More than 90,000 people die in the United States as a result of unintentional injuries yearly.  If you have been recently injured or diagnosed with an illness, contact our office to see if you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

When you're injured, you need all the help you can get, and you need it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that means that some injury victims pick the first attorney they find, rather than making an informed choice. It's important to educate yourself and find the right fit for you and your case

Contact us to tell us about your case.  We are dedicated to protecting the rights and safety of persons and families throughout Connecticut.  Specific personal injury practice areas include the following: Auto Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Birth Injury, Boating Accidents, Brain Injury, Construction Accidents/Injuries, Dog Bites, Pedestrian Accidents, Railroad Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, SUV Accidents, Swimming Pool Accidents and Trucking Accidents.

Our personal injury lawyers possess a comprehensive knowledge of Connecticut personal injury law. Our injury attorneys handle serious accident and tragic wrongful death litigation involving victims injured, hurt or killed by the negligent, careless, reckless or intentional acts of others.   We have an outstanding record of verdicts and settlements in Connecticut and represent injury victims and families in the following areas of the law: 

An Overview
If you have suffered a personal injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury. Legal responsibility, called "liability," revolves around the simple fact that most injuries happen because someone was careless or "negligent." Even if you believe you may have partly caused your own injury, in most states you can still get some compensation from anyone else who was also careless and partly responsible for your injury. If you've suffered a personal injury through the fault of another, you may be out of work, overwhelmed with piles of medical bills, or in constant pain and agony. Under any of these circumstances, researching, locating, and retaining the best lawyer to handle your personal injury claim in court can seem like yet another insurmountable obstacle. There are, however, some guidelines that can help you select the right personal injury lawyer. With the right advocate on your side, you can breathe a sigh of relief and let someone else carry at least part of your burden, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

Complex Auto Litigation
Auto collisions can range from merely annoying to completely disastrous for families. Our law firm has represented clients in thousands of automobile collisions over the years. We understand what should and should not be done in these cases. If you have been injured in an automobile collision, call us for a free consultation. We relieve our clients of the difficult decisions regarding insurance and investigative matters and let the clients concentrate on just getting well.


Premises Liability / Slip and Fall
Premises liability law involves the legal responsibility of owners and occupiers of property for mishaps experienced by persons on the property and the resulting injuries. One of the most common causes of such injuries is a trip or slip and fall, such as on an icy sidewalk, a loose or uneven stair tread, or a piece of debris or spilled liquid on the floor. The actual liability of the potentially responsible individuals varies depending on the rules and principles adopted in the jurisdiction where the mishap occurred. An experienced premises liability lawyer can determine whether liability may exist in a particular case and help an injured person recover damages for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

 Product Liability
Product liability refers to the rules governing a manufacturer or other provider's liability for products that harm consumers and workers. The laws in this area are based on the idea that manufacturers, dealers, and other commercial interests are best-placed to prevent harm from defective or dangerous products. Companies that allow dangerous items into the marketplace can be held accountable for resulting injuries. Products liability law is based on the responsibility of a manufacturer or other provider of goods to compensate users of the goods for injuries caused by defective or dangerous products that it placed into the stream of commerce. The basic idea underlying products liability law is that the companies providing the products are usually in the best position to prevent defective products from entering the marketplace, so if they fail to do so, they should be held accountable. An experienced personal injury lawyer can advise injured persons on whether they may have a claim against a product manufacturer or seller and can help them recover damages.

Medical Malpractice

Dog Bites / Animal Bites
Animal Bites or Attacks Animal attacks can result in far more than physical pain. Disfigurement, a fear of rabies or other disease, and even a long-term fear of the type of animal that caused the injuries can ensue. A pet owner may be liable for such injuries when his or her animal bites or otherwise attacks another, meaning that he or she must compensate the injured party for the resulting damages. Although animal-attack claims most commonly involve dog bites, many other types of domesticated animals, such as ferrets, cats, and even birds, can also bite humans, causing injury and potential liability for their masters. Even non-domesticated animals, such as large cats ordinarily found in the wild, can attack children and adults. The liability for all such attacks, if any, will vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A lawyer experienced in dog bite and personal injury law is the best source for accurate advice and information in animal attack cases

Wrongful Death
Wrongful Death Cases Wrongful death claims allege, as their basis, that the deceased died as a result of the negligence or liability of another. The deceased's surviving relatives, dependents, or beneficiaries may bring suit against those claimed to have been responsible, seeking monetary damages to compensate for the losses. Each state has its own statute covering the viability of claims for wrongful death, and not every state follows the same guidelines, principles, or rules. A personal injury attorney in your state can advise you on whether you have a valid wrongful death claim and can help you pursue that claim to the best possible outcome.

