Practice Areas

Connecticut Car Accident Lawyers

The Connecticut car accident lawyers at Jackson O'Keefe have the years of experience and knowledge necessary to provide you with the skilled representation you need when dealing with insurance companies following any type of motor vehicle accident. Car crashes and those involving motorcycles or commercial trucks all have specific laws and issues unique to them. Quick assessment of those issues, determining the cause of the crash and assessing the severity of your injury and your medical needs are the services you can expect when you retain our Connecticut car accident attorneys. The Connecticut car accident lawyers at Jackson O'Keefe are adept at assessing the physical principles of the accident, the medical evidence used to evaluate injuries, and the economic and accounting principles required to evaluate losses. We provide the strongest possible representation to maximize your recovery. We will investigate the car accident scene, research the accident and your car, along with any other evidence that came into play at the time of your accident. We will stand up for you against any wrongdoer, trucking company or anyone else who has caused you harm. It is our responsibility to make sure your rights are upheld and defended. Because of our experience in taking cases to trial, we can often obtain favorable settlements even without a trial. With over 50 years of representing Connecticut car accident litigants, the law firm of Jackson O'Keefe understands how the unique circumstances of your collision require careful and compassionate representation.

If you have been seriously injured in a Connecticut car accident, you will need to prove that either a person negligently operated a vehicle which caused the accident or that some defect involving the vehicle or the roadway caused the accident. The car accident attorneys in Hartford at the law firm of Jackson O'Keefe can explain the rights of drivers and how the law works to protect these rights. Our attorneys handle every type of car accident resulting in serious injury or death: intersection collisions, highway accidents, SUV rollovers, fatal car crashes, pedestrian accidents, drunk driving injuries, among many others. Even a "routine" rear-end collision can have catastrophic results, including spinal cord injury or brain injury, permanent disability, or chronic pain. Recovery may take months or years, and Jackson O'Keefe is dedicated to securing full compensation for clients.

The facts are staggering. There are approximately 6 million car accidents in the United States every year. Of these 6 million car accidents, there are 3 million injuries--about 2 million of which are permanent, including paralysis, paraplegia and quadriplegia. Car accidents are responsible for killing over 40,000 people each year. Fatal car accidents serve as the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 34. Every day, approximately 115 people die from motor vehicle accidents. Damages from auto crashes total $150 billion annually. One of every 100 Americans will be in a car accident this year. Most of us will be in at least one car accident by the time we reach age 30. Many car accidents are minor, but many others are devastating. Physical injury is not the only cost. Economic loss from car accidents was $230.6 billion in 2000. This included time lost from work, property damage, medical expenses and traffic delays. Car accidents also leave emotional injuries. According to the American Psychological Association, car accidents are the most frequent cause of emotional trauma for men and the number two source of trauma for women.

The victim of a Connecticut car accident in may be able to collect financial compensation for his or her losses, including property damage, pain and suffering, medical bills, estimated future medical expenses, lost wages, and lost income potential. The car accident attorneys in Hartford at Jackson O'Keefe addresses the needs of people who are injured in Connecticut no matter how severe the injury. The law firm has years of experience, a record of success, and the resources to help you recover fair compensation. After an automobile accident it is essential for you and your family to regain the physical and emotional stability you lost due to an accident. Let the Jackson O'Keefe firm, and its team of lawyers, address your legal concerns while you focus on recovery. For more information, contact us to schedule a free consultation.

The Connecticut Road System

As of 2007, the Connecticut State Highway System had a total of 3,719 miles of roadway. The number of licensed drivers increased from 2. 1 million in 1979 to 2. 8 million in 2007. Total vehicle registrations increased from under 2. 3 million to just over 3 million in 2007. The total annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Connecticut increased from 19. 4 billion in 1979 to 32. 1 billion in 2007. This includes rural VMT of about 5 billion in 1979 and 4 billion in 2007, and urban VMT of 14. 4 billion in 1979 and 28 billion in 2007. The average annual VMT for a licensed driver was 9,222 in 1979 and 11,252 in 2007.

In Connecticut, auto accidents frequently happen on the Interstate and State Highways: I 84, I 91, Route 2, Route 6, Route 44, I 395, I 95, I 291, I 384, Route 85, Route 17, Route 14 and Route 12. The Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95) runs southwest to northeast along the coast, and Interstates 84, 91, and 395 further service the inbound and outbound traffic trying to reach New York, Boston, or points further south. Other major road systems include the Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, which combine to form Connecticut State Route 15, which begin from the Hutchinson River Parkway in New York but turn north to New Haven and ending as a surface street in Berlin. Interstate 95 is one of the most heavily traveled and congested highways in America because of the traffic to and from New York and increasing population density.

