Bristol Personal Injury Lawyer

Injuries caused by another person’s reckless or careless conduct are incredibly frustrating to deal with. Fortunately, if you were injured in a preventable accident and suffered any physical, financial, or personal losses as a result, you may have grounds to demand comprehensive compensation from those responsible.

Guidance from a seasoned Bristol personal injury lawyer can be vital from start to finish of a claim like this, especially if you sustained injuries that will last for months, years, or indefinitely after your incident. Beyond just helping you establish legal fault for your accident, a dedicated attorney could also ensure you identify, accurately value, and proactively pursue restitution for every type of harm you can connect to your injuries. Call Berkowitz Hanna today to get started.

What Does Legally Actionable Negligence Look Like?

While every incident resulting in personal injury is different, the basic rules governing any civil claim will remain largely the same. To start, virtually anyone who wants to make someone else pay for damages stemming from a personal injury must first prove that person was “negligent,” a legal concept that has four key components:

  • The existence of a “duty of care”—essentially, an obligation to act a certain way under certain circumstances to minimize the risk of someone else getting hurt
  • A “breach” of duty, whether through reckless, careless, or outright illegal action—or, depending on the circumstances, failure to act
  • Direct causation of an accident through that breach
  • Direct causation of at least one injury requiring professional medical attention through that accident

What counts as a “duty of care” can differ from case to case. It ranges from a general responsibility to follow traffic laws and pay attention to other vehicles, to a much more specific “standard of care” established by equivalent professionals for healthcare providers accused of negligently harming a patient. A Bristol attorney can discuss in detail during a private consultation what circumstances might or might not justify a personal injury lawsuit or settlement demand.

Recovering for All Available Damages

A person who can establish legal negligence as defined above may be able to hold the negligent party liable for all related economic and non-economic forms of harm. In this context, economic damages are objective financial losses like missed work wages and medical bills, while non-economic damages can be various subjective forms of pain and suffering—for instance, lost consortium or lost enjoyment of life.

While a civil claim can incorporate future damages that will not fully manifest for years after an injured person’s accident, Connecticut General Statutes §52-584 states that person generally must file their claim within two years of the date that their accident occurred on. A personal injury attorney in Bristol can offer crucial assistance in building a strong case within this statutory filing deadline.

Speak with a Bristol Personal Injury Attorney Today

Personal injury litigation could be a vital part of the recovery process following a severe accident, particularly one resulting entirely from another person’s irresponsible behavior. Without support from seasoned legal counsel, you may have difficulty obtaining fair civil compensation, let alone the full amount you deserve for your damages.

A capable Bristol personal injury lawyer can give you the custom-tailored counsel you need to get a favorable result from your case. Call Berkowitz Hanna today to schedule your free consultation.