After a car accident in Waterbury: what to do next
After a crash in Waterbury
Waterbury sits at the meeting of I-84 and Route 8, with busy local roads feeding both. If you are in a crash, safety comes first. Call 911 if anyone may be hurt or if vehicles are blocking a lane. Move the cars only if it is safe and your vehicle can be driven. Otherwise, wait in a protected place for police and medical help.
Write down the investigating agency and the report or case number. Waterbury Police Department often investigates crashes in the city. Some highway crashes are investigated by the Connecticut State Police. You will need the correct agency when you request the official report.
Information that helps later
If you can, photograph vehicle damage, plates, nearby signs, road and weather conditions, and visible injuries. Exchange names, contact information, license and plate numbers, and insurance details. Get witness names and phone numbers when possible. You can be polite without discussing who was at fault.
Consider seeing a medical professional even if you think the injuries are minor. Some symptoms, including neck, back, or head injuries, are delayed. Follow the care you are given and keep the records.
How to get the official crash report
Get the report from the agency that investigated. Do not assume the Connecticut DMV issues a public copy of the crash report; a public DMV crash-report portal was not verified for these drafts.
- Waterbury Police Department’s Records Division states that many accident reports can be requested online and points the public to BuyCrash for accident reports. Official page: https://www.wtbypd.org/divisions/administration/records-division. That page also lists a records phone number for questions. Follow the current instructions and fees on the official page or the linked request system.
- If the Connecticut State Police investigated, use DESPP’s published process: https://portal.ct.gov/despp/division-of-emergency-service-and-public-protection/reports-and-records/reports-and-records. A free Accident Information Summary, which DESPP says is not the official report, may be available for a limited time at https://accidents.despp.ct.gov.
Connecticut law requires a uniform investigation report, sent to the Commissioner of Transportation, for qualifying crashes involving injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage to any one person (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-108a; https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/PUB/chap_246.htm). Release of a copy to you still follows the investigating agency’s procedures.
After you get home
Report the crash to your own insurer as required, sticking to basic facts. Pause before giving a recorded statement to another driver’s insurer until you have decided whether to talk with an independent attorney. Keep medical bills, work records, and repair documents in one place.
Legal deadlines vary. Many Connecticut personal injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline, but exceptions and other deadlines may apply. Ask an independent Connecticut attorney promptly about your situation.
If you want to request a connection with an independent Connecticut attorney, use the Contact page: https://www.autolawyerct.com/contact. Completing the form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any agreement for legal representation is between you and the attorney.
Disclaimer
AutoLawyerCT.com is a marketing service that connects people with independent Connecticut attorneys. It is not a law firm, is not a lawyer referral service, and does not give legal advice. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult an independent Connecticut attorney about your own situation.
Official sources cited
- Waterbury Police Department Records Division: https://www.wtbypd.org/divisions/administration/records-division
- DESPP Reports and Records: https://portal.ct.gov/despp/division-of-emergency-service-and-public-protection/reports-and-records/reports-and-records
- DESPP Accident Information Summary: https://accidents.despp.ct.gov
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-108a, Chapter 246: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/PUB/chap_246.htm