Understanding Fault in Holiday Accidents and When to Call a New Haven Personal Injury Attorney

Thanksgiving weekend is synonymous with good food, family, and unfortunately, complex auto accidents on Connecticut’s roadways. If you’ve been injured in a crash, the central question your case hinges on is liability, who was at fault?

In Connecticut, which operates under a fault-based system, the at-fault driver is financially responsible for the victim’s damages. However, things can quickly become complicated, especially on the busy, congested streets of New Haven.

Navigating Connecticut’s Comparative Negligence Rule

A key aspect of liability in the state is the Modified Comparative Negligence rule. This is particularly relevant when holiday traffic congestion leads to multi-car collisions on major arteries like I-91 or I-95.

This rule means:

• You can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident.
• Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your total damages are $100,000 and you are found to be 20% at fault for the crash, you can recover $80,000.
• Crucially, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation.

Proving that the other driver was primarily negligent is the most important step in securing fair compensation. As a New Haven personal injury firm, we often see cases where:

1. The Rear-End Collision: The driver behind you on a congested road (like Route 34) failed to maintain a safe distance and slammed into your vehicle. Liability is almost always placed on the rear driver.
2. The Lane Change/Merge: A driver frantically trying to get off at an unfamiliar exit cuts across multiple lanes without signaling, causing a side-swipe or chain-reaction crash.
3. The Intersection Violation: A driver runs a red light or stop sign, a common sight in busy downtown New Haven intersections, due to impatience or distraction.

The Insurance Company’s Strategy: Shifting Blame

The at-fault driver’s insurance company has one main goal: to pay you as little as possible, which often means trying to pin some or all of the blame on you. They may claim you braked too suddenly, that you were distracted, or that your vehicle’s movements contributed to the crash.

Do not let an insurance adjuster dictate the outcome of your case. Your recovery for medical treatment, property damage, and lost wages depends entirely on successfully establishing the other party’s liability.

If you were injured due to another driver’s negligence this holiday season in New Haven, call our office today for a free consultation to discuss your claim.