Ever driven down the street a sheet of ice or snow has flown off of the car or truck in front of you? It is terrifying when snow and/or ice is flying toward your windshield and you either have to swerve to miss it or slam on your brakes? Fortunately for Connecticut residents, we are protected by the law. New Haven auto accident attorneys, like those at The LoRicco Law Firm, know that injuries from accidents like these can be quite serious and can leave lasting affects. Statistics on crashes that involve roadway debris are conclusive: More than one-third of deaths in debris-related crashes were due to driver’s swerving to avoid debris. Most often losing control of their vehicles. Two-thirds of all crashes that involve objects in the road were the result of debris falling off a vehicle. Not only could other drivers be injured by snow debris flying off car roofs, the snow could also slide forward covering the windshield and blocking the driver’s view of the roadway. Contact the LoRicco Law Firm if you or a loved one were injured in an accident. Our New Haven auto accident attorneys will help you fight the insurance companies to get compensation for your injuries.

New Haven auto accidents involving delivery vehicles may provide victims with additional alternatives for compensation. The driver of a delivery vehicle who causes an accident remains liable. However, other parties may also face liability primarily their employer if the driving employee is performing their duties within the scope of employment: The employer hired the employee to perform a specific task Within authorized time and space limits At least in part to serve the employer Liability may extend to a driver’s employer in the following example: A delivery driver, delivering to a customer, drives a company vehicle at high speeds, swerving in and out of traffic despite wet weather conditions. The delivery driver loses control of the vehicle and crashes into another vehicle in oncoming traffic, injuring that driver and that car’s passengers. Here, the driver acts within the scope of employment because the driver is making a delivery on behalf of the employer (and in a company vehicle). The driver’s negligence causes the New Haven auto accident and injures the other vehicle’s passengers. Because of these factors, the injured parties may recover compensation from both the driver and employer. Victims cannot always hold a delivery driver’s employer liable. For example, if the driver in the above scenario was not making a delivery and was instead making a detour to visit a friend, then the employer…continue reading

Driving in the snow can be very stressful and can undoubtedly cause New Haven auto accidents. If you find yourself on the road when snow hits, here are some tips to keep yourself safe until you can get home or your destination. Everything takes longer on roads covered in snow. Drive slowly. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Accelerating slowly helps regain and maintain traction. It also takes longer to slow down on icy roads. Know your brakes. Increase your distance behind the vehicle in front of you to 8-1o seconds following distance. Don’t stop going up a hill. Don’t power up hills. Don’t stop if you can avoid it. Stay home. If you don’t have to go out, don’t. Let the public works crews clear the roads before venturing out. If your or a loved one was injured in a New Haven auto accident, contact our firm. Our team of experienced attorneys will help protect your rights. If your accident was caused by a delay of plowing by a municipality of state, there is a shorter window of time to file suit. Contact us immediately to discuss your options.

It seems that we are finally going to see some wintry weather hit our area this weekend. As New Haven auto accident attorneys, we have seen the worst that this weather can cause drivers. Whether you embrace winter or run for the beach, almost half of all weather-related crashes take place in the winter. Here are some tips for make sure you and your vehicle are ready for winter weather: Get your brakes inspected if your car pulls, makes grinding noises, or pulses when braking. Keep the coolant in your engine filled to the proper levels. A 50/50 mixture of coolant and water will keep your engine cool to minus 34 degrees. Don’t let any dashboard lights go unchecked. Your exhaust system pulls away harmful chemicals from your car. Make sure it is properly serviced to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Check all of your lights: headlights, tail lights, directionals, brake lights, hazard lights, and back-up lights. Use your manufacturers recommendations and maintain a proper oil change schedule. Tires should maintain proper pressure to ensure safety. If you or a loved one was involved in a crash, call our New Haven auto accident attorneys immediately for a free consultation.

New Haven auto accidents do happen and unfortunately these road crashes can be caused by human error. While some are relatively minor, thousands of lives are taken every year by these horrible accidents. Because your own life can be at risk if you drive in an unsafe manner, it is so important to drive carefully and follow all traffic laws. However, just because you are careful does not mean that you can assure that all other drivers on the road will do the same thing. If you are in a New Haven auto accident, it may not be your fault, and you should not be held responsible for the damages caused by the mistakes of other drivers. These are the most common causes of accidents: Distracted driving Drowsy driving Drunk driving Speeding Reckless driving Rain Running red lights Design defects Tailgating Night driving Wrong way driving Teen drivers Drugs Potholes Tire blowouts Construction zones Animal crossings