10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in New London, CT

This guide covers 10 car accident lawyers and law firms serving New London, Connecticut, and the surrounding New London County communities of Groton, Norwich, Waterford, East Lyme, Stonington, and Old Lyme. All ten either maintain an office in New London County or are headquartered elsewhere in Connecticut with an explicit, established practice covering the county. Metadata was drawn from each firm’s own website, cross-checked against Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo, and Best Lawyers where a specific rating or figure is cited.

When comparing firms for a car accident claim, it’s worth asking a few practical questions: Does the attorney regularly appear in New London County’s Superior Court, or do they mostly settle cases without going to trial? Do they have firsthand experience with how insurance adjusters handle claims tied to the area’s Naval Submarine Base, casino, and coastal tourist traffic? And does the firm handle any parallel process, like a DMV hearing or a workers’ compensation claim, that might arise alongside the main injury case?

This list is not ranked and is not sponsored.

1. Bartlett & Grippe, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Frank C. Bartlett Jr., Managing Partner
• Headquarters: 219 S. Main St., Cheshire, CT 06410
• Phone: (203) 439-7717
• Website: bartlettgrippe.com
• Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Slip and Falls, Animal Bites
• Firm Size: Boutique; over 100 years of combined legal experience among its attorneys
• Practice Area Page: Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Yelp, Martindale

About the Firm: Frank Bartlett began his legal career in 2004 as a law clerk before building a trial practice concentrated on serious motor vehicle injury claims. He’s admitted to practice in both Connecticut and New York. Partner Joseph Grippe also focuses on personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, and both attorneys started their careers together at the same New Haven-area firm before founding their own practice in 2016.

Bartlett & Grippe represents car accident clients in all eight Connecticut counties, including New London County, and offers 24/7 phone support for accident intake. The firm’s core practice areas stay narrowly focused on injury litigation rather than branching into unrelated areas of law, which keeps its attorneys concentrated on trial preparation for car, truck, and motorcycle crash cases.

2. Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: John A. Collins, III and Eric J. Heiser, Personal Injury Team (firm founded by Charles Suisman, Max Shapiro, and Louis Wool)
• Headquarters: 75 State Street, New London, CT 06320
• Phone: (860) 442-4416
• Website: suismanshapiro.com
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury (Motor Vehicle Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Insurance Coverage), Family Law, Criminal Defense, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, Business Law, Real Estate
• Firm Size: Large; the largest law firm in eastern Connecticut, with multiple offices
• Practice Area Page: New London Car Accident Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube

About the Firm: Founded in 1939, Suisman Shapiro has grown into the largest law firm in eastern Connecticut. Its motor vehicle accident team handles claims for clients across New London, Windham, and Middlesex Counties, with attorneys who have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Best Lawyers as trial attorneys.

The firm maintains dedicated pages addressing crash patterns on specific local roadways, including I-395, Route 2, and Route 12, reflecting decades of familiarity with how accidents happen on eastern Connecticut’s highways. Its size also means car accident clients can be connected internally with attorneys handling related matters like workers’ compensation or Social Security Disability if their injuries affect their ability to work.

3. The Reardon Law Firm, P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Kelly E. Reardon, Managing Partner (Robert I. Reardon, Jr., President)
• Headquarters: 160 Hempstead Street, New London, CT 06320
• Phone: (860) 442-0444
• Website: reardonlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury (Car, Truck, Motorcycle, Bicycle, Boating, Train, and Air Crash Accidents), Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Sexual Abuse, Premises Liability
• Firm Size: Boutique; five attorneys
• Practice Area Page: New London Car Accident Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Facebook

About the Firm: Managing Partner Kelly Reardon successfully argued Cefaratti v. Aranow before the Connecticut Supreme Court, a case that changed how the state’s medical malpractice law treats the doctrine of apparent agency. President Robert Reardon has practiced personal injury law in New London for decades, and attorney Joseph Barnes has obtained six-figure settlements in auto accident cases for the firm’s clients.

The firm handles the full range of transportation accident claims, from car and motorcycle crashes to boating, train, and aviation accidents, all on a contingency basis. It maintains dedicated pages for surrounding communities including Groton, Waterford, and Old Saybrook, reflecting a practice built specifically around the New London County area it calls home.

4. Buckley Wynne & Parese

• Attorneys: John F. Buckley Jr., John F. Wynne Jr., John M. Parese
• In Practice: 140+ years (firm history)
• Headquarters: 685 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511 (serving New London, CT)
• Phone: (203) 776-2278
• Website: bwplaw.com
• Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Workplace Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death
• Firm Size: Mid-size, with additional offices in Hartford and Stamford
• Practice Area Page: New London Car Accident Lawyer

About the Firm: Buckley Wynne & Parese traces its history back more than 140 years, making it one of the longest-standing personal injury practices in Connecticut, with its New Haven office serving as one of three locations statewide. The firm’s attorneys carry AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Law Firms, and its case results include multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for spinal cord injuries and other catastrophic harm.