Connecticut Motor Vehicle Accidents – The Statistics

According to reports by the Connecticut legislature in 1985, there were 115,427 accidents reported in Connecticut. In 2006, there were 71,724 reported accidents. The law requires only certain accidents to be reported, but the definition of a reportable accident in 1985 was different than in 2006, which may account for some of the decrease in 2006. In 1985, motor vehicle operators were responsible by law to file an accident report in certain circumstances with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The law also required police authorities to file a copy of all police-investigated traffic accidents when the investigation was completed. The law defined a reportable accident as a motor vehicle accident in which someone was killed or injured or incurred over $ 600 in property damage. As of October 1, 1990, operators are no longer required to file accident reports.

Sixteen towns were among the 20 towns with the most reported accidents in both 1985 and 2006: Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, East Hartford, Fairfield, Greenwich, Manchester, Milford, New Haven, Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, and Westport. The top seven towns were the same in both years, although their ranking changed slightly: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and Waterbury.

The 20 towns with the most reported traffic accidents in 1985 accounted for 50% of all accidents reported in the state. In 2006, they accounted for 47% of all reported accidents. The top seven towns were the same in both years, although their ranking changed slightly: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and Waterbury. Table 1 ranks the 20 towns with the most reported accidents in 1985 and 2006 in descending order.

Table 1: The 20 Towns with the Most Reported Traffic Accidents, 1985 and 2006

1985

2006

Rank	Town	Accidents # (% of state)	Rank	Town	Accidents # (% of state)
1	Hartford	8,353 (7. 2%)	1	New Haven	3,425 (4. 9%)
2	Waterbury	5,870 (5. 1%)	2	Bridgeport	3,137 (4. 4%)
3	New Haven	4,090 (3. 5%)	3	Waterbury	2,672 (3. 7%)
4	Norwalk	4,065 (3. 5%)	4	Hartford	2,537 (3. 5%)
5	Bridgeport	3,457 (3. 0%)	5	Norwalk	2,224 (3. 1%)
6	Stamford	2,794 (2. 4%)	6	Stamford	2,186 (3. 1%)
7	Danbury	2,569 (2. 2%)	7	Danbury	2,216 (3. 0%)
8	East Hartford	2,519 (2. 2%)	8	Hamden	1,320 (1. 8%)
9	Manchester	2,448 (2. 1%)	9	Stratford	1,284 (1. 8%)
10	Bristol	2,291 (2. 0%)	10	Greenwich	1,259 (1. 8%)
11	West Hartford	2,204 (1. 9%)	11	West Haven	1,235 (1. 7%)
12	Milford	2,196 (1. 9%)	12	East Hartford	1,153 (1. 6%)
13	Greenwich	2,085 (1. 8%)	13	Meriden	1,124 (1. 6%)
14	New Britain	2,053 (1. 8%)	14	Wallingford	1,123 (1. 6%)
15	Stratford	1,913 (1. 7%)	15	Westport	1,121 (1. 6%)
16	Westport	1,750 (1. 5%)	16	Manchester	1,109 (1. 6%)
17	Groton	1,748 (1. 5%)	17	Milford	1,088 (1. 5%)
18	Fairfield	1,737 (1. 5%)	18	Fairfield	1,074 (1. 5%)
19	Norwich	1,619 1. 4%)	19	Norwich	1,071 (1. 5%)
20	Wallingford	1,605 (1. 4%)	20	Bristol	1,028 (1. 4%)

TOTAL (% of all in state)

57,366 (50%)

TOTAL (% of all in state)

33,386 (47%)

Traffic Accidents by Town – 1985 AND 2006

The following Table compares accidents that occurred on Connecticut's publicly maintained roadways by town for 1985 and 2006. For its 1985 report, the Connecticut DOT obtained data from the Connecticut DMV. For its 2006 report, the DOT obtained data solely from police accident reports.

