Last weekend marked the unofficial end of summer. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder and the leaves are beginning to fall. There are a number of factors, during this time of the year, that can contribute to an increase in accidents which would include the weather and increased back-to-school traffic.

We just published another video in our “HCW: How Can We” Youtube series. This video tells you how you can get better medical care, medical attention, and add value to your case while at the hospital.

The answer to this question depends upon the circumstances.

This past Friday we posted our first video in the “HCW: How Can We” Youtube series. Our very talented Marketing Director Justin Sprague, who has a degree in digital marketing, just finalized the edits for this video.

I recently took a friend of mine out to play golf at my club. On one hole, after hitting his drive, he was approximately 175 yards away from the hole. I stood about 30 yards to his right as he wound up to hit his golf ball. Without any warning, the ball came flying off his club – sideways – and was coming right at me. At the last second, I put my hand up to block the ball from hitting my face and after striking me, I fell to the ground.

Perhaps one of the most stressful parts about being involved in some type of litigation matter is having to testify under oath. You might receive a subpoena to attend a deposition where you will be questioned about your case or you might have to testify at trial. No matter how well prepared you are, it is impossible to predict what will happen when you give sworn testimony under oath.

The Center for Disease Control keeps comprehensive records of how Americans die. One might not be surprised by the most common causes of death which include cancer and heart disease. There are a number of other types of categories of death that appear with less regularity but still claim thousands of lives each year.

The warm summer weather brings most of us outdoors to engage in a number of pastimes and recreational activities. Due to the fact that the days are longer and many people are more active than they might otherwise be in the colder months more visits to urgent care centers and hospital emergency rooms occur. Most of these injuries are avoidable so it is important to learn what they are and what we can do to prevent them.

There are so many things that do not make sense in this new world we are living in. In fact, fewer and fewer things surprise me despite the great unusual circumstances that we are experiencing. I just read an article that astounded me in its findings.

One of the most valuable types of insurance coverage you can purchase is Uninsured or UM and underinsured motorist coverage or UIM. UM/UIM coverage is like buying insurance for everyone else on the roadways. If you are involved in an accident and the other driver does not have any insurance then you can file a claim against your own company under the UM portion of your insurance policy. Your insurance company effectively steps into the shoes of the person that caused your accident and will compensate you for your injuries and damages.

We were just contacted by a gentleman who sustained serious personal injuries and wanted us to represent him. Unfortunately, we were unable to assist him because he made a number of fatal mistakes in handling his own case prior to coming into our office.

You have been injured through the fault of another. The liability is clear and there is no question that the other party was negligent and is responsible for your injuries and damages. You have mounting medical bills. You are experiencing a loss of income. Your motor vehicle has been damaged or destroyed. You are in a great deal of pain. You will incur additional medical expenses and losses of your income. You are angry, upset, frustrated, scared, and confused. You may be wondering the following:

One of the most frequently asked questions we received from new clients after they have been involved in a Connecticut motor vehicle accident is “who is going to pay my medical bills?” This is an easy question with a somewhat complicated answer. Most people think that the at-fault party’s insurance company will pay their medical bills as they receive care and treatment but unfortunately, this is not the case. 

Our Connecticut personal injury attorneys are contacted on a regular basis by people who been involved in some type of an accident or have been injured in some way through the fault of another. In some of these cases, we are not contacted until days or even weeks after the individual has been injured. In certain cases, these individuals have done a number of things that have greatly harmed or even have destroyed their case.

If you have been injured in some type of accident in Connecticut, then you may have a viable claim for money damages. In order to prevail and collect money damages in a negligence case, you must prove four elements. Each one of the elements must be proven and if you cannot prove all four, then you may not be able to recover any money damages whatsoever. Although this might seem like a relatively simple process, collecting fair, just, and reasonable compensation in a CT accident or injury case can be quite difficult. This is especially so if you are representing yourself and do not have the knowledge, training, and experience in dealing with an insurance company adjuster or defense lawyer.

Our office in Ridgefield has been contacted by a number of people over the past several weeks who have been injured through the fault of another. The questions they have asked are generally the same:

We have all heard the expression “if you see something say something” or have seen it on signage across the state. This is especially the case as it relates to travel on airlines, trains, and other types of mass transit. This is to help protect the health, safety, and welfare of all of those using these services. I would suggest that we should extend that practice to anything that we observe that can be a health or safety risk.

COVID-19 or the coronavirus pandemic has greatly disrupted our day-to-day lives in so many different ways. Although we want all of our family, friends, neighbors, and community members to stay safe during these difficult times, many people are unfortunately still being injured in a variety of different types of accidents. We want you to know that we are here for you and are available to answer your questions.

It might be a sign of the times but one of the most frequently asked questions we are receiving from potential new clients is, “can I fire my old lawyer and hire you to represent me in my injury case?” The answer is that it really depends upon the situation and there are many factors to consider. When I am asked this question, I normally ask a number of questions regarding the case because there are many different issues to consider before coming to a conclusion.

Many people have reached a point of great frustration with the pandemic that has affected us in ways that we could never have imagined. By now, many, if not all of us know a family that has lost a loved one to the coronavirus. We also have heard stories about people who have gotten the virus and have suffered for weeks and weeks with the horrible medical challenges that have resulted. We have all learned as a collective society to reduce our interaction with others and to restrict our conduct in ways that are very difficult. Fortunately, these restrictions have resulted in a flattening of this curve which will allow all of us to return to some level of normalcy in the not-too-distant future.

Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP is taking a very proactive approach to the representation of its clients during the coronavirus pandemic. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont extended his executive order to May 20, 2020, that states that all nonessential workers are to work from home. Law firms in Connecticut are deemed to be essential workers so we are here working for you. We understand the need to protect our team members and to look out for the best interest of our clients. We are in the office working. We are not seeing clients in our office but rather are arranging for alternative methods of communication and virtual meetings. We are actively involved in social distancing and are very diligent in making sure our offices are constantly disinfected. We know how vital it is that we continue to provide you with the high level of legal services that you have come to expect and rely upon.

I recently had to go in for a “ surgical” procedure. It was a standard diagnostic test that once again open my eyes to some of the problems with our medical care. I should first say that the majority of doctors and healthcare providers are excellent at what they do. Are there things that can be done to make this care better? Absolutely!

If you have been injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall or some other type of an accident that has occurred in any of the following stores: Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Stop & Shop, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, 7-Eleven, Aldi’s, Trader Joe’s, or any other retail establishment then you need to be aware that there are specialized aspects of your case that relate to these types of accident-related injuries.

Connecticut enjoyed some unseasonably warm weather this past weekend and many motorcycle riders returned to the roadways. Although motorcycle accidents do not tend to occur more frequently than other types of motor vehicle accidents, according to government statistics, the risk of a resulting fatality was 35 times more likely for a motorcyclist than for passengers of other motor vehicles.

I have been practicing law for over 36 years, and this has been the most unusual, and that is a gross and complete understatement, week I’ve ever experienced over a period of time that has covered five different decades. As a result of the order of the Governor of the State of Connecticut, law offices are one of the listed essential service providers.