5. Conway, Londregan, Sheehan & Monaco, P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Eric J. Garofano, Partner
• Headquarters: 38 Huntington Street, New London, CT 06320
• Phone: (860) 868-4952
• Website: conwaylondregan.com
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury (Motor Vehicle, Trucking, Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents), General Practice, Municipal Law, Wrongful Death, Business Law
• Firm Size: Mid-size; seven attorneys, established 1962

About the Firm: Formed in 1962 by Kevin Conway and Francis Londregan, the firm has built a six-decade presence in the New London legal community. Partner Eric Garofano concentrates his practice on personal injury and motor vehicle accident claims, while attorney Thomas Londregan has argued nine cases before the Connecticut Appellate Court and six before the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Because the firm maintains practices across municipal law, business law, and estate planning alongside personal injury, car accident clients gain access to broader institutional resources and appellate experience than a single-focus boutique typically offers. The trade-off is that motor vehicle cases are handled by a subset of the firm’s seven attorneys rather than by a team singularly dedicated to auto claims.

6. Law Firm of Levin, Rojas, Camassar & Reck, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Scott D. Camassar
• Headquarters: 391 Norwich-Westerly Rd, North Stonington, CT 06359 (also Hartford, CT)
• Phone: (860) 535-4040
• Website: lrcr.law
• Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse, Product Liability, Wrongful Death, Mass Torts (Camp Lejeune)
• Firm Size: Mid-size, multi-office

About the Firm: With nearly 30 years handling motor vehicle and truck accident claims, Scott Camassar anchors the firm’s personal injury team alongside John Nazzaro, a former judge who joined to litigate negligence, malpractice, and mass tort cases. The firm serves clients throughout New London County from its North Stonington office.

The firm splits its resources between local car accident work and a growing national mass tort docket, including Camp Lejeune water contamination claims. That national litigation gives the firm expanded resources and subject-matter depth, though it also means the firm’s attention isn’t as narrowly focused on New London County car accidents as a single-town boutique’s would be.

7. Strafaci Law Firm, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: M. John Strafaci
• Headquarters: 191 Hempstead St., New London, CT 06320
• Phone: (860) 442-8667
• Website: strafacilaw.com
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Workers’ Compensation, Civil Rights, Tribal and Gaming Law, DUI Defense
• Firm Size: Small; two-attorney, father-son practice

About the Firm: John Strafaci, a former mayor of New London who served on the City Council from 1991 to 1997, has practiced law in the city for more than 30 years and holds the record for the largest personal injury verdict awarded by a tribal court, at $2.9 million. His son Joseph, a second-generation New London native, focuses on personal injury and workers’ compensation alongside the firm’s gaming and tribal law matters connected to the region’s casinos.

As a small, two-attorney family practice, clients work directly with John or Joseph Strafaci rather than being handed off to case managers. That close, personal attention comes with less bench depth than a larger firm for especially complex or high-volume litigation.

8. Mission Focus Legal Group

• Attorney/Key Figure: Keith Anthony
• Headquarters: 4 Fort Hill Road, Groton, CT 06340 (also Guilford and New Haven, CT)
• Phone: (860) 333-6455
• Website: mflgct.com
• Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Distracted Driving, Motorcycle Accidents, Truck Accidents, Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents, Family Law, Criminal Defense, Military Law
• Firm Size: Small to mid-size; three Connecticut office locations

About the Firm: Keith Anthony, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Major and former Judge Advocate, built his Groton practice around litigating car, truck, and motorcycle accident claims. His military law background gives him particular familiarity representing service members and their families connected to the nearby Naval Submarine Base in personal injury matters.

Because the firm also carries family law, criminal defense, and military law caseloads, its personal injury work sits alongside these other practice areas rather than being the sole focus of a dedicated car accident boutique. The firm has expanded to three Connecticut offices since its 2020 founding.

9. The Bartinik Law Firm LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Peter J. Bartinik, Jr.
• Headquarters: 100 Fort Hill Road, Groton, CT 06340
• Phone: (860) 445-8521
• Website: grotonlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury (Car Accidents, Truck Accidents), Medical Malpractice, Employment Law, Criminal Defense, Family Law
• Firm Size: Small, family-run practice

About the Firm: Peter Bartinik Jr., board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, has represented car accident clients in New London County since 1992, with a focus on injuries serious enough to require surgery or cause lost time from work. His wife, Lori Nader Bartinik, handles the firm’s family law caseload.

