Bill Ronalter is chair of Shipman's Catastrophic Injury Practice Group. Bill represents individuals who have sustained substantial personal injuries and wrongful death cases. In the legal world, everyone wants results, and Bill’s results speak for themselves, but what sets him apart is that, at Shipman, he focuses on the quality of his representation of clients in catastrophic injury cases, rather than the quantity of injury cases he is involved in at any given time. This focus allows him the flexibility to be responsive and to listen mindfully to his clients and their needs. Bill prides himself on communicating regularly and proactively with his clients as developments warrant.
Bill has more than 30 years of experience handling personal injury cases in various roles, including plaintiff’s lawyer, defense lawyer, and as a consultant for an insurance company. He managed cases throughout the country involving catastrophic injuries including death, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, Legionnaires' disease, and burns. Bill has experience in the following types of cases: aviation disasters, accidents involving motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians (including DUI cases), uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, products liability (including defective lithium ion batteries in laptops, I-Phones, and E-cigarettes that caused burn injuries), premises liability, construction accidents, drowning, dental and medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, sexual abuse, and wrongful arrest and imprisonment cases. He was involved in cases arising out of the 9/11 attacks and the Rhode Island Nightclub fire. He currently represents 8 of the 10 passengers that were killed or injured in the crash of a B-17 airplane at Bradley International Airport in October 2019. He has served as an expert witness and testified regarding proper claim handling practices. Bill has also served as a guest lecturer (2009-2012) and an adjunct professor (2013-present) at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Trial Practice Class. Bill Ronalter and Jim Bergenn often use videos to assist with case resolutions. Click here to learn more.
Shipman is ranked Tier 1 by U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers as a Best Law Firm in both Personal Injury Litigation and Products Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, and Bill is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a distinction that less than 4% of trial lawyers can claim.
Distinctions
#2 verdict in State of Connecticut in 2015, as listed in the Connecticut Law Tribune’s Top Verdicts & Settlements Supplement
Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Personal Injury General: Plaintiff (2011-2022)
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (2018-2023)
Named "Lawyer of the Year": Best Lawyers Hartford Region Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (2022)
Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star: Personal Injury and Product Liability (Plaintiff) (2012-2015)
Chosen as a member of The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a voluntary membership organization that admits only attorneys who have won multi-million dollar verdicts or settlements, and of which fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members
Chosen as a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a voluntary membership organization that admits only attorneys who have won million dollar verdicts or settlements, and of which fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members
Member, The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only membership organization of civil plaintiff and criminal defense attorneys, limited to no more than 100 lawyers in each state
Education
Skidmore College, B.A., 1988, phi beta kappa
Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1991, cum laude
Bar Admissions
Connecticut
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, District of CT
Areas of Focus
Catastrophic Injury
Litigation
