Posted on February 10, 2020 in Car Accidents

There is a customer at the bar who has clearly drank too much. He or she shows obvious signs of intoxication, can barely speak without a telltale slur and insists on another drink. The bartender sees the signs but chooses to ignore them and provides the guest with another drink. Did this bartender show negligence? According to the Dram Shop Act, the bartender may be liable for any accidents that the guest gets into.

Connecticut is one state in which dram shop laws can hold a bar accountable for overserving its patrons. In Connecticut, those who serve alcohol have a responsibility not to overserve alcohol. The Dram Shop Act provides a means for those injured in car accidents with a drunk driver to take action against the vendor.

When the plaintiff makes this claim, he or she can only collect a maximum of 250,000 dollars. In order to establish a cause of action, the plaintiff has to prove that the vendor supplied alcohol to an intoxicated person who as a result of his or her intoxication hurt another person. If he or she can prove this, then the bar could be held liable in the case of a car accident.

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 Posted on February 03, 2020 in Sexual Abuse

Well known for its zealous representation of sexual abuse victims, the law firm of Tremont Sheldon P.C. this month filed three lawsuits against Daniel Checovetes, long-time director within Massachusetts’s community theater circuit, on behalf of three female clients. The suits allege that in 2008, the three women, then ages 14, 16 and 17 respectively, came under Checovetes’s tutelage when they participated in the Naugatuck Teen Theater program where he served as director for teen and community theater performances.

As reported in the Connecticut Post and other newspapers, the lawsuits name not only Checovetes as a defendant, but also the Landmark Community Theatre, Inc., the Naugatuck Teen Theater, LLC, the Thomaston Opera House, and the Warner Theatre. The suits claim that employees of these theaters failed to properly oversee Checovetes’s interactions with teenagers even though they knew at the time that some of their employees had received criminal convictions for child pornography possession.

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 Posted on January 27, 2020 in Dog Bites

Connecticut residents who are victims of dog bite attacks have many scars to heal from. While the physical scars are often talked about, today we will take a look at mental impacts too. Both physical and mental effects can last a long time.

Psychology Today examines the epidemic of dog bite attacks in the country. To a degree, the frequency of attacks is due to the large number of dogs. Stray dogs are not the only ones responsible for bite injuries, either. In fact, most bite attacks come from domesticated dogs that the victim is familiar with. This can be family dogs or the dog of a close friend or neighbor.

After an attack, many victims find themselves with scars that will not fade. The physical injuries can take a long time to recover from. Scarring can last a lifetime. In some cases, victims even have to go through surgery to restore mauled body parts. Due to nerve damage, other victims end up suffering from chronic pain and need medication.

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 Posted on January 16, 2020 in Car Accidents

Car accidents are a far too common occurrence and happen to many unsuspecting people each day. These accidents may lead to serious injury, and if you have been in a car accident that was no fault of your own, it is important to understand the necessary next steps to take.

Acting quickly is important immediately following a car accident. Ensuring you gather evidence and contact information for the responsible party will be beneficial going forward.

Collect information 

Collecting contact information from the other party in the collision is key. You should exchange names, addresses, telephone numbers and insurance company information with the other driver.

It is also important to collect the license plate of the other vehicle. In addition, if there are any witnesses who confirm your explanations of the crash, it is useful to gather their contact information and statements as well.

Gather proof of the incident 

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 Posted on January 06, 2020 in Personal Injury

Snow, sleet and freezing rain are already pounding Connecticut. Temperatures under the freezing mark may continue for Bridgeport and the surrounding areas. In fact, The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the next two months show snow, snow and more snow.

This weather may cause stores to close and children to miss school. It also brings out those who get up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the roads are safe for drivers who must get out in the winter mess.

Safety practices

Snowplow drivers put themselves in dangerous situations when plowing snow-covered roads. Not only must their focus be on the road in front of them, but they must also be aware of those who are not paying attention. If you must be on the streets, here are some tips to be mindful of when sharing the road with a snowplow.

1. Snowplow drivers have limited visibility when clearing the roads. With the wind blowing, snow clouds are often thrown back and restrict vision. Staying clear of the snowplow may prevent the snow from blowing on you. The Connecticut Department of Transportation advises drivers to keep at least three car lengths behind the plows.

