Personal Injury FAQs

It is normal to have a lot of questions if you were recently injured in an accident in Connecticut and are considering a personal injury claim. This legal field can be confusing and overwhelming without assistance from an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Connolly Brennan Ralabate, PC, we offer free consultations, where an attorney can answer all of your questions at no cost or obligation. In the meantime, we hope that these FAQs can help.

What Is Personal Injury?

Personal injury is a field of civil law where an injured accident victim can seek financial compensation if a careless, reckless or negligent party causes his or her injuries. The legal definition of negligence is the failure to act with a reasonable amount of care, causing injury or harm to another person or party. The goals of a personal injury claim are to hold a negligent party accountable and make the victim whole again.

A personal injury can refer to any physical or mental harm caused to a victim due to another person’s wrongful acts. There are many different types of personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability accidents (e.g., slip and fall lawsuits), defective product claims, medical malpractice and workplace accidents.

What Is the Difference Between an Insurance Claim and a Lawsuit?

Filing an insurance claim is not the same as bringing a lawsuit against a party for causing your injuries. An insurance claim will result in a settlement. This is an out-of-court agreement between you and an insurance company to resolve your legal dispute for a certain amount of money. A lawsuit, on the other hand, is a trial before a judge and jury in which the jury will determine whether you will receive financial compensation and the amount of the judgment award. The vast majority of personal injury cases in Connecticut settle.

How Long Does it Take to Reach a Settlement for My Case?

The answer to this question will depend on factors that are unique to your individual case. You will need to speak to an attorney for a definitive answer. That being said, the average settlement timeline for a personal injury case that does not encounter any obstacles is about three to six months. If you have serious injuries, the insurance company is refusing to treat you fairly or you encounter other challenges, a resolution for your case could take one year or longer.

How Much Does the Firm Charge?

Connolly Brennan Ralabate, PC operates on a contingency fee basis. This means that our representation is free unless we make a financial recovery. Our promise is that if we do not secure financial compensation on your behalf, you will not receive a bill for any of our legal services, guaranteed.

During your case, we will front all of the costs of investigation, negotiation and litigation. Then, if we win your case, we will charge our fees as a percentage of the settlement or judgment won. The fees that we charge change according to the specific factors of the case and the amount of work that is required. If we do not win your case, you won’t pay.

How Does a Contingency Fee Work?

With a contingency fee payment arrangement, the attorney will not get paid unless you do. A contingency fee works by providing high-quality legal representation to an injured accident victim, regardless of socioeconomic status or financial situation, as well as motivating the personal injury attorney to achieve the highest possible financial outcome for the client. It keeps your lawyer honest in advocating for your best interests.

This fee setup gives every injured accident victim, regardless of race, color, gender, disability or other factors, an equal chance to go up against a defendant without issues related to financial resources. It balances out the justice system and allows victims to go up against powerful corporations and insurance companies.

For further questions about a personal injury case, contact our attorneys at (203) 493-0093 to request a free consultation.