Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP - 1087 Broad Street, Suite 201, Bridgeport, CT 06604

How Will National Speed Limit Changes Affect Driver Behavior?

June 30, 2014 By

As New York City looks likely to join an every growing list of cities which have introduced lower speed limits on their streets, traffic safety experts are welcoming the move.

The state Senate recently passed legislation to allow New York City to reduce its speed limit to 25 mph which could be enacted in the fall, even as other areas of the country begin to post speed limit increases.

Traffic experts seem surprised by the move which is in contrast with the recent trend among many states to increase the speed limits on interstates to 75 mph.

While some road safety experts state that it is obvious that reducing vehicle speed will reduce road fatalities, other traffic experts are skeptical of the benefits of a reduced speed limit, saying that in their opinion drivers will simply ignore it and continue to drive at their usual speed while taking account of the prevailing road conditions.

Speed Limit

Speeding is one of the top causes for serious and fatal accidents on Interstate 95. If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of an Interstate 95 accident, please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

 

Filed Under: I-95 Accidents

Truck Drivers Hesitant to Exchange Sleep for Miles

June 21, 2014 By

In 2009, a 76-year-old truck driver plowed his rig into a line of cars that were stopped on the Will Rogers Turnpike in Oklahoma. The incident cost ten people their lives and federal investigators believe that the driver of the truck, who ended up surviving the horrific crash, more than likely fell asleep at the wheel. As unimaginable as this type of accident may be to most people, it is unfortunately not that uncommon on America’s highways.

Lawmakers have been trying to appease truck drivers and their union representatives for years when attempting to regulate the number of house drivers can spend behind the wheel in a given weeks’ time. But drivers say that authorities cannot and should not be able to regulate sleep. Truck drivers are typically paid by the mile and often have incentive to keep driving even when they feel fatigued. Accident like the one on the Oklahoma Turnpike, however, are making a strong case in favor of tighter restrictions on drivers.

Interstate 95 trucking accidents are some of the most violent and serious accidents in the country. A collision with a tractor trailer can cause irreparable damage to the human body, or even death. If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of an Interstate 95 truck accident, please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

 

Filed Under: I-95 Accidents

Two Motorcycle Crash Kills One in Branford

June 15, 2014 By

According to state police a motorcycle rider was killed last week in a two motorcycle accident on Interstate 95 in Branford.

Police say that two motorcycles were traveling in tandem at a high rate of speed at about 1:00 AM on June 3. After passing the exit 54 ramp the first motorcycle rider, 37-year-old Kirk Valentine of Bridgeport, slowed down and was struck by the second motorcycle rider. He lost control of his bike and was thrown from his motorcycle, suffering serious injuries.

The second rider, 24-year-old Royce Burns of West Haven, was also thrown from his bike as a result of the accident, and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Valentine was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to police both riders were wearing their helmets at the time of the accident.

http://youtu.be/Chl1atUJZUI

If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of an Interstate 95 automobile accident, please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

 

Filed Under: I-95 Accidents

Can I sue a Bar, Restaurant, or Club for Drunk Driving Injury?

June 8, 2014 By

By now everyone knows that drinking and driving raises the chances of an automobile accident exponentially. The nightly news has no shortage of stories in which a drunk driver takes to the road and causes an accident which kills one or more innocent victims. Often times these drunken drivers had too much to drink at local bars, restaurants, or clubs. Some wonder if the victims of drunken drivers, or their families, can sue the owners and proprietors of such alcohol serving establishments which serve too much alcohol to a person who goes on to cause a drunken accident.

Every jurisdiction has its own individual regulations regarding how alcohol serving establishments should treat customers who seem to have had too much to drink. In most cases alcohol serving establishments are to refuse service to customers that appear to be drunk. As such, in many jurisdictions across the country those who have been injured in a drunken driving accident, and the survivors of those who have been killed, can take the proprietors of such establishments to court.

