Can I File a Lawsuit Right Away Without Making an Insurance Claim?

If you are injured in an accident that is another party’s fault, you have a few options when it comes to securing compensation. In Connecticut, you can file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer, or file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party.

Some accident victims are satisfied with insurance payouts, while others go straight to a lawsuit following a personal injury accident. If you’re considering legal action, you may be wondering whether you need to make a claim with the insurance company before filing a lawsuit.

In short, you can file a lawsuit without making a claim with an insurance company. However, this option does not always make the most sense. Read on to learn more about your legal options and how our car accident lawyers can help.

3 Ways to Seek Compensation Following a Personal Injury Accident

As we mentioned above, there are three primary ways to receive compensation after a personal injury accident. Let’s discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each.

First-Party Insurance Claim

When the at-fault party does not have adequate auto insurance to fully cover their damages, some car accident victims choose to call upon their own insurance companies. This is called a first-party insurance claim because it is a claim with your own insurance company. This type of claim can help you secure payment for medical bills or wages you have lost due to the accident when the at- fault party does not have insurance or not enough insurance.

Third-Party Insurance Claim

In Connecticut, the party responsible for an accident  may be held liable and the at-fault party’s insurance company is responsible to “cover” what the responsible party owes you, up to the insurance policy limit.  Therefore, most personal injury accident victims choose to call upon the at-fault party’s company directly to seek compensation for their damages.

However, since insurance companies are in the business of making money, they often do everything they can to convince accident victims to take the lowest offers possible. While you can attempt to negotiate with the insurers independently, this process is usually not nearly as successful as if you have a car accident lawyer help you. 

Personal Injury or Insurance Company Lawsuit

If the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to negotiate with you or refuses to negotiate in good faith, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.  Some accident victims choose to file a lawsuit upfront before even attempting to negotiate with the insurance company. 

A lawsuit could provide you with the necessary funds to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages from your accident. Additionally, many insurance company lawsuits end in a settlement rather than a judge or jury’s  decision, saving you time during the legal process.

However, if you decide to file a lawsuit without first submitting a claim with the insurance company, you may be wasting your time. In many cases, insurance claims provide adequate compensation for personal injury victims. It makes more sense to hear the insurance company’s offer first, then decide whether to file  through a lawsuit or not.

Our Car Accident Attorneys Can Help

Knowing the best way to receive compensation for your specific personal injury accident can be tricky. At Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, we have spent many years helping accident victims seek compensation for their damages. We can review the specific details of your case and guide you through the negotiation process to secure adequate compensation based on our experience handling many thousands of such claims and cases.

Contact our experienced car accident attorneys today for a free consultation.