Posted on August 16, 2021 in Car Accidents

Though fewer people have hit the roads last year than many years in the past, that does not necessarily mean they got any safer. In fact, some states saw a massive leap in the dangers and related crashes on roads.

Connecticut is one of them, facing a starting 22 percent increase in fatalities for traffic crashes alone. This makes it the 5th highest state to see jumps in traffic incidents in the last year. But why has this happened?

The rise in fatal crashes

Patch discusses Connecticut’s dangerous roads and the downward slope that road safety has gone in recent years. The total number of traffic fatalities statewide in 2019 was 254. However, in 2020, this number went up to 310, rising by 56 fatalities.

For the majority of these crashes and incidents, speed remained one of the primary factors of influence. Traffic volume decreased over the last year, which experts think may have contributed to this increase in speed-related crashes. Drivers around the age of 34 saw the largest percentage of an increase. Meanwhile, single-vehicle crashes that took place on urban highways saw an increase of 9 to 14 percent.

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 Posted on August 11, 2021 in Car Accidents

Vacation is the ultimate time to relax, forget about the stressors at home and enjoy your family and friends. If you plan to drive while out of town or if your vacation includes a road trip, the last thing that you want to happen is to find yourself in an accident away from home.

A motor vehicle accident could destroy your vacation. The United States Department of Transportation has some tips on how to avoid an accident over the summer.

Have a planned route

Distractions can happen anywhere on the road. One thing that people often overlook happens to be the GPS. If you do not know your route, you may become distracted by the directions or changes you need to make.

Make sure that you plan your route. Give yourself time to study the map and to have a solid understanding of where you are and where you have to go. Having a passenger with access to information about your route can also help you remain alert and undistracted.

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 Posted on August 02, 2021 in Car Accidents

A vacation should be relaxing and a time to unwind without worries. Having a car accident while on a getaway can shatter the peace and tranquility, but it does not have to.

There are things every traveler can do to avoid having an accident ruin their vacation.

Night driving

It can be tough to avoid having to drive after dark when on a holiday. Because it is more dangerous to drive at night than when the sun is up, The Weather Channel suggests drivers should reduce their speed and keeping their windshields clean to avoid glares and night blindness issues.

Drowsy driving

Driving when too tired is a serious mistake, but it is something common on vacation. Making plans ahead of time to allow for rest breaks or to switch drivers is the smartest way to avoid drowsy driving and related accidents.

Planning the route

Many people end up making mistakes on roads they are not familiar with or in driving situations where they are unsure of their next moves. The U.S. Department of Transportation explains to avoid confusion, getting lost or feeling overwhelmed, drivers should always map out their route and create a driving plan.

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 Posted on June 21, 2021 in Car Accidents

Teen drivers have a much higher risk of serious accidents than older motorists do. Researchers theorize that inexperience plays a role in the rate of dangerous accidents involving adolescents.

Review the details about teen driver education in Connecticut to encourage your child to become a safe, responsible motorist.

Looking at the data

According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute (CHOP), the accident rate drops significantly for teens after they have had a driver’s license for 12 months. CHOP also reports that graduated driver’s license programs like the one in Connecticut help young motorists gain the skills they need to make safe driving decisions in challenging situations.

The researchers stress the importance of parental involvement as teens learn to drive. Consider accompanying your child even after he or she has a license on long trips or during inclement weather. Set a good safety example with your own driving behavior.

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 Posted on June 15, 2021 in Personal Injury

An early estimate report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the number of traffic accident-related deaths in 2020 rose by around 7.2% from 2019. Automobile accidents are hardly uncommon, contributing to the vast amount of unintentional injuries that take place each year (labeled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a leading cause of death among Americans).

If you are on vacation you may be at a higher risk of becoming involved in a wreck simply because you are traveling a longer distance. If you do find yourself in a car accident, there are certain things you need to do.

1. Seek immediate medical attention

It is easy to underestimate the severity of your injuries, particularly if they are not visible or appear minor. However, internal complications and severe wounds that do not manifest symptoms until after a delay may be present. Head to the nearest emergency room for a checkup before continuing your fun to ensure they are not.

