From the start of 2020 the city of New Haven has seen significantly less traffic on our roads.  With businesses shuttered and employees working from home there have been fewer and fewer cars on the roads.  While businesses now open up there are still less cars due to the increased need for work from home options. While the streets were significantly less busy in the first six months of 2020 there have also been less New Haven auto accidents as reported on by the Connecticut Crash Data Repository.  This group, which studies the impacts of traffic on auto accidents and fatalities recently reported out that the decline of traffic on Connecticut roads starting in January led to far fewer accidents as well. As you might expect, accidents declined sharply in the first half of 2020 compared to the same time in 2019.  In 2019 there were 54,245 car crashes on Connecticut roads which is significantly higher then the 37,732 crashes that were reported in the first half of this year.  While the repository did not report a specific cause for the decline, it stands to reason that with less cars on the roads there would be less car crashes. One other statistic reported out by the study was the number of fatalities that were reported due to these car crashes in the state.  Interestingly this…continue reading

AAA reports that nearly 80% of Americans are considering a road trip this fall as a getaway.  While many will hit the road, so too will their furry friends and it is important to keep pets safe as well.  While safety precautions such as seatbelts and properly inflated tires will help keep the whole car safe from New Haven auto accidents, there are some additional measures you can take to keep your pet safe as well. One of the key things you can do to keep you and your pet safe is to not engage in distracted driving.  In this case, we’re not talking about your cell phone, but rather in those drivers that become distracted due to their pets riding along.  For instance, in a recent study AAA found that nearly 52 percent of respondents who had their dog along for a ride reporting petting their dog while driving.  This simple act can cause the driver to get distracted and get into an accident.  The study also found the following statistics: 23% use their hand/arm to protect their pet when applying the brakes 19% use their hand/arm to prevent their pet from climbing in the front seat 17% drive with their pet in their lap 13% have given treats to their pet while driving 3% report taking a picture of their pet while driving…continue reading

If you are in a situation where you have been involved in a New Haven auto accident and you were rear ended there are some very specific things you should do and one very important thing you should NOT do.  Let’s start with the thing you should not do first. Under no circumstance should you jump out of your car and start yelling and screaming at the person who rear-ended you.  This will only cause friction and will hurt your ability to get the care and compensation that you may need and be entitled to.  Here’s what you should do instead: Stay in your car to assess any injuries you or your passengers may have.  While your injuries may seem minor or non-exisistent in an elevated state you may miss minor issues that could turn into something bigger.  Taking a few extra minutes to assess the situation will help you a whole lot in the long run. Check to see if the driver and passenger of the cars that were involved are ok. Contact the police so a police report can be filed.  No matter how minor an accident might be, you will still want it documented for your insurance company. Seek medical attention.  You should be seen by a medical professional whether you think you were injured or not.  There are some situations where…continue reading

If you are a professional driver for your work, you may receive some driver training.  For instance, if you drive a truck for a living you do need specific training for that.  However, there are millions of people on the roads today that are driving for work in some capacity that are not receiving any training from their employers. You may not often think of an employer as needing to offer you training on driving, but if it is a part of your job, even a small part, they should provide you with proper training so that you can remain safe and avoid a New Haven auto accident. So what are some things that employers can do to help you be as safe as possible when driving for your job?  Here are some ideas from the National Safety Council (NSC) that you can bring to your employer to help keep you safe at work. Tailor a training program to the specific risks that you face when driving for your particular job Offer rehab programs for any employees who may be battling drug or alcohol problems Eliminate cell phone use behind the wheel through a corporate cell phone policy Require all employees to wear seatbelts Contact the NSC to review your company’s policies and make some recommendations on safety protocols to put in place Not all…continue reading