Millions Recovered
A Dollar Figure That Earns Interest
Last Updated - November 13, 2026
Read Time - Ex: 4 minutes
Connecticut gives an injured plaintiff a way to put a firm dollar figure in front of a defendant and attach a financial consequence if the figure is turned down. The tool is an offer of compromise, and it comes from a single statute.
A Written Offer Tied to a Specific Sum
In a civil action seeking money damages, the plaintiff may file a written offer of compromise with the court. The offer is signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney and addressed to the defendant, and it must state a sum certain, meaning one exact dollar amount that would settle the claim.
The offer procedure and its interest rules appear in Connecticut General Statutes section 52-192a, so any figure under discussion should be checked against that text before filing. The section sets the filing dates and the interest rules in one place.
Filing Dates Control the Strategy
A plaintiff can’t file an offer the day suit begins. The earliest date is 180 days after service of process on the defendant, and the latest is 30 days before trial. The count starts at service.
Families deciding whether to proceed can ask a Watertown personal injury lawyer how those dates would apply once the defendant has been served. Tracking service early shows when the first offer date arrives.
The defendant then has 30 days after notice to accept in writing. An offer that isn’t accepted in that time is rejected and can’t be accepted unless it is refiled. Cases alleging negligence by a health care provider follow longer periods: 365 days to file and 60 days to accept.
Suit is the third stage of five on the personal injury case timeline, which runs from treatment through demand, filing, discovery, and mediation or trial. An offer of compromise fits between filing and trial.
Interest Follows a Rejected Offer
If the plaintiff later recovers an amount equal to or greater than the sum certain, the court adds 8 percent annual interest to the recovery. Interest runs from the date the complaint was filed when the offer came within eighteen months of the complaint. When the offer was filed later, interest runs from the date of the offer.
A fast offer set below what the claim is worth is one of the lowball settlement tactics, and a rejected offer of compromise puts interest on the table against that approach. The interest applies only when the final recovery reaches the offered amount, so the figure has to be chosen with care.
The Sum Should Reflect the Whole Claim
The sum certain should account for both economic and non-economic damages, since the offer settles the claim underlying the lawsuit. That includes bills still to come and losses that don’t carry a receipt.
An offer filed before treatment is complete can leave the records thin, and a figure chosen before surgery is recommended may need to rise. Bills already paid give the figure a documented floor.
Filing Happens in Superior Court
The offer goes to the clerk of the court where the case is pending, which for an injury suit is Connecticut Superior Court, organized by judicial district rather than by county. The clerk places the offer and any acceptance in the case record.
After trial the court examines that record to see whether the plaintiff made an offer that the defendant failed to accept. The filing date shows whether the offer met the timing limits.
Ron Etemi’s Insurance Defense Background
Ron Etemi founded our firm and worked in insurance defense before turning to injury cases, which gave him insight into how insurers evaluate and defend claims. He was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 2010 and clerked for Judge Richard A. Robinson after law school.
Etemi Law Injury Lawyers lists medical malpractice, wrongful death, and car accidents among the injury areas on its Watertown page. That page also names dog bites, nursing home abuse, and slip and fall cases.
Three Facts Behind a Sound Offer
An offer rests on three facts that should be in hand:
- The date the defendant was served, which starts the 180-day count.
- The total of bills paid and still owed, plus a medical opinion on future care.
- Lost income records covering time already missed and time expected.
Written demands and counteroffers come first, with each figure backed by itemized bills, wage verification, and receipts when negotiating a fall settlement. An offer of compromise adds a formal step after that process has produced a number.
A plaintiff who proposes a figure too early risks leaving money unclaimed, and one who waits too long can miss the filing date. Anyone planning an offer can reach out to a Watertown personal injury lawyer to map the dates and the damages behind the number.
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Our Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Car Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury
- Defective Products
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Nursing Home Neglect
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Truck Accidents
- Wrongful Death
Case Results
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Rear-End Collision
$850,000
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Tractor Trailer Accident
$1,600,000
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Wrongful Death Judgment
$24,500,000
Judgment against drunk driver in wrongful death case.