1985

2006

Town

Total

% of Total

Total

% of Total

Andover	87	0. 1%	36	0. 05%
Ansonia	388	0. 3%	171	0. 24%
Ashford	96	0. 1%	58	0. 08%
Avon	528	0. 5%	295	0. 41%
Barkhamsted	125	0. 1%	72	0. 10%
Beacon Falls	90	0. 1%	70	0. 10%
Berlin	341	0. 3%	421	0. 59%
Bethany	116	0. 1%	75	0. 10%
Bethel	379	0. 3%	313	0. 44%
Bethlehem	45	0. 0%	20	0. 03%
Bloomfield	669	0. 6%	530	0. 74%
Bolton	154	0. 1%	116	0. 16%
Bozrah	62	0. 1%	45	0. 06%
Branford	1,038	0. 9%	697	0. 97%
Bridgeport	3,457	3. 0%	3,137	4. 37%
Bridgewater	31	0. 0%	29	0. 04%
Bristol	2,291	2. 0%	1,028	1. 43%
Brookfield	587	0. 5%	418	0. 58%
Brooklyn	161	0. 1%	109	0. 15%
Burlington	158	0. 1%	131	0. 18%
Canaan	25	0. 0%	18	0. 03%
Canterbury	57	0. 0%	50	0. 07%
Canton	393	0. 3%	244	0. 34%
Chaplin	58	0. 1%	36	0. 05%
Cheshire	837	0. 7%	592	0. 83%
Chester	118	0. 1%	57	0. 08%
Clinton	235	0. 2%	85	0. 12%
Colchester	250	0. 2%	219	0. 31%
Colebrook	36	0. 0%	17	0. 02%
Columbia	109	0. 1%	69	0. 10%
Cornwall	43	0. 0%	30	0. 04%
Coventry	206	0. 2%	194	0. 27%
Cromwell	509	0. 4%	403	0. 56%
Danbury	2,569	2. 2%	2,126	2. 96%
Darien	754	0. 7%	667	0. 93%
Deep River	110	0. 1%	30	0. 04%
Derby	871	0. 8%	512	0. 71%
Durham	157	0. 1%	119	0. 17%
Eastford	37	0. 0%	22	0. 03%
East Granby	152	0. 1%	73	0. 10%
East Haddam	135	0. 1%	67	0. 09%
East Hampton	275	0. 2%	155	0. 22%
East Hartford	2,519	2. 2%	1,153	1. 61%
East Haven	764	0. 7%	564	0. 79%
East Lyme	518	0. 4%	375	0. 52%
Easton	188	0. 2%	116	0. 16%
East Windsor	487	0. 4%	266	0. 37%
Ellington	252	0. 2%	139	0. 19%
Enfield	1,452	1. 3%	688	0. 96%
Essex	141	0. 1%	67	0. 09%
Fairfield	1,737	1. 5%	1,074	1. 50%
Farmington	990	0. 9%	823	1. 15%
Franklin	99	0. 1%	86	0. 12%
Glastonbury	946	0. 8%	400	0. 56%
Goshen	55	0. 0%	21	0. 03%
Granby	154	0. 1%	98	0. 14%
Greenwich	2,085	1. 8%	1,259	1. 76%
Griswold	221	0. 2%	181	0. 25%
Groton	1,748	1. 5%	688	0. 96%
Guilford	570	0. 5%	325	0. 45%
Haddam	212	0. 2%	124	0. 17%
Hamden	1,324	1. 1%	1,320	1. 84%
Hampton	30	0. 0%	14	0. 02%
Hartford	8,353	7. 2%	2,537	3. 54%
Hartland	18	0. 0%	13	0. 02%
Harwinton	182	0. 2%	101	0. 14%
Hebron	136	0. 1%	75	0. 10%
Kent	93	0. 1%	45	0. 06%
Killingly	469	0. 4%	318	0. 44%
Killingworth	81	0. 1%	63	0. 09%
Lebanon	125	0. 1%	51	0. 07%
Ledyard	405	0. 4%	223	0. 31%
Lisbon	168	0. 1%	131	0. 18%
Litchfield	289	0. 3%	208	0. 29%
Lyme	42	0. 0%	9	0. 01%
Madison	499	0. 4%	239	0. 33%
Manchester	2,448	2. 1%	1,109	1. 55%
Mansfield	598	0. 5%	363	0. 51%
Marlborough	141	0. 1%	122	0. 17%
Meriden	1,414	1. 2%	1,124	1. 57%
Middlebury	375	0. 3%	290	0. 40%
Middlefield	189	0. 2%	89	0. 12%
Middletown	1,170	1. 0%	584	0. 81%
Milford	2,196	1. 9%	1,088	1. 52%
Monroe	526	0. 5%	338	0. 47%
