal injury cases may concern a wide range of facts and claims, such as dangerous products, defective drugs, medical negligence, food contamination, unsafe work conditions, and car accidents. When a company or individual fails to follow the law, properly investigate their product, or report problems or side effects, they put the well-being and safety of their customers and the public at risk and violate the law.
Connecticut is especially prone to personal injury litigation because of overcrowded roadways. In 2017, Interstate 95 in Connecticut was ranked the fifth most dangerous interstate in the country by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Another report, published by GeoTab, names I-95 in Connecticut as the #19 most dangerous highway in the U.S. for the most crashes as well as the most fatal crashes. The Merritt Parkway and other highways, like I-84, are equally dangerous with sharp bends and dim lighting.
Indeed, Connecticut is well known for speeding, roadwork, and distracted drivers. Moore Kuehn has handled many car accident cases on I-95, especially in the Bridgeport and Stamford area, from high speed crashes with commercial tractor trailers to a fender bender parked in an emergency lane. Our attorneys are experts in commercial trucking regulations and other laws regulating Connecticut highways.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-549u et, car accidents with an estimated value of less than $50,000 are eligible for arbitration. Arbitration decisions must be rendered within 120 days of the hearing. This can help expedite the resolution of a car accident case when less serious injuries are at stake. Either party can appeal the arbitration decision within 20 days.
Why Choose Moore Kuehn?
- We handle serious injury cases in Bridgeport and other major Connecticut cities involving surgeries, extensive permanent scarring, and herniated discs, among others.
- We handle cases in almost every Connecticut court, including Stamford, Bridgeport, Danbury, New Haven, Hartford, New Britain, New London, the Connecticut Appellate Court, and District Courts.
- We handle all aspects of an injury case including arbitration, doctor referrals, interviewing experts, or appearing in bankruptcy court to lift a stay.
- To date, we have never lost a case, securing a settlement of judgment for all our clients with personal injuries.
What Is Personal Injury Litigation?
Personal injury occurs when one person suffers harm from an injury or accident that was someone else’s fault. Litigation is the process of taking legal action through the courts, as opposed to other means of dispute resolution, such as mediation. Personal injury litigation is a legal action filed by an injured party against the at-fault party or parties, typically for the purpose of seeking monetary damages for losses.
What Are the Elements of a Personal Injury Claim?
The law allows people who are harmed by the negligence or wrongdoing of others to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages in civil court. To have a successful personal injury case, the plaintiff (injured party) must prove each of the following four elements:
- Duty of care: This is simply the duty or obligation that the defendant (responsible party) owed to the plaintiff to protect his or her safety and wellbeing. The legal duty of care varies depending on the parties involved. For example, all drivers have a duty to others on the road to drive in a safe, responsible, and reasonable manner to reduce the risk of accidents. Property owners have a duty to people who enter their premises legally to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition, free of hazards. However, where trespassers are concerned, the duty of property owners in Connecticut is limited to not intentionally harming or laying a trap for the trespasser.
- Breach of the duty of care: It must be shown that the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant violated a law or statute or failed to exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would have exercised in similar circumstances. Examples of breach of duty, or negligence, include speeding, texting while driving, allowing a vicious dog to run loose, and failing to remove ice from a sidewalk.
- Causation: The plaintiff must show that the actions of the defendant caused the plaintiff’s accident and injuries. This is one of the most important elements of a personal injury claim.
- Damages: To recover compensation for the harm suffered, the plaintiff must prove damages. Economic damages are designed to compensate the plaintiff for actual financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages. Noneconomic damages compensate the plaintiff for intangible harm, such as pain and suffering or mental anguish.
Common Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits
Our experienced Connecticut lawyers represent plaintiffs in a wide range of personal injury matters, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and negligence
- Premises liability (including slip and fall accidents)
- Defamation of character (libel and slander)
- Product liability (dangerous and defective products)
Get In Touch with Our Firm Today
If you have been seriously injured or harmed through the negligence or wrongdoing of another, you have a legal right to pursue compensation from the responsible party. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim. Contact Moore Kuehn at fmoore@moorekuehn.com for a free case evaluation.