Car accidents, whether minor or not, may be upsetting for everyone involved. Along with the emotions that an accident victim goes through, those involved may question whether or not they can sue or be sued in a minor car accident in Connecticut.
There are laws in place in CT pertaining to car accidents just like any other state, this include the possibility of filing a lawsuit when you are involved in a minor accident.
Continue reading for more information about the legal system in CT and how a CT car accident lawyer can assist you. The team at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law has the resources and expertise to help you resolve your car accident case.
Connecticut Is A "Fault State"
Connecticut is a tort state, otherwise known as a "fault state", in regard to car accidents. When involved in a car accident, the driver who is determined to be at fault is liable for damages.
The injured party may file a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist in a fault-based system to recover damages. Thus, if you are at-fault in a car accident in Connecticut, minor or serious, you may face legal action and be sued.
Negligence Used In Determining Fault
In car accidents, negligence plays an important role in establishing liability. When someone fails to use reasonable care and it causes injury to another person, that behavior is referred to as negligence.
In order to file a lawsuit for an auto accident, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was at fault and that the accident and any resulting damages were directly caused by the defendant's negligence.
Lawsuit Threshold
Although a minor CT car accident may result in a lawsuit, the state has set a threshold for lawsuits.
A financial threshold established by Connecticut law must be reached before an injured party can sue for pain and suffering related to a car accident, which is referred to as the "verbal threshold" or the "dollar threshold."
Connecticut's Verbal Threshold
According to Connecticut law's verbal threshold, the injured party must have suffered serious disfigurement, a permanent injury, or medical costs of at least $15,000. This essentially means that an injury party cannot file a lawsuit for pain and suffering if the minor car accident losses fall short of this threshold.
Insurance Coverage Requirements in CT
All drivers in Connecticut are required by law to have minimum liability insurance coverage. The minimum coverage requirements are $25,000 for property damage, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for bodily injury per person.
These coverage limitations guarantee that people hurt in car accidents are compensated for their losses up to the maximum amount specified in the insurance policy.
Call The CT Car Accident Lawyers Of Brandon J. Broderick
Even though an injured party has to meet the state's threshold limits, there may be legal options for you, even in a minor car accident in CT.
To protect your rights, we encourage you to contact the offices of Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law. Our team of lawyers can help you determine your legal options and take the necessary steps to collect compensation.
Call us right now to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our dedicated car accident lawyers.