Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Watertown

Lawyers often represent people who suffer injuries in motor vehicle wrecks, boat collisions, bicycle and motorcycle crashes, and accidents involving dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles. A local legal team member could also represent individuals who suffered injuries from:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Construction accidents
• Dog bites or other animal attacks
• Medical errors
• Workplace mishaps
• Fires
• Defective products

Most injuries resulting from these scenarios are preventable. Unfortunately, many incidents are caused by another person’s reckless actions.  If a person who caused an accident acted negligently, the responsible party is liable to the injured individual. Negligence is a failure to behave like a reasonably cautious person would act in similar circumstances.

Multiple parties’ reckless conduct could create the circumstances that led to the accident. If the injured person was careless, they could still hold other negligent parties liable. Connecticut Statutes §52-572h allows negligent people to hold others accountable for the portion of the damages they are responsible for causing.

How Long Does a Person Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

Statutes of limitations are laws restricting the time frame for someone to file a lawsuit. In most cases, a person seeking compensation for personal injuries must file a claim within two years of the event that caused an injury.

In certain situations, exceptions to the law could extend this timeframe. However, other circumstances could shorten the time to file a claim. For example, a drunk driving crash caused a person’s injuries, they could file a lawsuit against the bar that served the driver but must do so within one year of the event. Similarly, if a local government bears responsibility for an accident due to a defective sidewalk or road, an injured person must give notice of their claim within 90 days after the event or lose their right to sue the entity.

Consulting an experienced lawyer in Watertown immediately after an injury could ensure that a defendant receives notice of a claim before critical deadlines pass.

Who is Responsible for Paying for Damages after an Injury?

If someone can prove that another party’s negligence led to an accident, the injured person can claim monetary damages from the responsible party who caused them harm.

Economic Damages

Economic damages reimburse injury-related expenses that can be measured, including medical costs, lost wages, and fees the claimant incurred while recovering from the injury.

Economic damages also include any injury-related losses the individual may incur in the future. Although calculating future damages can be complicated, a legal team member could consult an expert to estimate some of a claimant’s losses. For example, if a claimant suffered permanent injuries that prevented them from returning to their job, an economist could estimate the value of their lost income. The negligent parties could be responsible for reimbursing that income. Similarly, a legal representative might hire a medical expert to calculate the cost of future injury-related treatment.

Non-Economic Damages

The most devastating impact of an injury is its effect on a victim’s quality of life. Although financial compensation cannot repair the damage, it is the only remedy the law provides. An injured person could receive damages for disability, lost enjoyment of life, disfigurement, emotional suffering, pain, and loss of companionship.

A knowledgeable attorney in Watertown could help an individual identify the losses they incurred after an accident and get them the financial compensation they deserve.

Seek Damages for Your Injuries With a Watertown Attorney

You are entitled to financial recovery if someone else’s negligence resulted in your injury. A Watertown personal injury lawyer could explain the process and help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their reckless actions.

You may lose your right to compensation if you delay the process. Schedule a conversation with a local legal professional today to get started on your claim.