If you have been injured in any type of accident at a mall in Connecticut- whether it is a trip and fall or slip and fall, or due to a defect or if you been struck by a car in the mall parking lot- then there are a number of specialized issues that may need to be investigated and developed to help maximize the value of your case.

One of the most frequent questions our Connecticut personal injury attorneys are asked is; how long might your case take until you receive a settlement or award of damages? The answer is the same in almost every situation, and that is that it depends. There is no such thing as a typical personal injury case because the fact pattern will differ from case to case.

We are regularly contacted by people who have been injured through the fault of another and the first question they want to be answered is “what should I be doing?” Accident victims have a significant number of questions and concerns. They are in pain, they have mounting medical bills, they are experiencing a loss of income, they need to get their vehicle repaired, they do not know who pays their medical bills or what doctors they should be seeing, they are scared, they are angry, they are upset, and they need to get immediate answers.

People often wonder if they should call the police after they have been involved in an accident- even if they don’t think they have been hurt. If you are involved in an accident that was caused by the fault of another, you should always call the police to the accident site even if you feel it was only a minor collision and you don’t think you have an injury. Many times, the person that caused your accident will insist that you not contact the police and may even offer to compensate you for the damage caused to your motor vehicle. You should never agree to this offer. Instead, you should contact the police and explain to them why the other party was at fault once they arrive at the accident scene.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health just released a report that indicates the number of “adverse events” occurring at Connecticut hospitals rose 7% in 2018, as compared to 2017, resulting in patients suffering serious physical injury or death. “Adverse” describes a consequence of care that results in an undesired outcome. “Associated with” means that it is reasonable to initially assume that the adverse event was due to the referenced course of treatment.

There are many different ways that we can celebrate New Year’s Eve. Many people choose to spend a quiet evening at home with family, others will host a party with family and friends and yet others will go out and have dinner, go to a party or enjoy drinks at a local pub or bar. Because this can be one of the most dangerous nights of the year, with many people drinking and operating motor vehicles, safety should be your top priority. So what are some of the things that you can do to help ensure your safety?

Most of us will travel to visit with family and friends over the next several weeks to enjoy each other’s company during this holiday season. At any point during this time we could either act as a guest at someone else’s home or as a host in providing for a gathering place for all to meet. Because this is an especially busy time during which many accidents occur, it would be helpful to review some safety tips for both guests and hosts.

You have been involved in an accident, which has been caused by the fault of another. The other driver, who may have had a number of accidents in the past or is driving with a suspended license or has some other challenge that he does not wish to make known to his insurance company, insists that you not involve his motor vehicle insurance company. You are told that he will pay for the damage to your vehicle and will make sure that your medical bills are paid for so you will not have any type of out-of-pocket expense. What should you do?

As we approach the holiday season, it is important to remember that most house fires take place during this time of the year. There are many factors that contribute to this rise in home fires which could include:

I have a driving tip for you that will guarantee that you will never be involved in an accident during a snowstorm, an ice storm, or during conditions when the roads are not properly sanded and salted.

Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP knows what you need to do to get more money for your Connecticut car accident case, but you need this information at the earliest possible moment so you do not make a mistake before you speak with a personal injury lawyer.

More than 800,000 people are hospitalized each year because of some type of a fall injury. Most of these injuries involve the head or hip. This year, approximately one third of elderly people will be involved in some type of fall.

A recent “study” stated that Ridgefield had the worst drivers in the state of Connecticut. The “study” was published by a company that compared insurance quotes and extrapolated data from those that had used their service. I was intrigued by this report especially since it bestowed this very negative honor on Ridgefield.

The nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter and the leaves are starting to fall. Once again we are experiencing autumn in New England. This is also a time of the year that road conditions become more dangerous and require us to consider a great number of things.

Slow down! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that speeding accounts for more than 25% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents on US roadways. Speeding will greatly increase the risk for becoming involved in an accident and also the prospect of causing a fatal accident given the damage that results from a higher impact collision.

Our Connecticut personal injury lawyers have been contacted about a number of pedestrian accidents that have occurred in areas where you might otherwise not expect them to happen. Unfortunately, due to the very nature of a pedestrian accident whereby some type of motor vehicle hits someone who is walking, the injuries sustained by the victim can be quite significant.

This past Saturday night I was walking down Austin St. in Forest Hills New York on my way to see Jethro Tull at the Forest Hill Stadium. As is the case on most Saturday nights in Queens, the sidewalk was quite busy with all the people coming and going. As I looked down the street, I noticed a man walking two rather ferocious looking dogs. I made a mental note of that and continued on my way.

Generally speaking, when someone mentions distracted driving, people think of someone using their cell phone. There are a great number of activities that encompass distracted driving. I have personally witnessed, now that school is back in session, how often people engage in activities that compromise the driver’s ability to concentrate on the important task of operating a motor vehicle. This is especially true with newer drivers who might not understand the great risks that can result from distracted driving.

Connecticut’s dog bite statute can be found at 22 –357 of the Connecticut General Statutes. The statute provides that if any dog does damage to either the body or property of another then the owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable for such damage. There are few exceptions that could include, but are not limited to, teasing or tormenting the dog or trespassing on the property where the dog is located.

After someone has been involved in some type of an accident or has been injured in some way, through the fault of another, we are typically contacted by the injured party and one of the first questions they want answered is what is my case worse. If you do a search on line as to how to determine the value of your case you will find a number of websites that have an injury settlement calculator.

Many of us use our motor vehicles on a daily basis to commute to and from work, to visit friends and family and to run a great number of errands. As we drive our vehicles on the roadways, we should be on constant alert for hazards, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, animals and other motor vehicles given the fact that we might be traveling at rates of speed which would make it very difficult to stop rather suddenly.