Montville	626	0. 5%	431	0. 60%
Morris	62	0. 1%	29	0. 04%
Naugatuck	828	0. 7%	381	0. 53%
New Britain	2,053	1. 8%	963	1. 34%
New Canaan	609	0. 5%	268	0. 37%
New Fairfield	207	0. 2%	123	0. 17%
New Hartford	169	0. 1%	77	0. 11%
New Haven	4090	3. 5%	3425	4. 78%
Newington	784	. 07%	642	0. 90%
New London	1,483	1. 3%	551	0. 77%
New Milford	668	0. 6%	577	0. 80%
Newtown	932	0. 8%	499	0. 70%
Norfolk	66	0. 1%	32	0. 04%
North Branford	298	0. 3%	256	0. 36%
North Canaan	113	0. 1%	56	0. 08%
North Haven	970	0. 8%	973	1. 36%
North Stonington	174	0. 2%	153	0. 21%
Norwalk	4,065	3. 5%	2,224	3. 10%
Norwich	1,619	1. 4%	1,071	1. 49%
Old Lyme	259	0. 2%	137	0. 19%
Old Saybrook	326	0. 3%	285	0. 40%
Orange	522	0. 5%	783	1. 09%
Oxford	202	0. 2%	139	0. 19%
Plainfield	445	0. 4%	289	0. 40%
Plainville	678	0. 6%	517	0. 72%
Plymouth	146	0. 1%	237	0. 33%
Pomfret	93	0. 1%	84	0. 12%
Portland	245	0. 2%	154	0. 21%
Preston	169	0. 1%	186	0. 26%
Prospect	184	0. 2%	163	0. 23%
Putnam	290	0. 3%	139	0. 19%
Redding	224	0. 2%	137	0. 19%
Ridgefield	788	0. 7%	427	0. 60%
Rocky Hill	431	0. 4%	456	0. 64%
Roxbury	50	0. 0%	37	0. 05%
Salem	73	0. 1%	81	0. 11%
Salisbury	109	0. 1%	71	0. 10%
Scotland	25	0. 0%	6	0. 01%
Seymour	556	0. 5%	501	0. 70%
Sharon	99	0. 1%	49	0. 07%
Shelton	1,142	1. 0%	670	0. 93%
Sherman	55	0. 0%	27	0. 04%
Simsbury	521	0. 5%	304	0. 42%
Somers	202	0. 2%	98	0. 14%
Southbury	506	0. 4%	283	0. 39%
Southington	1,274	1. 1%	790	1. 10%
South Windsor	539	0. 5%	307	0. 43%
Sprague	69	0. 1%	29	0. 04%
Stafford	264	0. 2%	157	0. 22%
Stamford	2,794	2. 4%	2,186	3. 05%
Sterling	40	0. 0%	26	0. 04%
Stonington	767	0. 7%	410	0. 57%
Stratford	1,913	1. 7%	1,284	1. 79%
Suffield	349	0. 3%	221	0. 31%
Thomaston	210	0. 2%	224	0. 31%
Thompson	224	0. 2%	109	0. 15%
Tolland	367	0. 3%	250	0. 35%
Torrington	896	0. 8%	685	0. 96%
Trumbull	725	0. 6%	891	1. 24%
Union	70	0. 1%	56	0. 08%
Vernon	1,052	0. 9%	705	0. 98%
Voluntown	38	0. 0%	34	0. 05%
Wallingford	1,605	1. 4%	1,123	1. 57%
Warren	21	0. 0%	11	0. 02%
Washington	88	0. 1%	68	0. 09%
Waterbury	5,870	5. 1%	2,672	3. 73%
Waterford	926	0. 8%	643	0. 90%
Watertown	683	0. 6%	452	0. 63%
Westbrook	275	0. 2%	96	0. 13%
West Hartford	2,204	1. 9%	916	1. 28%
West Haven	1,596	1. 4%	1,235	1. 72%
Weston	196	0. 2%	117	0. 16%
Westport	1,750	1. 5%	1,121	1. 56%
Wethersfield	905	0. 8%	592	0. 83%
Willington	176	0. 2%	107	0. 15%
Wilton	697	0. 6%	407	0. 57%
Winchester	231	0. 2%	283	0. 39%
Windham	835	0. 7%	467	0. 65%
Windsor	958	0. 8%	651	0. 91%
Windsor Locks	399	0. 3%	243	0. 34%
Wolcott	395	0. 3%	187	0. 26%
Woodbridge	350	0. 3%	294	0. 41%
Woodbury	231	0. 2%	135	0. 19%
Woodstock	139	0. 1%	92	0. 13%
Unknown	2	0	0	0
TOTAL	115,427	100%	71,724	100%