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 Posted on May 27, 2021 in Car Accidents

If you suffered injuries due to an accident at a red light, it may have been the fault of a red light runner. Reckless drivers frequently cause accidents at intersections.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a 2019 survey exposed that while 86% of drivers recognize the dangers of speeding through a red light, about 31% reported doing it in the past 30 days.

Who are red light runners?

Red light running includes any time that a vehicle enters an intersection when the light turns red. This does not apply to those who happen to be in the intersection when the light changes. If the other driver fails to come to a stop before making a legal turn, this is also a violation.

As of 2019, younger male drivers tended to be the most likely to cause an intersection accident. Speeding, drinking and a history of drunk driving may all factor into those who have a higher likelihood of crashing into your motor vehicle.

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 Posted on May 24, 2021 in Premises Liability

In Connecticut, some people are lucky enough to have indoor pools. However, if you have an outdoor facility, then pool safety is not a year-round concern for you.

However, it is important to keep all of your property safe for any guests you might have. This is true any time of year — especially when you are starting to get your pool ready for the summer.

Preventing poolside tragedies

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a few great tips to keep everyone safe around the pool, reducing the risk of preventable injury or death. Here are a few of them:

• Keep an eye on kids in the water
• Learn CPR, or make sure somebody knows it
• Practice good drain safety with appropriate covers and education
• Confirm people know how to swim before they get in the pool
• Consider installing barriers, covers and alarm systems

In short, your ability to keep people safe around the pool depends on a combination of education and safety equipment. Remember that it is more than just a recreational area. It is also a potential hazard that you, as an owner, have a duty to keep reasonably safe. You might want to check the condition of your drains, covers, barriers and alarm system before that first pool party.

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 Posted on May 18, 2021 in Car Accidents

Distracted driving, where motorists do not devote sufficient attention to the driving task, has become a major and deadly problem in recent years. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 26,000 individuals died on U.S. roadways between 2012 and 2019 because of distracted driving.

Thanks to educational campaigns from federal, state and local governments, virtually everyone knows it is unsafe to send a text message while driving a car. Distracted driving, though, is not only about using a smartphone behind the wheel.

Manual distractions

Manual distractions include anything that takes a driver’s hands away from the steering wheel or his or her feet away from the pedals. Here are some common manual distractions:

• Changing the radio station
• Sitting cross-legged
• Eating fast food

Auditory distractions

When drivers hit the road, it is important to listen to environmental sounds. After all, motorists should hear approaching emergency vehicles, screeching car tires and even mechanical noises. The following auditory distractions may make doing so impossible:

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 Posted on May 10, 2021 in Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists know that bicycle riders often face an elevated risk when on the road. Your vehicle of choice is much smaller than any passenger car, and it offers you very little protection if you get hit. Personal protective gear like helmets and padding only goes so far, too.

Thus, it is crucial to implement as many safety tips as possible to keep yourself from harm. Of course, you must also know which tips will provide you with the most benefit.

What to do before you set off

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration goes into detail about the importance of bicycle safety. Many of the details are likely familiar, and you may have learned them from bicycle safety courses at a younger age. They include things like:

• Always wearing a helmet
• Check your equipment before riding
• Ensure that your bicycle is properly fit to your riding height
• Try to avoid riding at night

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 Posted on May 04, 2021 in Personal Injury

SUVs continue to grow in popularity across Connecticut and the nation. Yet, research shows that these larger, heavier vehicles pose a serious threat to pedestrians. A recent study found that pedestrians are much more likely to suffer a fatality when struck by an SUV, as opposed to a traditional passenger car.

Per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the number of lives lost on U.S. roadways fell between 1980 and 2018. However, the number of pedestrian lives lost in incidents involving SUVs climbed steadily upward during this span.

Pedestrian death statistics

Pedestrian deaths have become so frequent that they now account for a fifth of all traffic deaths. The number of pedestrians killed in car crashes increased 53% between 2009 and 2018. During this same period, the number of American motorists driving SUVs rose 8%, suggesting a connection between the two.

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