Posted on April 27, 2021 in Personal Injury

Bicycles are a great way to get some exercise while using an eco-friendly transportation method, and people sometimes think it is a safer alternative to driving. Nevertheless, getting on a bike is bound to involve some risk of an accident.

You cannot always count on people to drive safely. Furthermore, some hazards are easy to forget about while you are riding. Even if you are an experienced cyclist, remain vigilant about bicycle safety.

Be careful when crossing parking lot entrances

Crossing the entrance of a parking lot can be just as dangerous as crossing an intersection. People turning out of a parking lot may not keep an eye out for bicycles, particularly if they are turning in the opposite direction that you are going. Drivers who are only watching for other vehicles are not likely to register the presence of a bicycle.

Remember that you may not hear every car coming your way

Bicycles generally do not have the benefit of a rearview mirror, so cyclists sometimes have to rely on their auditory senses to become aware of cars approaching them from behind. Many electric vehicles emit little or no sound, and their growing popularity could lead to an increase in motor vehicle accidents involving bicycles.

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 Posted on March 15, 2021 in Car Accidents

One of the leading causes of auto accidents in the last decade has been distracted driving. In fact, in 2019, 3,142 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in the United States. And each year, about 400,000 people suffer injuries in a distracted driving crash – and often they are pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists hit by a distracted driver.

The dangers of distracted driving

Distracted driving is dangerous because when motorists drive while distracted, they aren’t paying attention to the road and traffic around them. The longer a driver is distracted, the higher likelihood of a serious accident occurring. If a driver doesn’t notice the car in front them stops suddenly, they may not brake at all to avoid a crash. Instead, the distracted driver could hit another car at full force.

One reason some states, such as Connecticut, have banned drivers from having a phone in their hand is that cell phone use often encompasses all forms of distracted driving:

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 Posted on March 13, 2021 in Premises Liability

Spinal cord injuries may happen in a high-speed car accident, but may also be the result of negligence on-premises or at work. Unfortunately, medical science has yet to devise a true cure for SCIs and so if you find yourself the victim of one, it may mean a long road of rehabilitation and high medical costs.

In the case of negligence though, the possibility of compensation for your pain and suffering is still in the cards. Knowing what costs to expect may help you build a better case.

Average costs depend on the severity of SCIs

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average first-year cost of your SCI may range between $375,000 and $1.1 million. It all depends on how severe the injury is. Motor functional damage at any level throws real hurdles for you during recovery and may impact your job prospects for the rest of your life.

Lower injuries may still be drastic and give you paraplegia—the partial or full paralysis of your lower half. Catastrophic injuries higher up on the spinal column may give you tetraplegia—similar levels of paralysis but through your whole body. High tetraplegia, or injuries to the C1-C4 vertebrae, pose the greatest risk and highest costs of surgery and recovery.

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 Posted on March 11, 2021 in Car Accidents

Even though child car seats can be expensive, placing your child in one is the best way to protect him or her from injury in a car accident. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that using a height- and weight-appropriate car seat reduces injury risk by as much as 82%.

If you have a collision when your child is in the car, you may wonder if it is safe to continue to use the car seat. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is only acceptable to use car seats that have been through minor collisions. Accordingly, you should replace the seat after moderate or severe ones.

Was your accident moderate or severe?

The terms, "minor," "moderate" and "severe," may not mean much to you.

Fortunately, the NHTSA has a framework for determining if your crash was moderate or severe. If your accident has any of the following characteristics, you should replace your child’s car seat immediately:

• Someone suffered an injury in the crash.

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 Posted on February 19, 2021 in Car Accidents

Winter weather is here again. Driving on ice- or snow-covered roads is dangerous and poses many risks, even for experienced drivers.

In additional to snow on the road, dangerously low temperatures can cause black ice on the road that is difficult to spot after the roads are cleared. The Connecticut State Police is reminding motorists to be aware of road conditions before you leave, to drive slowly and to leave extra space between you and other vehicles.

What to include in your emergency kit

In addition to driving defensively, what else should motorists do to stay safe on the road? Don’t forget to store emergency items in your vehicle in case you get into an accident or stuck in a snowstorm.

