You Need an Experienced Car & Truck Accident Lawyer

• Make sure the scene is safe. Get to a safe location so you aren’t at risk of a second collision.
• Call 911 and wait for first responders to arrive. This is the best option for everyone’s safety. It also creates evidence, including the police report and bodycam footage of the scene, that can play a crucial role in establishing your claim.
• Get contact information for the other driver. If the other vehicle involved is a privately owned car, get the driver’s name, address, and phone number, as well as the vehicle’s license plate. If the other vehicle is a commercial truck, you should also get the name and contact information of the trucking company.
• Gather evidence at the scene. If you can, take pictures of vehicle damage, skid marks, any nearby traffic signs or signals, road conditions, and so on. Take pictures of any visible injuries, too. Get names and contact information for any witnesses.
• Don’t discuss the accident with anyone at the scene. To the extent you have to talk about the crash to get names and contact information, stick to the basic facts of what happened and don’t say anything about fault.  If you are in pain, however, you should report that to the police and other emergency personnel, even if you are able to leave the scene on your own.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you do not experience any obvious catastrophic injuries, it’s important to get checked out by a medical provider. Car accidents often cause hidden or delayed-onset injuries. Let the first responders examine you at the scene, then go to the emergency room, an urgent care clinic, or (if they have same-day or walk-in hours) your primary care provider if you are experiencing any symptoms due to the collision.
• Notify your insurance company, but be careful. Tell your insurance company that you were involved in a crash, but stick to the basic facts. Don’t say anything about fault or discuss your injuries in detail. “I am receiving medical care” is enough at this stage.
• Call a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Hiring an attorney quickly has many advantages. The attorney can begin to investigate the accident to gather evidence and deal with the insurance company on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your injuries.

In general, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in civil court. However, much shorter deadlines (as little as 90 days) can apply in some circumstances, especially if the crash involved a government-owned vehicle or was caused by a defect in the road itself. Moreover, the sooner you get legal advice, the more effectively your lawyer will be able to build your case and protect your rights. So, it’s in your interest to contact an attorney as soon as possible.

The legal team at Walsh Woodard LLC represents people injured in all types of car and truck crashes throughout Connecticut, from crashes on highways like I-91 and I-84 to side streets and private roads.

Some of the types of car accident cases we handle include:

•  Rear-End Accidents: When one vehicle crashes into the rear of another, fault for the accident is usually clear. However, the insurance company will often downplay the damages, especially if the crash happens at a low speed.
• T-Bone/Broadside Accidents: These crashes can be especially deadly because the side of a vehicle provides much less protection than the front or rear.
• Head-On Collisions: Head-on crashes can be truly devastating because of the combined force of both vehicles. They are also often hotly contested cases because it may be unclear which car was going the wrong way.
• Car vs. Pedestrian Accidents: When a vehicle hits a pedestrian’s unprotected body, severe injuries can occur, especially if it’s an SUV or pickup truck with a taller and flatter front profile. Our firm gets significant results for injured pedestrians.

Some of the types of truck accident cases we handle include:

• Jackknife Accidents: When a tractor-trailer’s brakes lock up, the trailer can push against the cab and bend into the shape of a folded knife. Smaller vehicles can be severely damaged, especially if caught between the cab and trailer.
• Truck Rollover Accidents: High winds, unbalanced loads, and inexperienced drivers can cause semi-trucks to roll over, creating a massive hazard for everyone else on the road.
• Underride Accidents: When a smaller vehicle hits a tractor-trailer and slides underneath the truck, serious and even fatal injuries often follow.
• Truck vs. Pedestrian Accidents: Because large trucks have huge blind spots, truckers often fail to notice pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users until it’s too late to avoid a serious collision.

Walsh Woodard handles car and truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay us up front or by the hour. If we win your case, our attorneys’ fee is a percentage of your eventual verdict or settlement. If we don’t win your case, we don’t get paid. During your free consultation, we will discuss the details of our contingency fee agreement and answer any questions you may have.