The firm is a small, family-run operation, so clients work directly with Peter or Lori rather than being routed through layers of paralegals or case managers. That direct access comes with less capacity than a larger firm for especially complex, multi-attorney litigation.

10. Colonese Law LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Michael D. Colonese
• Headquarters: 55 Main St, Suite 340, Norwich, CT 06360
• Phone: (860) 891-7200
• Website: coloneselaw.com
• Practice Areas: Personal Injury (Car, Truck, Bus, Motorcycle, Drunk Driving Accidents), Workers’ Compensation, Employment Litigation
• Firm Size: Solo practitioner

About the Firm: Michael Colonese, licensed in Connecticut since 1985 and certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, built his Norwich practice around car and truck accident claims after previously serving as managing partner of an established regional firm. He also handles workers’ compensation and employment litigation for clients across New London County.

As a solo practitioner, Colonese personally handles each case rather than distributing work across a team of associates, giving clients direct access to the same attorney throughout their case. That also caps how many cases the firm can carry at once compared to a multi-attorney practice.

Understanding New London, CT Car Accidents Court Procedures

• Filing at New London Superior Court: Formal litigation begins by filing a Summons and Complaint at the New London Judicial District Court on Broad Street.
• Statute of Limitations: Under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584, plaintiffs must initiate a lawsuit within two years of the accident date.
• Comparative Negligence Rule: Connecticut enforces a 51% modified comparative fault standard; recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault and barred if over 50%.
• Discovery Phase: Both legal teams exchange medical records, submit written interrogatories, and conduct depositions under oath.
• Mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Local courts heavily encourage pre-trial resolution via court-annexed mediation, judicial settlement conferences, or non-binding arbitration.
• Jury Selection & Trial: Unresolved cases proceed to trial before a judge or six-person jury to decide liability and award financial damages.

New London, CT Car Accidents Resources

• New London Police Department (Records Division): Obtains official crash reports filed within city limits (available via CrashDocs.org or directly from the Records Section).
• Lawrence + Memorial Hospital: The primary regional emergency room and trauma center located in New London for immediate injury treatment and medical record documentation.
• New London Judicial District Superior Court: The local state court handling personal injury lawsuits and formal civil litigation in the area.
• Connecticut DMV (Accident Reporting): State resource for submitting required Operator Motor Vehicle Accident Reports (Form PR-1) following a qualifying crash.
• Connecticut Centralized Infractions Bureau: Manages state traffic ticket inquiries, fine payments, and driver records related to accident citations.
• Statewide Legal Aid (SLS): Provides legal advice and referral services for eligible low-income residents navigating post-accident administrative challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Connecticut?

Connecticut’s statute of limitations for most car accident personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident, under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584. Property damage claims from the same accident are also generally subject to a two-year limit. Missing this deadline typically means losing the right to sue, so it’s worth speaking with an attorney well before the two-year mark, especially since insurance companies often have their own, much shorter reporting deadlines.

Does Connecticut follow a fault-based or no-fault system for car accidents?

Connecticut is a fault-based (tort liability) state, not a no-fault state. That means the driver responsible for causing the accident, and their insurance company, is generally responsible for covering the other party’s damages. Connecticut also applies a “modified comparative negligence” rule: an injured person can still recover damages even if they were partly at fault, as long as they were 50% or less responsible, though their award is reduced by their percentage of fault.

What happens if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured?

Connecticut requires drivers to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as part of their own auto policy, which can pay out when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for the injured party’s damages. Firms like Suisman Shapiro and The Reardon Law Firm handle uninsured motorist claims as a routine part of their car accident practice, since a meaningful share of New London County crashes involve drivers who don’t carry adequate coverage.

Which court handles car accident lawsuits filed in New London County?

Most car accident lawsuits arising in New London County are filed in Connecticut Superior Court, Judicial District of New London, which has courthouses in the city of New London. Attorneys who appear there regularly, rather than primarily settling cases through correspondence with insurers, tend to have a better sense of how local judges and juries evaluate injury claims.

How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer in New London?

Nearly every firm on this list, and most personal injury firms generally, handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means the client pays no upfront legal fees, and the attorney is paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict only if the case succeeds. It’s worth asking a prospective attorney what percentage they charge and whether that percentage changes if the case goes to trial rather than settling.

What should I do immediately after a car accident in New London County?

Connecticut law requires drivers to report an accident to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles within five days if it results in injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. Beyond that legal requirement, it’s generally advisable to seek prompt medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor, since some injuries don’t show symptoms right away, and to avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an attorney referral. It is not a ranked or sponsored list, and inclusion does not imply an endorsement by, or affiliation with, any named firm beyond what is stated. Attorney credentials, case results, and contact details change over time; confirm current information directly with each firm before making a hiring decision. Past results described here do not guarantee similar outcomes in any other case.