It can be difficult to prove that an establishment should have refused service to a drunken patron, specifically because attorneys must first be proven that the establishment had reason to believe that the patron had too much to drink. It is best to work with an experienced law firm when bringing forth such a complicated case.

If you believe that your serious injury, which you sustained in an accident with a drunken driver, may have been as a result of an alcohol serving establishments’ negligence, contact our office is immediately.

Please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: connecticut auto accidents

Defective Tires and Blowouts on Connecticut Roads

June 1, 2014 By

Driving on I-95 in Connecticut can be a pleasurable and relaxing experience, so long as everything goes according to plan. However, after suffering a tire blowout, the high speeds of the highway can immediately present an area driver with a seemingly impossible situation: control a 2000 pound vehicle, going at 60 miles per hour, with one tire completely gone. However, despite the seeming impossibility of the situation, there is much a driver can do to properly handle a blowout.

Take a look at the following video to get some valuable tips on how to handle a tire blowout:

Though there is much that can be done to help you walk away safely from a blown out tire, thousands of people every year are injured and killed in tire blowouts. Many of these tires are actually defective and have been the subjects of tire recalls. But, due to lax recall efforts by tire companies, and retailers continuing to install and service the tires, they remain on the road.

If you have been involved in an auto accident involving a blown out tire, and especially if you suffered serious injury, hold on to the tire and contact our office is immediately. There is a chance that the tire which caused the accident is a defective tire which should have been recalled from service. We will assist you in investigating the situation, and in helping you get the financial compensation you deserve. Please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: connecticut auto accidents, I-95 Accidents

Connecticut Drivers: How to Stay Safe while Driving in the Rain -video-

May 25, 2014 By

Every year thousands of drivers are involved in weather related auto accidents, with rainy conditions being among the top reasons. Rain during your commute presents you with numerous challenges including slick roads, reduced visibility, and reduced predictability of other drivers’ actions. It is important to invest time to learn how to best drive in rainy conditions. Here we present you with a video which offers some important tips on what you can do to increase your safety when driving in rainy conditions.

http://youtu.be/w8CTJiIAN3M

As can be seen in the video, there are numerous considerations every driver must take into account when driving in rainy conditions. Additionally, considering the fact that rainy conditions present the driver with numerous challenges, we recommend that all Connecticut drivers absolutely avoid any and every possible distraction while driving in adverse weather. This includes using cell phone for texting, directions, or talking; eating; day dreaming; or any other distractions which may make your commute less safe for you and the other drivers on the road.

If you have been injured in an accident which occurred as a result of adverse weather conditions, or due to another driver’s negligence, please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

Filed Under: connecticut auto accidents

A Brief Explanation of Connecticut’s “Fault” Insurance System

May 16, 2014 By

Connecticut is a “fault” insurance state which means that those who are injured in an auto accident have three ways to seek compensation for their injuries. Whether a driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian, the injured party may:

  • Seek compensation by filing a claim with his or her own insurance carrier. In this case, injured party’s insurance carrier will likely seek reimbursement from the insurance company of the at-fault driver
  • Seek compensation directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company
  • Seek compensation by filing a legal claim against the at-fault driver directly. This may involve having to go to court.

Those who are seriously injured in automobile related accidents in Connecticut are strongly advised to retain the services of a well-qualified attorney. When seeking compensation, weather from an individual or an insurance company various factor may come into play.  These factors which may be involved in determining overall compensation include medical records, crime scene reconstruction, witness testimony, expert opinions, and other factors.

Serious auto accidents in the state may result from various sources, such as distracted drivers, drunk drivers, automobile defects, tire defects, and other causes. If you have been the victim of a serious auto accident in Connecticut, or have lost a loved one in a car crash in the state, we can help you hold that driver responsible for the harm they have caused you and your family. Please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.

 

 

Filed Under: connecticut auto accidents, I-95 Accidents
« Previous Page