Posted on October 20, 2021 in Car Accidents

It would seem that fewer people on the roads in 2020 would translate to a decrease in the number of fatal and serious accidents. This would make sense. Yet it was not the case. A recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) found that the rate of pedestrian deaths in 2020 increase by more than 20% compared to 2019.

The problem is more than just a national issue. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) reports that on average 58 pedestrians are killed when they are struck by a car in the state every single year. That number went up last year. The CTDOT states preliminary data found there were 65 pedestrian deaths in 2020.

How could this happen?

The researchers with the GHSA study voiced some frustration, stating the findings were "mind-boggling" and unexpected. Emergency medical personnel who offered medical assistance to victims of pedestrian crashes blamed speed. They state those who were on the roads were driving too fast and unable to stop or take appropriate action to avoid pedestrians.

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 Posted on October 12, 2021 in Car Accidents

If you suffered injuries in an accident, you may feel tempted to file a claim and fight it on your own. Unfortunately, this can severely limit the compensation you receive.

After an accident, there are several benefits to seeking the help of an attorney instead of acting solo. Your attorney can take the stress away after an accident so you can focus on yourself and your family.

How your attorney can help with the claims process

Filing an insurance claim after an accident may seem simple, but it is more complicated than it seems. There are multiple steps to take when filing a claim. Your attorney understands this process and has experience handling the ins and out of the process. Take advantage of this by partnering with your attorney every step of the way.

Your lawyer can not only help with filing a claim, but they can also help with the medical bills, car insurance issues, loss of income and other issues that may occur during this time. Your lawyer will do all the research necessary to help with your claim. This may include obtaining police reports, medical documents, photographic evidence and more.

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 Posted on September 20, 2021 in Car Accidents

Injuries and fatalities on America’s roadways are more prevalent than ever. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of crashes rose over 7% in 2020 when compared to the previous year. As such, this data suggests that your risk of accident is moderately high as well.

Speeding, inattention and failing to obey traffic signs and signals are all common causes of crashes, and if you find yourself involved in a wreck, there are a few steps you may want to take as soon as possible to protect yourself and your interests after this type of incident.

Contact your insurance carrier

After an accident, speaking with your insurance carrier can help you with getting your claim started as soon as possible. When you speak with your local representative, there are a few pieces of information you can offer, including:

• Where the accident occurred

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 Posted on September 16, 2021 in Car Accidents

Tesla is a name well-known these days for making high-quality vehicles. The self-driving component gets a lot of attention as being the newest technology in the industry and the future of driving. However, it also gets a lot of scrutiny for its safety, but this feature is not the only aspect of a Tesla that impacts safety.

According to Top Speed, there are a few features that can be good or bad depending on your familiarity with them and how you use them when driving a Tesla or another electric vehicle.

Automation features

Beyond the autopilot, Teslas contain many other automation features. The suite of driver-assistance programs can be handy, but they take time to understand. If you do not know how to use them, you could put yourself in a situation where you hit other vehicles or create a hazard on the roadway.

Furthermore, there is plenty of room for failure if you do not keep your software updated. It is like any other type of technology. You have to consistently get updates to keep it running properly. You will also need to ensure your hardware stays updated.

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 Posted on August 27, 2021 in Car Accidents

Whether you are a teen preparing to head back to school or you are a parent concerned about your child’s safety on the road, you need to review some of the risk factors young drivers face while behind the wheel (or riding with friends). Aside from understanding some of the reasons why many teens become involved in collisions, going over statistics on accidents involving teen drivers helps shed light on the prevalence of these crashes.

Sadly, accidents involving teens caused many victims to suffer serious injuries that alter the course of their lives. Sometimes, these accidents claim young lives as well.

Teens and traffic accident risks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines a number of risk factors related to teens and traffic collisions. For example, teens who recently received their driver’s license are more likely to become involved in an accident and the odds of a crash increase when teen drivers have other teens present in the vehicle without adult supervision. Distractions (such as using a phone behind the wheel), inexperience, driving at night and speeding also cause many teen drivers to crash.

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 Posted on August 25, 2021 in Car Accidents

As a new academic year begins, you may worry about your teenager’s safety as he or she drives to school for the first time. Your concerns are not unfounded. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 20 years old.

Here are three important safety topics to discuss with your teen driver at the start of the school year.

1. The danger of distracted driving

Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents for people of all ages. However, the inexperience of young drivers increases the probability of a collision when they face distractions. You should talk with your teen and set expectations to promote focused driving. For example, you may want to place a limit on the number of passengers who can ride with your child at any time.

2. The threat of inclement weather

Even cautious motorists sometimes misjudge how to safely drive in poor conditions. You may want to recommend that your teen avoid operating a vehicle in inclement weather altogether. However, if unavoidable, these precautions could prevent an accident:

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 Posted on August 19, 2021 in Car Accidents

As summer comes to a close and the school year approaches ahead, your teen might be gearing up to drive themselves to school perhaps for the first time. Of course, this is often a big and sometimes scary experience, especially for you as parents.

One of the best things you can do is prepare for the potential hurdles your child may face while on the road. One of the biggest issues comes in the form of inattentional blindness. But what is it, and how can you prepare for it?

What is inattentional blindness?

The American Psychological Association takes a look at inattentional blindness and how it affects drivers. Inattentional blindness is a natural phenomenon that actually helps in daily life, under most circumstances. It allows you to focus on one specific thing and block out superfluous information and details. In essence, you "blind" yourself to the things you do not need to focus on.

Why is it a detriment to drivers?

But when this happens while someone is driving, the results often end up disastrous. After all, multitasking is one of the crucial components of driving that keeps drivers safe. Without it, your teen can easily end up focusing on one thing and missing a danger right in front of them.

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 Posted on August 17, 2021 in Car Accidents

Whether your teen is heading back to high school or commuting to college, he or she could benefit from a back-to-school safe driving refresher. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motorists ages 16 to 19 have more serious accidents than any other age group.

Remind your young driver about these tips to avoid hazards and prevent serious auto accident injury during the busy new school season.

Always wear a seatbelt

Teen and young adult drivers are less likely to wear seatbelts than older adults. Set a good example for your kids by wearing your own seatbelt whenever you drive, a practice that dramatically reduces the chance of debilitating injury or fatality in a collision.

Abide by license restrictions

Connecticut has special rules for drivers ages 16 and 17. Prior to age 18, licensed teens must stay off the road from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. unless traveling to or from work or a school or religious event, or because of medical necessity. They cannot ride with passengers who are not relatives

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 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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