Some of the most essential items to include in have in your vehicle during the winter include:

• Durable mittens or gloves
• Hat
• Blankets

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 Posted on February 05, 2021 in Car Accidents

With lockdowns across the country, many Americans decided to work from home. If you commute to your place of employment, you probably noticed lighter traffic in and around Bridgeport. Unfortunately, despite uncongested roadways, the number of traffic fatalities increased in 2020.

During the first six months of 2020, nationwide traffic deaths increased by 12.7% over the same period the previous year. In Connecticut, from the middle of March 2020 to the middle of April 2020, there was a 50% drop in traffic volume and a 40% increase in traffic fatalities.

Speeding may be to blame

It may be impossible to believe that traffic fatalities would increase when fewer drivers are on the road. Still, it seems drivers may have used a lack of congestion as a reason to increase their speeds. Obviously, if cars are moving at fast speeds, their drivers have less time to avoid a serious accident.

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 Posted on February 04, 2021 in Premises Liability

Winter is a particularly hazardous time of year for many of us in the northern hemisphere. The presence of snow and ice turns the entire world into a slip and slide. While nobody can stop the freezing temperatures, it is true that in certain circumstances landlords have responsibilities to keep their properties safe for pedestrians.

If you suffer a nasty slip in front of a retail property during the winter months and sustain an injury as a result, you may be wondering about your legal recourse. According to FindLaw, there are certain instances where you may have a slip-and-fall case against a retail landlord who was negligent with ice and snow.

Are landlords liable for ice and snow?

Not in all situations. Generally speaking, if the ice and snow accumulation is due to current weather conditions, it is not reasonable to expect a landlord to remove ice and snow the moment it appears.

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 Posted on January 25, 2021 in Car Accidents

Winters in Connecticut bring ice and snow to the road, making it difficult to drive safely. No matter if you plan on only driving around your neighborhood or venturing farther, learn how to maneuver your vehicle safely.

To prevent unnecessary car accidents, read what AAA Exchange offers for winter driving tips. The right information could save a life.

Learn how to navigate hills

If you have a lot of hills in your area, understand how to navigate them during icy and snowy conditions. While approaching inclines, increase your speed a bit so you have enough inertia to power your vehicle up the hill. Do not change speeds while climbing, as doing so may force your tires to spin out, and try not to brake or stop while going uphill. When you get to the top of the hill, allow momentum and gravity to guide you gently downhill.

Allow for greater following distance

When temperatures plummet, leave more room between yourself and other vehicles. If you hit a patch of black ice, you may need more distance to come to a complete stop. Also, if a car behind you skids on ice or snow, putting more distance between yourself and the car ahead of you gives you more room to pull up or maneuver out of the way.

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 Posted on January 22, 2021 in Car Accidents

Many types of driving behaviors contribute to the risks that drivers face on the road. Distracted driving is an umbrella term that covers a handful of these behaviors. While texting and driving gets the worst rap, drowsy driving is just as risky.

In fact, drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of crashes. As time goes on, it only grows deadlier, becoming a bigger and more pressing issue.

Affects of drowsiness on drivers

The Sleep Foundation looks at drowsy driving and its impact on crashes. Drowsiness affects the human body in a way similar to intoxication. In fact, many drowsy drivers exhibit similar behaviors and actions to intoxicated drivers. They may slur their speech, stumble and lack hand-eye coordination. They can also experience:

• Slowed reflexes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble identifying oncoming danger
• Slowed mental processes

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 Posted on January 20, 2021 in Personal Injury

Car accidents have the potential to cause a host of injuries. Yet, one of the most common and over-looked injuries is brain trauma. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations in the United States.

It is critical to understand the signs and symptoms of brain trauma, so you can spot an injury. Furthermore, you can get help as soon as possible.

What is traumatic brain damage?

The delicate human brain sits suspended in fluid within the skull cavity. Any sudden, forceful blow to the head can cause the soft tissue to reverberate with the cavity, hitting into the hard skull bone once or even multiple times. Each impact has the potential to cause bruising, bleeding and inflammation to the brain tissue.

Some damage may seem minor, as you may not notice any symptoms of an injury for days after the accident occurred. However, the damage may intensify as swelling in the brain occurs.

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