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Auto v. Auto Accident
$600,000
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Car Crash
$100,000
Hand injury caused during automobile crash.
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Commercial Motor Vehicle Collision
$2,490,000
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Automobile Collision
$500,000
Case involving automobile collision resulting in serious bodily injuries.
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Motor Vehicle Collision
$1,200,000
Award from arbitration.
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Soft Tissue Settlement
$300,000
Low velocity soft tissue settlement.
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Motor Vehicle Crash
$600,000
Involving spinal injury.
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Dog Bite Injuries
$600,000
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Car Accident
$100,000
Policy limit settlement for nose injury from airbag deployment.
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Mediated Settlement
$155,000
Mediated settlement in case involving complex claims of injury.
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Hit and Run Highway Crash
$395,000
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Head-On Car Crash
$285,000
Leg injury following head-on car crash.
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Amazing experience great staff. Would highly recommend to anyone who has been injured and see for yourselfPosted on Google
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Gabriel L5 days agoThey are great at what they do ,,, life changing great , Ron and Lue are like the Jorden and Rodman of personal injury !!!! Vote for Lue !!!!Posted on Google
Donald D10 days agoEnemies law is real professional they actually care about there clients they call me every month with a update of my case and make sure I am alright as a person also they have put me in contact with Dr's that actually help you Thank you for your servicePosted on GoogleDonald D12 days agoI want to start out by thanking Etemi Law firm for a exceptional job first of all top notch job. I went to Etemi Law Firm with just a picture of a out of state license plate and some personal injuries I was involved in a hit and run accident on 95 first they got me lined up with the right Drs to help me with my recovery then they started there job in no time they had the driver of the truck that hit me but also the company the truck was leased to that was in Texas good investigating I had Attorney Semir Dervisi he did a fantastic job all the way to the mediation hearing he wasn't taking nothing less then I deserved and he did everything he said he was going to do we went over my case serval times so I knew exactly what was going on and if your lucky enough to get Michelle as your paralegal you got the best she called me every month just to check on me in my recovery make sure I was getting all the right treatments I needed,answered any questions I had she would answer and if she didn't have the answer she would get with the attorney to get it and call me back she is wonderful hard working lady. I would highly recommend Etemi if you need a attorney that caresPosted on Google
Wislyne N28 days agoI had a great experience, I have no complaints. It was such a smooth process. Michelle is so so sweet, she was so communicative and understanding and patient with me. Ron is also awesome!!Posted on Google
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Victor J176 days agoRon ( lawyer)at Etemi Law helped us alot in our case. He was honest and very informational as this was our first case. If I needed a lawyer again I would go through Etemi Law. I have nothing but the best things to say about them. Very pleased. Each n every member of this law firm professional n courteous, specialy Ms VE, always kept us informed about casePosted on Google
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Clams198 days agoVery very grateful I was referred to Etemi Law. Lou, Ron & Michelle made me feel like family, and this may sound crazy but I’m going to miss them. I can tell you with certainty that they are all great at what they do, and I would not hesitate at all to recommend them to friends and family. 100% the best, not even a close second to Etemi Law.Posted on Google
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Jefrey R212 days agoI can’t say enough great things about Lou and his entire team. From the very beginning, they treated me with professionalism, respect, and genuine care. After my car accident, I was stressed and unsure about the process, but Lou and his crew made everything feel manageable and kept me informed every step of the way. Their communication was excellent, always answering my questions and making sure I understood what was going on. You can tell they truly fight for their clients and don’t settle for less than what you deserve. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, they were able to reach a settlement for my case, and I couldn’t be more grateful. If you’re looking for an attorney who is knowledgeable, responsive, and truly has your best interests at heart, I highly recommend Lou and his team. They really go above and beyond.Posted on Google
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Etemi Law Injury Lawyers
Founded by Waterbury natives Ron and Lou Etemi, our firm is deeply connected to the communities we serve. We bring determined advocacy and proven results to serious injury cases across Connecticut.