As New Haven auto accident attorneys, we’ve seen auto accidents of every degree. Whether you are a driver or a passenger in a vehicle, there are many injuries you can see: broken bones, bumps, bruises, lacerations, and more. There are also injuries you can’t see. Internal injuries can leave organs damaged, and can even be life-threatening, if not treated immediately. Here are some of the most common internal injuries associated with a car accident. Broken ribs. This is a common injury that can manifest into more serious conditions, such as damaged lungs, kidneys, or major blood vessels. Pneumothorax. Often cause by a puncture, this is a collapsed lung when air leaks out between the lung and chest wall. This often requires immediate medical care and puts the victim at risk for another in a short period of time. Lacerated liver. The liver plays a vital role in producing proteins necessary for blood clotting, makes chemicals needed for digestion, metabolizes toxins, and is a vital organ to the body’s functioning. If it is torn in an accident, surgery may be required to repair it to avoid serious complications and even death. Abdominal aorta aneurysm. If the stomach is compressed during an accident it can cause the body’s major blood vessel to rupture. Ruptured spleen. This is a common injury due to its proximity to the abdomen, and any compression of…continue reading

It seems harmless, right? Grab your phone and answer a text real quickly. Who will know? But, if answering that text that leads to a New Haven auto accident, you will be deemed a distracted driver and will be in danger of legal consequences. You might think proving that you had been texting – or engaging in any other type of distraction with a digital device – is difficult to do. After all, by the time help arrived at the accident, your cell phone would be tucked back in your pocket. Nobody saw you use it. So, you’re safe from any legal issues. Well, that’s not the case. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released a document to guide prosecutors and law enforcement professionals in investigating and prosecuting distracted driving cases. They stated that sending a text message is one of the most dangerous types of distraction because it involves your vision, hands and thinking, distracting you in three ways at one time. Regarding your cell phone activities during the time of the crash, it also states that: Cell phones and other devices may be collected as physical evidence if you are involved in an accident. A subpoena can be issued to the cell phone company to provide activity records of the phone in question. These can prove that your phone was in use at…continue reading

You’ve probably heard that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of New Haven auto accidents, but did you know that where you drive in Connecticut makes a difference to your safety? The Traveler’s Institute recently coordinated a study via the University of Connecticut to find out where people in Connecticut are most often distracted while driving.  It turns out that driving through our major urban areas puts drivers at the most risk. Perhaps this is because there are simply more vehicles to watch at one time, or maybe there’s more happening along the roadside, but whatever the reason, New Haven topped the list of crashes due to distracted driving. This was quickly followed by Hartford and Bridgeport.  Also interesting to know is that some roads are more dangerous than others: Respondents claimed that the entire shoreline of I-95, both North and South; Hartford and Waterbury along I-84; and the Meriden 691 interchange along I-91 were the most dangerous locations for driving.  The study was spurred on because The Traveler’s Institute president noticed an increase in the number of vehicle accidents in recent years, which was discouraging because it had been decreasing for decades. It is suspected that the sharp increase is a result of people driving while distracted. So, watch out for other drivers who may be engaging in risky behaviors, like eating, drinking, playing…continue reading

Springtime often means wet weather. Great for plants, but not as good if you’re trying to prevent New Haven auto accidents.  There are a couple of reasons why. First, roads get slicker in the rain. Oils and grime build up on the roads during dry days. As temperatures rise, these turn to liquids that then pool up when the rain starts, thereby making the roads more slippery. Second, as the rain continues, puddles become a problem. Driving through a big puddle can cause your brakes to get wet, making them less effective, or can lead to hydroplaning which means that your tires lose contact with the road.  So how can drivers avoid Connecticut auto accidents when the raindrops start falling this spring? Heed the following: Use your judgement. Don’t be afraid to wait out the storm. Let the water subside from the roads before you head out. And, keep an eye on new drivers so that they don’t get caught unprepared during storms.  Use your tools. You should always have your headlights and windshield wipers on during a storm. These let other cars see you better and clear your view while driving.  Keep your distance. Even if you’ve driven the same car a thousand times and trust in its breaking, you can’t know for sure what will happen in the rain. Stay back from other…continue reading