Pursuing Compensation For Car Accident Injury Claims
Only few law firms in Connecticut can claim to have handled hundreds of auto accident cases. Since founding the Gillis Law Firm in New Haven, in 1978, we have handled thousands.
Firm partners Joseph L. Gillis and Edward M. Gillis each have more than 20 years of legal experience. In that time, they have handled numerous cases involving almost all types of motor vehicle accidents and injuries against insurance companies across New England and the U.S.
Working Together For Great Results
We have extensive skills as courtroom trial lawyers and as negotiators. We work with accident reconstructionists, investigators and medical experts to fully investigate cases and prepare them for their highest result in negotiations, mediation and court. Our thorough preparation, combined with honed legal skills, has resulted in high-value awards for countless clients.
We Combine Results-Oriented Legal Service With The Personalized Service You Deserve
The attorneys at Gillis Law Firm do not treat any case like it’s “routine.” We realize that your case is likely your one chance to obtain the compensation you need and deserve following another’s negligence. We work hard to fully prepare your case while drawing on decades of legal experience. We also work closely with our nine-member support team to ensure that you receive personal representation and have complete day-to-day access to needed information following a car accident.
We can promptly and fully investigate the facts of your crash. By interviewing witnesses, obtaining police reports, medical reports and statements from medical providers, we can build the strongest possible case prior to negotiations or trial. To learn more, call 866-603-9810 to arrange a free initial consultation.
We Represent You On A Contingency Fee Basis
Our experienced and established practice also means that we have the resources to carry case expenses when litigation lasts for one or two years or even longer. Yet, your risk doesn’t rise with expenses because we have a “no recovery, no fee policy”: If we don’t win an award for you, you pay nothing. For more information and to schedule a no-charge consultation, please contact our firm.
Comprehensive Experience Handling Fatalities And All Accident Injuries
We take a hands-on approach to all of our injury cases. While we investigate your auto accident case and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf, we will keep you informed without making you feel that you need to take on these responsibilities yourself.
This is true whether you have suffered a “minor” whiplash injury or the death of a loved one. Other car crash injuries we have experience handling include:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and back injuries
- Knee and joint injuries
- Auto burn injuries
Unlike other law firms, we do not shy away from the “small” cases. We understand that soft tissue injuries can lead to lifelong challenges and are prepared to fight for maximum compensation for these injuries. We also have the resources to handle car accident cases involving more serious injuries and wrongful death.
Cellphone Use And Car Accidents
According to a report from the Pew Research Center, 40 percent of teens report that they have been in a vehicle where their drivers’ use of a cellphone put them in danger. Whether it is texting, emailing or simply answering a call, cellphone use while driving endangers others on the road and passengers in the car.
Texting while driving is illegal in Connecticut because it poses a threat to other drivers on the road. According to a study performed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average length of time a person looks at a text is 4.6 seconds. In this seemingly small amount of time, however, a car going 55 mph can travel the length of a football field. Looking away from the road for even a moment can lead to a serious motor vehicle accident.
If you suspect that the driver who caused your injuries was talking, texting or otherwise distracted, it is important to work with an attorney who is experienced at handling these cases. Our lawyers are experienced at investigating accidents involving cellphone use, emailing and other forms of distraction. We will work to subpoena cellphone records, emails, witness statements and other evidence essential to your case.
Dangerous Highways Of Connecticut
Any highway can be dangerous if there are negligent, careless, drunk or distracted drivers on the road. Faster speeds on interstates 95, 84 and 91 can result in more damage to vehicles involved in an accident.
In our practice, however, we have found that intersections of major freeways and construction sites often lead to more accidents. For example, the construction on the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, also known as the Quinnipiac River Bridge or Q-Bridge, has led to many serious injuries for Connecticut drivers. Not only is the bridge situated at the intersection of I-95 and I-91, but also the construction often brings traffic down to one lane. These delays can lead to aggressive driving or distracting driving (common causes of accidents on the road).
Our New Haven highway collision lawyers know the roads of Connecticut and are experienced at investigating accidents on our state’s highways. We have extensive experience handling cases involving road rage, cellphone use and other forms of negligent driving.
