Personal Injury Cases – Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli

If you live in Connecticut and you drove anywhere today, there is a chance that you may have been sharing the road with a drowsy driver. In fact, there’s a chance you may have been sharing the road not just with someone who was a little tired, but instead with someone who was actually closing their eyes and dozing off for at least a second or two.

Our Hartford auto accident attorneys believe that drowsy driving is a major danger for every driver in the state of Connecticut. A new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study underscores just how dangerous this driving behavior is. We urge everyone who ever gets behind the wheel in Connecticut to consider the data on drowsy driving and to make a commitment to refrain from the risky practice.

Drowsy Drivers Put Connecticut Residents at Risk

The CDC’s recent survey is the largest that has ever been conducted on the issue of drowsy driving. To obtain information on driver fatigue, the CDC conducted a survey by telephone of adults in a total of 19 states in the U.S., as well as conducting a survey in D.C. In total, more than 147,000 adults responded. One of the states whose residents CDC contacted their survey in was the state of Connecticut, where they called 6,409 people.

According to the information obtained from these respondents, who are meant to be a representative sample of the population as a whole, 147 of the drivers indicated they had fallen asleep while they were driving in the 30 days immediately before completion of the survey.

This data means that around 3 percent of Connecticut drivers said that yes, they had dozed off as they drove. Sadly, this data may not even tell the whole story either. Many drivers might nod off for just a split second, which is long enough to get into an accident but not long enough for the driver to be aware of what happened. If a driver falls asleep behind the wheel and isn’t aware of it, he wouldn’t have reported yes to the CDC in their survey.

Still, even if there are only 3 percent of drivers falling asleep, this means that for every 100 drivers you encounter on the road, three of them may be sleeping. When you think about how many people you encounter on your morning commute, you’ll notice quickly that there a lot more than 100 people on your journey. This means that there is a very real chance you may be sharing the roads with a sleeping driver.

Connecticut’s average of 3 percent was below the overall average of 4.2 drivers responding in the affirmative to the question of whether they’d dozed off as they drove. Still, while Connecticut may have slightly less drowsy drivers than the national average, even a 3 percent rate means that there are many people engaging in dangerous behavior. Don’t be one of them- make a commitment today never to drive if you are too tired to be safe.

The holiday weekend is always a dangerous time for drivers. There are quite a few reasons why drivers may be at greater risk of becoming involved in a crash over the holiday season, including the fact that more people tend to drive during the holidays and the fact that people may be more likely to drive drunk. More people drive as they go on vacation or drive to visit family, while the drunk driving increase can be attributed to people celebrating the holidays and having a few drinks too many.

Unfortunately, the increased risk of holiday crashes can result in innocent victims becoming injured. Our Hartford injury attorneys urge all drivers to use extra caution this holiday season to avoid hurting yourself or hurting someone else when out driving.

Holiday Accidents a Very Real Risk

To understand the increased danger of holiday auto accidents, it is helpful to look at what happened over Thanksgiving just a few short weeks ago. According to the New Haven Register:

• Police throughout Connecticut responded to approximately 350 auto accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
• 60 people were charged with driving under the influence over Thanksgiving.
• Almost 1,500 speeding tickets were issued by Connecticut state police over the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Two fatal car crashes occurred over Thanksgiving.
• Drivers were cited for more than 2,800 hazardous moving violations by law enforcement over Thanksgiving.
• More than 80 people who received tickets over Thanksgiving were cited for a failure to wear their seat belts.

As these statistics show, many people were taking dangerous risks over the holidays by driving drunk, going too fast or failing to wear their seatbelt. Unfortunately, these individuals who engaged in risky driving behavior put everyone on the road at risk- including innocent people who were driving safely and following traffic laws.

Staying Safe Over the Holiday Season

While Thanksgiving is over for this year, this doesn’t mean that the dangers of a holiday auto accident have passed. Most experts indicate that the elevated risk of holiday traffic accidents can extend through until January 2, with certain key dates including New Years Eve and the days shortly before Christmas representing the most dangerous days to drive.

If you intend to travel anywhere during the holidays, especially on peak travel days or for long distances, you should keep some basic safety tips in mind in order to reduce your holiday accident risk. Some safety tips to consider include the following:

• Refraining from going faster than is safe given the current traffic and road conditions. Obviously, you should also stay under the speed limit when driving- but you may need to go even slower than required to be safe.
• Don’t tailgate or engage in aggressive driving behaviors that could put you at risk.
• Pay attention to winter weather advisory warnings and try to avoid driving in bad weather whenever possible.
• Switch off drivers or take plenty of rests on long trips so you don’t drive drowsy.
• Have a designated driver so you do not drive drunk, and never let your friends or family drive drunk.

