- “They go above and beyond for their clients and always have the best interest of their clients in the forefront.”
- “From the first meeting I knew I was in good hands with the Reardon Law Firm.”
- “For piece of mind hire a reputable Attorney and firm. I did, The Reardon Law Firm.”
Connecticut municipal liability can become an important issue when a traffic accident is caused by unsafe road conditions, such as a pothole, defective bridge, or other maintenance or construction issue. If your city’s unsafe roadways contributed to your accident, it is worth learning more about how a car accident claim against the government works.
Understanding When a Town Can Be Liable for an Accident
Being injured due to a defect such as a pothole can be incredibly frustrating. This is especially true if you don’t know how to move forward to receive compensation. Fortunately, this may be a situation where the municipality may be liable for your damages due to their failure to maintain the road.
Many laws protect municipalities from being liable for accidents. However, certain car accident laws do create exceptions for injuries caused by defective roads. To succeed in a claim against a municipality, you must be able to prove:
- There was a road defect, such as a pothole, upheaved roads, or broken guardrails;
- The municipality knew or should have known about the defect;
- The municipality failed to take proper action to resolve the defect; and
- The defect was the sole cause of the accident and your injuries.
Road defects can be incredibly damaging, which is why it is important to explore your options, such as holding the municipality liable. About 1% of all accidents are attributed to potholes while road debris was a factor in an estimated 319,724 motor vehicle crashes between the years of 2018 and 2023.
How Claims Against the Government Differ From Other Car Accident Claims
There are many unique car accident laws that apply to a claim against a municipality. First, you must be aware of what must be proven, such as establishing that the government failed to fix a known hazard and that the road defect was the sole cause of the crash.
Another difference is the deadlines for filing a claim. When filing a claim against a government entity, you must provide notice soon after the accident. This must be done quickly, even if the statute of limitations provides a later deadline. Working with a Connecticut car accident attorney can help you make sure you stay on top of all relevant deadlines.
Claims against a municipality tend to be rare, considering they only apply in certain circumstances. However, in Connecticut, 20.5% of all major roadways are in poor condition. This may include major interstates like I-84 and I-91, which receive heavy traffic and severe weather, as well as local roads.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer From The Reardon Law Firm, P.C.
Our team at The Reardon Law Firm, P.C., consists of skilled personal injury attorneys in Connecticut. Our firm has the experience and legal knowledge needed to handle complex car accident cases, including those against a government entity. Our attorneys work to recover fair compensation for our clients to help them rebuild after suffering from a car accident. Some of our recent car accident settlements and verdicts include:
- $750,000 Settlement for a fatal car accident case
- $3.27 million verdict in a fatal car accident case
- $250,000 settlement for a victim suffering back injuries after a car accident*
Contact us now to learn how we can help you recover.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.