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 Posted on January 02, 2020 in Premises Liability

Depending on the details of the traffic accident, you could potentially have a case against a retail store after an accident on an icy parking lot. Owners are responsible for maintaining their parking lots during the winter.

There could be various parties involved in your case. Some maybe obvious, such as other drivers involved in the incident. There could also be people or companies whose involvement may not be so immediately apparent.

This is where store owners come in. Store owners are responsible for the safety in their buildings. They are also responsible for maintaining their sidewalks and parking lots, especially during the winter months when snow and ice can pose serious dangers to people walking and driving in their lot.

Parking lots see their fair share of accidents. This is especially true during the winter. Motorists may slide through the parking lot, and pedestrians may slip and fall trying to walk to and from the store.

Even if you’ve lived in Connecticut your entire life, slipping and falling on an icy parking lot or sidewalk is a risk you face every year. Did the store owner remove the snow in a timely manner and put salt down? This is a reasonable question to ask if you or a family member has suffered a serious injury on their property.

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 Posted on December 20, 2019 in Car Accidents

It is a well-known fact that the Connecticut roadways become more dangerous during the winter. Ice, snow and blinding storms can lead to accidents on highways. Ice may also cause cars to fail to stop at intersections. People who live on or below a hill may also struggle to get in and out of their driveways.

USA Today reported the following findings when it came to winter car accidents:

• Winter-related car accidents outnumber deaths from other weather-related incidents, such as tornados or hurricanes.
• The most dangerous times to be on the road are between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday were the two days with the most deadly accidents.

Esurance identifies black ice and regular ice as the main culprits. Ice forms when wet roads experience below-freezing temperatures. This affects the ability of tires to get a firm grip on the road. Black ice is harder to recognize and looks like a wet spot on the asphalt. Drivers often do not realize it is ice until they have lost control of their vehicles.

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 Posted on September 20, 2019 in Car Accidents

In Connecticut, the Dram Shop Act establishes liability for a bar that serves alcohol to an already intoxicated person. If another driver causes a collision with your vehicle while under the influence after leaving a bar, you may be able to sue the bar for costs associated with your injuries.

If you are currently pursuing a personal injury lawsuit after a DUI, familiarize yourself with the Connecticut Dram Shop Act, which covers bars, restaurants, liquor stores and similar establishments that serve alcohol.

How to file a claim

First, you must give written notice to the bar in question within 120 days of the accident, or 180 days if the accident resulted in serious incapacitation or death. This notice must include the following:

• The name and address of the injured person
• The name of the driver who was responsible for the accident

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 Posted on August 17, 2019 in Car Accidents

Getting into an auto accident is a terrible situation. If you do not have enough auto insurance coverage, then it can go from terrible to devastating. You probably know that by law you have to have a specific amount of auto insurance. The State of Connecticut Insurance Department explains that you must have a minimum of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage and property damage liability in the amount of $25,000 per accident. However, it is important that you note this is the minimum requirement.

All recommendations are that you should have more than the minimum. If you do not have adequate coverage to pay for the expenses of an accident, then the excess will come out of your own pocket. This means you might have to sell assets or deplete your savings to pay for an accident.

Minimum coverage is not enough

According to SuperMoney, the costs of a car accident can easily exceed your coverage limits if you only carry the minimum coverage the law requires. While $50,000 may seem like a huge amount of money to cover injuries in a single accident, it really is not. If a person has to spend time in the hospital or undergo surgery, expenses can easily go over $100,000, and that is just for one person. What happens when the vehicle has multiple passengers?

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 Posted on June 20, 2019 in Dog Bites

Many Connecticut residents believe that dog is man’s best friend, but what do you do when a dog turns on you and bites you? Despite the training the dog has been through, the reality is that there is no way to predict exactly how an animal will react. Even the best dogs may snap at one point and lash out at their owners or another person.

The state’s dog bite statute states that there is no need for the victim to prove the keeper or owner of the dog was negligent or expected the dog to be vicious. This is called a strict liability, which is imposed on the dog’s owner or keeper.

Unless you were injured as you trespassed, abused, tormented or teased the dog, the dog’s owner is liable for property damage or injury caused by the animal. If the person bit is under the age of seven, the law automatically assumes that the dog was unprovoked unless the owner has evidence that shows otherwise.

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