Fairfield, CT Car Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Accidents Caused by Driver Negligence in Fairfield

In Fairfield, car accidents happen daily on local streets and highways throughout the community. These collisions can cause injuries ranging from minor harm to catastrophic damage, and they can disrupt people's lives and create financial hardships for victims and their families. Negligent drivers who are responsible for car crashes should be held accountable for the harm they cause.

Unfortunately, navigating insurance claims and obtaining compensation for the injuries suffered in a car accident can be more complicated than victims may expect. At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our attorneys have the experience needed to help car crash victims address the financial losses and other damages that have affected their lives. We fight to secure fair compensation that will fully address the effects of accidents.

What Are Fairfield's Most Dangerous Roads?

There are some unique traffic hazards that affect people on major thoroughfares throughout Fairfield, including:

• I-95: South Fairfield County's stretch of the interstate ranks as one of the busiest highways in the United States. Congestion, stop-and-go traffic, and drivers who are unfamiliar with the area can contribute to the increased danger of accidents on this road.
• U.S. Route 1/Post Road: This commercial corridor sees constant accidents from distracted drivers, pedestrians, and vehicles entering from parking lots.
• Merritt Parkway (Route 15): This parkway features narrow lanes, sharp curves, and many trees that increase the likelihood of serious accidents.

These busy routes account for a significant portion of Fairfield's annual crash statistics.

Types of Car Accidents and Their Causes

Different types of collisions can occur due to driver negligence, including:

• Head-On Collisions: These accidents can happen when drivers cross over the center of a road and strike oncoming vehicles. Issues such as distraction, impairment, or falling asleep at the wheel may lead to devastating collisions. Wrong-way driving on highways or one-way streets also causes head-on crashes. The combined force of both vehicles creates severe impacts that frequently result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
• Rear-End Accidents: Distracted driving is a leading cause of collisions where people strike vehicles in front of them. Drivers who talk on phones, check text messages, or do not pay attention to the road for other reasons may fail to notice that traffic ahead of them has stopped or slowed down. Following too closely, speeding, and aggressive driving can also lead to rear-end collisions. While these accidents sometimes cause minor injuries, high-speed impacts can result in serious harm, including whiplash, back injuries, and head trauma.
• Side-Impact Collisions: T-bone accidents commonly happen at intersections when drivers run red lights or make improper turns. The lack of protection on the side of a vehicle can make these collisions particularly dangerous.
• Sideswipe Accidents: Drivers who fail to check blind spots or signal when changing lanes may cause these collisions. While they can sometimes result in minor damage, sideswipe accidents can cause drivers to lose control and crash into other vehicles or objects.
• Multi-Vehicle Pileups: These accidents may occur on highways when one collision triggers subsequent crashes. Chain reactions may develop when drivers cannot stop in time to avoid accidents. Poor weather, excessive speed, and tailgating can contribute to these complex crashes.
• Parking Lot Accidents: Even though these collisions may occur at lower speeds, they can still cause injuries. Drivers who back out of spaces, cut across parking lanes, or fail to yield can cause collisions with other vehicles, or they may strike pedestrians.

How Driver Negligence Causes Accidents

Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of car accidents. Activities like texting while driving, talking on phones, eating, adjusting vehicle controls, and interacting with passengers can take a driver's attention away from the road. Even brief moments of inattention can result in serious crashes.

Speeding is another factor that leads to many accidents. Drivers who travel above the posted limits will have less time to react to hazards, and they will take longer to slow down and stop. This may prevent them from avoiding dangerous collisions. During rain, snow, or fog, drivers who do not reduce their speed may be responsible for causing accidents.

Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs is one of the most common causes of serious accidents. Alcohol use can affect a driver's vision, reaction time, and coordination, making them much more likely to cause an accident. Drug impairment, including the use of certain prescription medications, can also affect a person's driving ability.

Aggressive driving behaviors, including tailgating, weaving through traffic, cutting off other vehicles, and road rage, can increase the risks of car accidents. Drivers who treat roads as competition zones or who become angry at other motorists may make decisions that endanger everyone.

Fatigued driving can affect people in ways that are similar to alcohol use. Drivers who have not slept adequately or who drive during hours when their bodies expect sleep are more likely to experience issues such as reduced reaction times and lapses in attention. These issues can prevent a person from being able to avoid a collision. In some cases, fatigued drivers may fall asleep at the wheel, causing devastating crashes.

Recovering Compensation Through Insurance Claims

An injury victim can file a claim under the insurance policy of a driver who was at fault for a car accident. These claims can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other damages. Insurance companies will investigate claims, and their goal will usually be to minimize payouts. Accepting an initial offer without understanding the full extent of the damages that have occurred may result in inadequate compensation.

At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our attorneys can help clients document their damages thoroughly and strengthen their insurance claims. Medical records, bills, verification of lost wages through employers, photographs of injuries and damage to vehicles, and expert opinions from accident reconstructionists and medical professionals can support claims. We can negotiate with insurance adjusters and respond to the tactics that they may use to reduce or deny claims. If necessary, we can take cases to court to ensure that full compensation will be paid.

Addressing Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accidents

When a driver who was at fault for a car accident did not have insurance or had insufficient coverage, compensation may be available through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage can provide compensation when a driver had no liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage addresses situations where a driver had liability insurance, but the limits of their policy were too low to cover a victim's damages.

Calculating compensation in these cases will involve determining the total amount of a victim's damages, obtaining available liability insurance under the policy of the at-fault driver, and filing claims for the remaining amounts through a victim's own insurance policy. Our lawyers can help ensure that these procedures are completed correctly, and we will advocate for full coverage when negotiating with insurers.

Contact Our Fairfield, Connecticut Car Accident Attorneys

Car accidents can lead to serious injuries that may create financial hardship and disrupt the lives of victims. When negligent drivers cause crashes, they should be held accountable. At Tremont Sheldon P.C., our attorneys work to recover fair compensation for car crash victims. We will handle all aspects of insurance claims and litigation, fighting to maximize our client's recovery. Contact our Fairfield car crash injury lawyers at 203-335-5145 to arrange a free consultation and learn how we can help you address the injuries you have suffered in a car accident.