New Haven auto accidents are common and especially rear-end crashes. They are caused by drivers who follow too closely to be able to stop before hitting the vehicle in front of them when it stops. There is an easy way to tell if you are following too closely. The “three-second rule” works at any speed.  It is not always easy to maintain a safe distance behind your vehicle. However, you can help keep the driver at a safe distance by keeping a steady speed and signaling in advance when you have to slow down or turn. How to Use the “Three-Second Rule” • Watch for when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole, or any other stationary point. • Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot – “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.” • You are following too closely if you pass the mark before you Read the full article…

If you have ever passed a New Haven auto accident along the Merritt Parkway, Interstate 91, 95, or downtown and wondered what happened? The Auto Insurance Center compiled data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatal Accident Reporting System. For 2009-2013 the leading cause of fatal auto accidents in Connecticut was the failure to properly stay in the lane. Connecticut ranked fourth from the bottom in crashes caused by speeding. If you or your loved one was injured in a New Haven auto accident, contact our office. We will help protect the long-term interests of your family.

Nearly 9-10% of New Haven auto accidents can be caused by drowsy driving, according to a study released by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Drowsy driving is when a driver gets behind the wheel feeling tired. It is challenging to diagnose as the cause of auto accidents. AAA’s study conducted research on 3,500 people who were monitored over the course of several months. Drowsiness was determined by the amount of time the driver’s eyes were closed by in-vehicle cameras. Using these methods drowsiness was determined in 8.9-9.5% of drivers with 10.7% of crashes resulting in significant property damage. The New Haven auto accident attorneys at The LoRicco Law Firm urge you to contact our firm if you suspect the other driver in your auto accident was drowsy.

Whether you are on Crown Street, Merritt Parkway, or Interstate 91, using your Smartphone while you drive isn’t the smartest thing to do. Not only is it against Connecticut law to operate a mobile device while operating your vehicle, drivers, who text or surf the Internet on are 2-8 times likely to be involved in a New Haven auto accident.  People who talk and drive increase their risk up to four times, according to a report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This latest report updates previous research, some of which is now more than 10 years old and dates back to the days when drivers used simple flip phones to only make calls. Today, modern technology and smartphones are changing the way drivers interact with devices and ultimate affect roadway safety. The NHTSA reported 3,450 distraction-related deaths occurred in 2016. In Connecticut during that same year, there were 12 fatalities and more than Read the full article…

The US Department of Transportation‘s National Highway Travel and Safety Administration released the fatality crash data for the calendar year 2016. In 2016, auto accident fatalities increased 5.6% to 37,461 over 2015. The national data (compiled from all 50 states and the District of Columbia) shows the following: Distraction-related deaths (3,450 fatalities) decreased by 2.2 percent; Drunk-driving deaths (10,497 fatalities) increased by 1.7 per­cent; Drowsy-driving deaths (803 fatalities) decreased by 3.5 percent; Unbelted deaths (10,428 fatalities) increased by 4.6 percent; Speeding-related deaths (10,111 fatalities) increased by 4.0 percent; Pedestrian deaths (5,987 fatalities – the highest number since 1990) increased by 9.0 percent; and Motorcyclist deaths (5,286 fatalities – the largest number of motorcyclist fatalities since 2008) increased by 5.1 percent; Bicyclist deaths (840 fatalities – the highest number since 1991) increased by 1.3 percent. If you or your loved one was injured in a New Haven auto accident, contact our Read the full article…