Car accidents turn lives upside down in seconds. Beyond the pain and stress, you face medical bills, lost wages and car repairs. You deserve fair compensation from the person responsible for the crash.
Knowing what affects your settlement can help you prepare for the road ahead and ensure you receive what you deserve.
Responsibility for the accident
Determining who’s at fault greatly matters since Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Under this system, you can still get money even if you were partly to blame, as long as you’re less than 51% responsible.
But your payment drops by your percentage of fault. If you deserve $100,000 but were 20% at fault, you’d get $80,000 instead. Insurance companies often try to blame you more than they should to pay less.
Severity of your injuries
More serious injuries usually mean higher payments. This makes sense because worse injuries cause:
- Bigger medical bills
- More time off work
- Greater pain and suffering
- Possible lasting problems and medical needs
Insurance companies look at your medical records and doctor reports to decide how much your injuries are worth.
Insurance policy limits
No matter how badly you’re hurt, every insurance policy has a maximum amount it will pay. Connecticut requires drivers to have at least $25,000 per person in coverage.
If your medical bills and other costs go higher than the at-fault driver’s insurance limits, you might need to use your own insurance to cover the difference.
Your evidence and proof
The better your evidence, the more compensation you’ll likely receive. Strong cases include comprehensive documentation, such as:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Photos or videos
- Complete medical records
Weak or contradictory evidence gives insurance companies leverage to offer lower settlements or dispute liability altogether. Without good proof, insurance companies will offer much less money.
Get the compensation you deserve with legal help
These four factors work together to determine your final compensation amount. Working with an experienced legal professional can help improve your chances of fair compensation.
Attorneys know what you need to support your claims and how to present your case effectively. They also know how to counter insurance company tactics. With legal help, you can focus on healing while making sure you get the money you need and deserve.
