Auto Accident Demand Letter - Connecticut

DEMAND FOR SETTLEMENT — MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

[________________________________]
Attorneys at Law
[________________________________]
[________________________________], Connecticut [____]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Facsimile: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

DATE: [__/__/____]

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________], [____] [____]

RE: SETTLEMENT DEMAND — MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION
Our Client: [________________________________]
Date of Loss: [__/__/____]
Your Insured: [________________________________]
Policy Number: [________________________________]
Claim Number: [________________________________]

Dear [________________________________]:

This firm represents [________________________________] ("Claimant") in connection with the motor vehicle collision that occurred on [__/__/____] in [________________________________], Connecticut. This letter constitutes a formal demand for settlement of all claims arising from this incident.

I. CONNECTICUT-SPECIFIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A. Statute of Limitations

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, the statute of limitations for negligence actions causing personal injury is two (2) years from the date of the act or omission complained of.

The limitations period in this matter expires on [__/__/____].

B. Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar)

Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h. A plaintiff may recover if the plaintiff's negligence is not greater than the combined negligence of all parties against whom recovery is sought. Recovery is reduced by the plaintiff's percentage of fault.

Our client bears no fault whatsoever for this collision.

C. No Damage Caps

Connecticut does not impose statutory caps on compensatory damages in automobile accident personal injury cases.

D. Offer of Compromise (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-192a)

Connecticut has a significant offer of compromise/offer of judgment statute. Under § 52-192a, if a plaintiff files an offer of judgment and the plaintiff recovers an amount equal to or greater than the offer, the plaintiff is entitled to prejudgment interest at 10% per year on the amount recovered from the date the complaint was filed, plus reasonable attorney fees. This is a powerful incentive for insurers to settle meritorious claims.

E. Prejudgment Interest

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 37-3b, prejudgment interest may be awarded at the discretion of the court in personal injury actions, in addition to the mandatory interest under the offer of compromise statute.

F. Minimum Insurance Requirements

Connecticut requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-335.

II. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE DEMAND

☐ Complete claims file, including all adjuster notes and evaluations
☐ All photographs, videos, and surveillance footage
☐ All recorded or written statements
☐ Vehicle inspection reports, repair estimates, and salvage records
☐ Event Data Recorder (EDR) / "black box" data
☐ Cell phone records of the insured driver
☐ All insurance policy documents

III. STATEMENT OF FACTS

On [__/__/____], at approximately [____] [a.m./p.m.], our client was [________________________________] on [________________________________] in [________________________________], Connecticut. At that time, your insured, [________________________________], was operating a [____] [________________________________] (VIN: [________________________________]).

[________________________________]
[Describe the collision in detail]
[________________________________]

The [________________________________] [Connecticut State Police / Municipal Police] responded to the scene and prepared Crash Report No. [________________________________]. The report [________________________________] [describe findings, citations issued].

IV. LIABILITY ANALYSIS

A. Defendant's Negligence

Your insured breached the duty of care owed to our client by:

☐ Failing to maintain a proper lookout — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-218a
☐ Following too closely — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-240
☐ Failing to yield the right of way — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-245 et seq.
☐ Speeding or exceeding a safe speed for conditions — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-219
☐ Running a red light or stop sign — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-299
☐ Improper lane change — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-236
☐ Distracted driving / texting while driving — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-296aa
☐ Driving under the influence — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a
☐ Other: [________________________________]

B. Comparative Fault Analysis

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h, our client bears zero percent (0%) fault for this collision.

C. Negligence Per Se

Violation of a Connecticut motor vehicle statute constitutes negligence per se. Dalton v. Sharpnack, 110 Conn. App. 430, 955 A.2d 115 (2008).

