When a loved one dies because someone else was careless, the shock and grief can feel overwhelming. On top of the loss, families in Connecticut often face urgent questions about what happened, why it happened, and how to hold the responsible party accountable. In many cases, medical records are the backbone of a strong wrongful death claim because they document injuries, treatment decisions, timing, and outcomes in an objective way.
Understanding Wrongful Death in Connecticut
Connecticut’s wrongful death statute allows the executor or administrator of the estate to bring a civil claim for “just damages,” which can include medical expenses, funeral costs, the decedent’s conscious pain and suffering, and lost earning capacity, subject to legal offsets. The statute also includes a two-year limitation period from the date of death, and an outside five-year repose period running from the act or omission that caused the death.
Why Medical Records Matter So Much in a Connecticut Wrongful Death Case
Medical records are created contemporaneously by healthcare professionals and can answer the critical questions of what happened medically, when it happened, who was involved, and whether complications were foreseeable or preventable. They also allow independent experts to evaluate whether the death was more likely than not caused by a defendant’s negligent conduct rather than by unrelated conditions.
What to Look For in the Records
The most probative medical documentation often includes emergency department records, operative reports, ICU progress notes, attending and consultant notes, medication administration records, nursing flowsheets, imaging reports, pathology results, and discharge summaries. These entries can establish the timeline from injury to death, reveal deviations from standard protocols, and document pain and suffering in the hours or days before passing.
How Medical Records Prove Causation in Connecticut Wrongful Death Claims
To win a wrongful death case in Connecticut, the estate must show that the defendant’s negligent act or omission was a substantial factor in causing the death. Records link the mechanism of injury to the medical outcome in ways that testimony alone often cannot. An imaging report may confirm a subdural hematoma after a trucking collision; a cardiology note may show an untreated arrhythmia in a hospital setting; operative notes may reveal a retained foreign object. When experts compare those entries to the accepted standard of care, the causal chain becomes clear.
Using Medical Records to Prove Negligence After a Connecticut Crash
Imagine a Hartford family after a highway crash. The decedent was stable at the scene but deteriorated rapidly at the hospital. The chart shows delayed recognition of internal bleeding, late imaging, and a prolonged interval before transfer to the OR. Progress notes document escalating pain, falling blood pressure, and increasing heart rate. Operative and pathology reports confirm a splenic laceration with massive hemorrhage. Together, these records allow a trauma surgery expert to explain how earlier intervention would likely have prevented death, countering defense arguments about preexisting conditions. Because the scenario involves a motor vehicle crash, the family could also explore negligent driving and potential claims against a commercial carrier’s insurer.
What Damages Do Medical Records Help Prove in Connecticut?
Connecticut recognizes “just damages,” which can include the decedent’s pre-death medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost earning capacity reduced to present value, and the destruction of the ability to enjoy life’s activities. Chart entries, bills, and treatment notes support each category. Pain scores, sedation records, and nursing notes often substantiate conscious pain and suffering, while billing ledgers and coding summaries support economic losses tied to treatment.
Accessing Medical Records for a Connecticut Wrongful Death Claim
Only authorized persons, typically the court-appointed executor or administrator, can request the decedent’s records. Providers require proper authorizations or a subpoena to release them. Federal privacy law permits disclosure to a personal representative, and Connecticut providers may have their own release procedures and fees.
Common Problems Families Face with Medical Records
• Incomplete or missing chart sections that create gaps in the timeline, sometimes requiring follow-up subpoenas or court orders.
• Technical jargon and abbreviations that require translation by medical experts to avoid misinterpretation.
• Delays from busy health systems or third-party record custodians, which can threaten deadlines if not managed early.
• Disputes about whether complications were foreseeable or preventable, which demand targeted expert review.
Building a Strong Case with Medical Records
A focused, well-organized record set improves expert review and settlement leverage. Attorneys often create a medical chronology keyed to timestamps, cross-reference entries that show departures from accepted practice, and highlight proof of suffering for damages. A clear chronology is persuasive for insurers and jurors because it shows, step by step, how negligence produced the outcome.
Filing Deadlines in Connecticut
Connecticut requires filing within two years from the date of death, and no later than five years from the act or omission causing the death, whichever comes first. Early record collection protects against missing critical evidence and helps counsel evaluate tolling issues if any apply.
Steps Families Can Take in Connecticut
- Petition the probate court promptly to appoint an executor or administrator so you have standing to request the decedent’s records.
- Send written requests to every provider and facility involved in the incident, including EMS, the emergency department, specialists, and any rehabilitation or hospice providers.
- Preserve and organize billing statements, medication lists, and any at-home care notes to support damages.
- Consult with a wrongful death attorney who can coordinate expert review, create a medical chronology, and manage subpoenas or motions as needed.
- Track Connecticut’s two-year statute of limitations and five-year repose period and file suit in time to protect your rights.
Need Legal Help? Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law is One Phone Call Away
If your family is facing the pain of a wrongful death in Connecticut, you should not have to take on hospitals, insurers, and legal deadlines alone. These cases are complex, often involving medical records, expert testimony, and strict timelines. Our team understands how to build a clear chronology of events, uncover the full scope of negligence, and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Whether your loss was caused by a highway crash, a failure to monitor a patient in a hospital, or an unsafe property condition, we focus on proving negligence and pursuing the maximum compensation available under Connecticut law. We handle communication with providers, gather medical evidence, and manage every step of the process so you can focus on supporting your family during this difficult time.
At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we are committed to fighting for families who have lost loved ones due to negligence. From investigating the cause of death to pursuing settlement or trial, our goal is to secure justice and financial stability for your future.