Car Accident? How New CT Laws Will Affect You

Car Accident? How New CT Laws Will Affect You

Car accidents are harrowing experiences at best. Making auto repair arrangements are an annoyance. Arranging for coverage at work inconveniences you as well as your co-workers. And recovery from a severe car crash is often a painful, lengthy, and expensive process. Fortunately, two laws were recently signed by the governor, both of which will benefit the victims of car crashes.

The first law concerns lawsuits involving bodily injury claims resulting from motor vehicle accidents. If both parties agree, the case can be handled by an arbitrator, as opposed to in court. For the victims, this means that the case will be settled more quickly and in an informal setting. Furthermore, arbitration for this type of case is generally considered very fair. This law (Public Act 14-156) will take effect on July 1, 2014, and will be applicable to any civil action which is pending or filed on or after this date.

Protecting the injured party from insurance companies is the objective of the second law. In a nutshell, if you are injured or your vehicle is damaged in a car accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance should cover some or all of the damages. What this law does is prevent your insurance company from reducing the amount it pays you by any monies paid to you by the insurance company of the driver at fault. This law (Public Act 14-20) will take effect on October 1, 2015.

Know the law.

- Personal Injury Lawyer and Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Paul James Garlasco