Accidents At Intersections
An inordinate percentage of auto accidents occur at intersections. Some of these accidents are caused by negligent drivers who run stoplights and stop signs. Many are head-on and side-impact collisions, and often result in serious injury. Pedestrian accidents also often occur at intersections, and bus and truck drivers also often cause accidents when maneuvering at intersections.
The Difference At High Speeds
It is common knowledge that high-speed collisions often cause more serious injuries than accidents at lower speeds. Yet, even on our fastest roads, drivers continue to push the speed limit, tailgate, drive too fast for weather conditions, merge at unsafe speeds and otherwise drive negligently.
High-speed accidents are typically severe, causing fatalities or serious injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, scarring and disfigurement.
These car accidents change lives, and can require significant medical care. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average lifetime cost of a paraplegia injury to a 25-year-old is $2,221,596. In addition to frequent medical needs, a person with paraplegia may need to make adjustments to his or her home, buy a new vehicle and seek new employment. A personal injury award should cover all of these expenses.
Compensation For Hit-And-Run Accident Claims
Hit-and-run accidents are all too common on Connecticut roads. Careless drivers who cause an accident sometimes leave the scene without tending to the needs of the injured, or exchanging insurance information. If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, it is important to consult with an attorney who is equipped to handle these kinds of cases.
People who have been injured in hit-and-run accidents are left with a vexing question: Who will pay for my injuries and other losses? In the event that the hit-and-run driver is identified, you can seek compensation from his or her liability coverage. However, in most hit-and-run accidents, it is not possible to identify the driver. In such a situation, the injured party may seek compensation from his or her own first-party uninsured motorist coverage.
In an uninsured motorist claim, your insurance company is essentially stepping into the shoes of the liable party. Like any car accident claim, you will likely face an uphill struggle obtaining the full and fair compensation you deserve. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling uninsured and underinsured motorist claims and can provide you with the strong advocacy you need for this complex legal matter.
Car Accidents And Negligent Entrustment
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may face many hardships, including medical bills, wage loss, and pain and suffering. When the person who caused your accident was driving a borrowed car, you need to make sure all responsible parties are held liable for damages. An experienced attorney can help you handle this complex and distressing situation.
Under the negligent instrument doctrine, car owners are held directly responsible for damages caused when the car is loaned to another person. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to pursue damages from the car owner as well as the person who was driving the car. These legal issues become even more complex if the owner did not know his or her car was borrowed by the driver, or if the car was stolen.
It’s important to ensure you get all the compensation you deserve, and hold all parties accountable. The attorneys at Gillis Law Firm have the skills, knowledge and experience to handle complex auto accident cases. We invite you to schedule a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you.
Causes Of Taxi Accidents
Taxis are common modes of transportation in New Haven and other Connecticut cities. Negligence on the part of taxi drivers and the companies that employ them can result in car accidents causing serious and life-threatening injuries.
Taxi drivers earn money by the mile and some drive fast and often carelessly to make their fares. Not all taxi accidents are the result of reckless driving, however. Negligent maintenance of taxis is also a cause of taxi accidents. Taxis must be adequately inspected and repaired before they are marked safe for public use. Whatever the cause of taxi accidents, the results can be devastating.
There are strict time limits in place when bringing a lawsuit against a taxi driver or company. If you have suffered an injury in a taxi accident, it is important to act quickly to protect your rights. Our lawyers know how to successfully handle taxi accident claims and are here to provide you with the guidance and advocacy you need.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys
Victims or surviving family members need legal assistance from a lawyer who can provide caring and understanding assistance, and is experienced in fully valuing the losses that can result from catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. For a no-charge consultation at a law firm that has achieved numerous six- and seven-figure awards following head-on collisions and other serious car and truck crashes, contact our firm.
Gillis Law Firm offers evening and weekend appointments, and employs a Spanish-speaking paralegal. Our office is conveniently located in downtown New Haven next to the courthouse, near free parking. To reach us by phone, call 866-603-9810.