V. MEDICAL TREATMENT SUMMARY

A. Emergency / Immediate Treatment

B. Ongoing Treatment

C. Diagnosis Summary

☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]
☐ [________________________________]

D. Prognosis

[________________________________]

VI. ITEMIZED MEDICAL EXPENSES

Estimated Future Medical Expenses

VII. LOST WAGES AND EARNING CAPACITY

Employer: [________________________________]
Position: [________________________________]
Rate of Pay: $[________] per [hour/week/month/year]

VIII. PROPERTY DAMAGE

IX. PAIN AND SUFFERING / NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES

☐ Physical pain and suffering (past and ongoing)
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life
☐ Inconvenience and disruption of daily activities
☐ Scarring and/or disfigurement
☐ Fear and anxiety
☐ Sleep disruption

Non-Economic Damages Claimed: $[________]

X. LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

[If applicable:]

Claimant's spouse, [________________________________], has suffered a loss of consortium.

Loss of Consortium Claimed: $[________]

XI. TOTAL DAMAGES SUMMARY

XII. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

Based upon the foregoing, we hereby demand the sum of:

$[________________________________]

This demand is open for thirty (30) days from the date of this letter, expiring on [__/__/____].

XIII. OFFER OF COMPROMISE NOTICE

Please be advised that if this matter proceeds to litigation, we intend to serve an Offer of Compromise pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-192a. Under this statute, if our client obtains a judgment equal to or greater than the offer, the court shall add to the damages:

☐ Prejudgment interest at 10% per annum from the date the complaint was filed
☐ Reasonable attorney fees
☐ Costs of suit

This can substantially increase the total recovery. We strongly encourage your company to evaluate this claim and respond with a reasonable settlement offer within the demand period.

XIV. BAD FAITH WARNING

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-816 — Unfair Insurance Practices Act

Under the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-816), insurers are prohibited from engaging in unfair claims settlement practices including:

☐ Misrepresenting pertinent facts or policy provisions
☐ Failing to acknowledge pertinent communications promptly
☐ Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for prompt investigation
☐ Not attempting in good faith to effectuate fair and equitable settlements when liability is reasonably clear
☐ Compelling claimants to institute litigation by offering substantially less than ultimately recovered

Additionally, Connecticut recognizes the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110b) as a basis for insurance bad faith claims. Lees v. Middlesex Insurance Co., 229 Conn. 842, 643 A.2d 1282 (1994).

Your company is on notice that failure to respond in good faith may result in CUTPA liability, treble damages, and attorney fees.

XV. COLLATERAL SOURCE RULE

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-225a, the court shall reduce a personal injury award by amounts the claimant received from collateral sources, minus premiums paid. We reserve all rights regarding the application of this statute.

XVI. ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS

☐ Medical records and bills from all treating providers
☐ Police/crash report
☐ Photographs of vehicle damage and injuries
☐ Employer verification of lost wages
☐ Property damage estimates
☐ Witness statements (if available)
☐ [________________________________]

XVII. RESPONSE REQUESTED

Please confirm receipt and provide a substantive response within thirty (30) days.

Respectfully submitted,

[________________________________]
Attorneys for [________________________________]

By: _________________________________
[________________________________]
Connecticut Bar No. [________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________], Connecticut [____]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

CONNECTICUT PRACTICE NOTES AND CHECKLIST

☐ 51% Bar Rule: Plaintiff can recover if 50% or less at fault (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h)
☐ No Damage Caps: Full compensation available
☐ Offer of Compromise: Critical leverage tool — 10% prejudgment interest + attorney fees if judgment exceeds offer (§ 52-192a)
☐ Prejudgment Interest: Discretionary under § 37-3b; mandatory under § 52-192a offer of compromise
☐ Collateral Source: Court reduces award by collateral source amounts minus premiums (§ 52-225a)
☐ CUTPA: Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act may apply to bad faith insurance conduct; treble damages available
☐ Punitive Damages: Available only for reckless or intentional conduct; common-law punitive damages limited to litigation costs
☐ Minimum Insurance: $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-335)
☐ UM/UIM: Required minimum coverage matching liability limits

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 (Statute of limitations)
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h (Comparative negligence)
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-192a (Offer of compromise)
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-816 (Unfair insurance practices)
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110b (CUTPA)
• Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 14 (Motor vehicles)
• Connecticut General Assembly: https://www.cga.ct.gov