Insurance adjusters thrive off the confusion that accidents cause in peoples' lives. The adjuster's job is to make the insurance company more money by paying less money to injured people who need it. They do this by taking advantage of any instances where an accident victim does not have proof of damages or injuries. We know that's not fair, so we've put together some ways that accident victims can show proof of their injuries and beat the insurance adjuster at his own game.

WHAT TO DO AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE:

Make Observations: Identify the witnesses so there will be someone to support your case if it goes to court. Write down their names and addresses and interview them. Ask them what they saw and make a note of phrases they used like "slammed into," "plowed," "speeding," or "he ran the red light." Beware of insurance representatives at the accident scene. It has been rumored that some insurance companies send adjusters to accident scenes in order to catch people off guard with incriminating questions or to have them sign away any rights they may have to future compensation.

See A Doctor Immediately After the Accident: Schedule an appointment with your own doctor as soon as possible after the accident. Don't let the insurance adjuster choose a doctor for you. You have the right to use a doctor of your choice.

Take Pictures: Take pictures of your car as soon as possible. When the adjuster asks for proof of the accident, it is difficult to dispute a picture taken of your car at the accident scene. Pictures of the damage will help tell your story. If possible, take pictures of the other cars involved in the accident. These pictures will supply information about the severity of the impact. Also, take pictures of your injuries before they heal. Months later, when the insurance adjuster is arguing that the crash was not very significant, pictures of your bruises and other injuries will help solidify your claim of injury.

Also, do the following: a) Give the other driver(s) your personal information and VIN number; b) if you've collided with a parked car attach a note with this information to that vehicle. If you leave, you may be committing a 'hit and run' crime; c) Write down the particulars of the other driver(s) involved; d) Write down the statements and particulars of any witnesses; e) Sketch and write down what happened; f) Ask the investigating officer where you'll be able to obtain a copy of the accident report that will be filed. You might want a copy for insurance purposes.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE ACCIDENT:

 In order to obtain a just settlement of your claim, in a prompt and an expedient manner, the following suggestions and guidelines should be followed.

1. Follow Your Doctor's Orders: It's important that you follow all your doctor's instructions. Keep all scheduled appointments. Return to your health care providers as often as necessary. Update your lawyer immediately if you see new or additional doctors or other health care providers. Their names, addresses and phone numbers are very important.

2. Keep A Daily Diary: You might wish to keep a daily or weekly diary of your injuries, treatment and progress. Your decision regarding this might be determined by the nature and severity of your particular injury. Such a diary might include the manner in which the accident affected your life; the frequency of pain and suffering and which parts of your body are affected; the types of pain such as "throbbing", "stabbing" or "burning" sensation; and the types of medication taken, as well as the results obtained.

3. To Whom Are You Speaking? Let your attorney talk for you. Avoid discussing your accident with anyone except your attorney. Your own insurer may desire to take your statement. If you are made aware of this desire, immediately notify your lawyer's office. Never speak to the other party's insurer. If asked, call your attorney immediately.

4. Keep All Evidence: Keep your prescription receipts, ambulance, hospital and medical bills, property damage estimates, and other evidence of your accident. If you keep a diary, log mileage incurred in obtaining your treatment. Otherwise, you might simply log your treatment, the date, and the office to which you traveled for treatment. Generally, keep a notation of the time you lose from work. If this time only amounts to a couple of days, further proof of loss (income tax returns for wage loss verification from the employer) may not be required.

Miscellaneous: If you come upon any new information concerning the accident (additional witnesses, etc.), immediately inform your lawyer. Hand over any photographs you have taken to your lawyer.  Also, write down your observations about the accident as soon as you can after the accident.  Those notes will become invaluable in the future!  And,  keep notes about your injuries, medical treatments and medications -  you may very well forget certain things as time goes on, and the adjuster will try to make it seem like any description you give is an exaggeration. These kinds of written documents can be very valuable when presenting your claim to the insurance adjuster or to a judge and jury in court. Plus, be sure you keep receipts for prescriptions and household services such as lawn mowing, getting someone to cook for you, car rentals, and so forth. Keep each of those receipts so you can document all of your expenses.

Most Importantly: Consult an experienced personal injury lawyer. Without legal help, you may have no idea of the real value of your claim. The Insurance Research Institute has found that, on an average, injured people who use a lawyer receive three and a half times more money than those who do not! The bottom line is that the insurance adjuster is not on your side.  His goal is to save the insurance company money by giving you as little as possible.

Please contact our office by email or by filling out our client questionnaire.

LAW OFFICES OF FRANK J. RICCIO LLC
923 East Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06608

203-333-6135 (phone)
203-333-6190 (fax)
ricciolaw@yahoo.com