These safe driving tips help to ensure you won’t cause a crash and injure yourself or others. Of course, another person on the road might still injure you or even cause a fatal crash that kills someone you love. If this occurs, getting a lawyer is absolutely essential to understand your legal rights under Connecticut law.

Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, by calling  1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or at 100 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.

A 9-year-old girl was killed on a recent Sunday afternoon, pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital about an hour after a car accident on I-91.

Our Hartford car accident lawyers understand that investigators, in their preliminary reports, indicated the driver of the car, the child’s aunt, swerved off the road, though it’s not clear why.

Sadly, the National Safety Council estimates that more than 450 people in this country are going to die in traffic fatalities over the Thanksgiving weekend, while more than 48,000 are going to be severely injured. The Council bases these projections on figures from last year, accounting for fluctuations in road conditions and the increasing number of people who are taking heed to wear seat belts.

Both traffic fatalities and traffic injuries are about 10 percent higher over the Thanksgiving weekend than they are over a normal weekend. Most likely, a big part of that has to do with the fact that more people will be on the roads and for longer periods of time.

What is of particular concern is that many drivers may be heading out in snowy or icy conditions. Hartford forecasts during the day have generally been in the 40s and 50s this month. However, it hasn’t been uncommon for the temperature to dip below freezing at night, creating conditions that could result in sleet, snow or ice.

This is why it’s a great idea before you make that trek to “winterize” your car. This includes:

• Getting a basic check-up of the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses, fan belts, battery, tires and antifreeze levels.
• Make sure that you have on hand a properly-inflated spare tire, a shovel, jumper cables, tow and tire chains, a bag of salt or cat litter, a tool kit.
• It’s also a good idea to bring along a flashlight with batteries, first aid kit, ice scraper and perishable foods and water.

If you do encounter icy conditions, practice caution by doing the following:

1. Slow down and give yourself plenty of room to stop. You want to give yourself at least three times more space than you think you need between you and the vehicle that is in front of you.

2. To avoid skidding, brake gently. If you find your wheels starting to lock up, ease your foot off the brake.

3. Keep both your lights and your windshield clean.

4. Turn your lights on, even if it’s daytime, so you can increase the chances that other motorists are going to see you.

5. Avoid using overdrive or cruise control.

6. Realize that overpasses, bridges and roads that are less traveled are going to freeze first. Use extra caution there. Even if it’s just wet in other places, these areas might have a layer of ice.

7. Don’t try to pass sanding trucks or snow plows. Even if it seems they are moving at a snail’s pace, these drivers have limited visibility and  the road conditions ahead of them are likely to be bad anyway.

Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, by calling  1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or at 100 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.

A police officer is facing criminal charges, following a Hartford car accident that resulted in the death of an innocent motorist.

Our Hartford personal injury lawyers understand that the officer likely did not intend to cause harm as he raced to assist his fellow officers in pursuit of an armed suspect. However, police officers are not above the law, which he appears to have violated, as well as departmental policy on pursuits.

The criminal case will be separate from any civil action the victim’s family may take against either the officer or the department.

What’s important to understand is that even if an individual is not convicted in criminal court, he or she can still be held liable in civil court, as the standard of proof is lower. One high profile example of this is former pro-footballer OJ Simpson, who was accused, tried and acquitted in criminal court for the murder of his ex-wife and her male friend. However, he was later found liable for wrongful death following a civil trial. While individual police officers are granted immunity for actions taken during the course of their jobs, the department and/or municipality may be held accountable.

In this case, the 32-year-old Hartford officer has been charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, failure to obey a traffic control signal and traveling unreasonably fast.

According to news reports, the crash happened last July around 1 a.m., when the officer was racing to help his fellow officers stop an armed individual. He was reportedly traveling at nearly 60 miles per hour when he blew through a red light. Just as this happened, a vehicle driven by a 50-year-old man crossed into the intersection with the right-of-way. He was struck by the officer, transported the hospital and died a week later of the injuries he sustained.

Following the crash, the officer told investigators he had slowed down at the intersection in order to ensure there were no cars coming. However, witnesses refuted those statements. They said they never saw the officer brake.

Additionally, an internal police analysis of the scene indicated that the cruiser had been operating at full throttle with increasing speed in the seconds before the crash. His emergency lights and sirens were only activated about 100 to 135 feet prior to approaching the intersection.

In every state, there are statutes that control the guidelines for the operation of emergency vehicles, such as police cars. Those generally include provisions for emergency personnel to exercise “due regard” for the safety of all persons. The fact that a person has a badge or is behind the wheel of a cruiser does not give him or her the authority to drive recklessly or to disregard the safety of others.

In approaching a case such as this, our Hartford car accident lawyers would begin by asking some of the following questions:

• Did the department have a restrictive pursuit policy?
• Was the pursuit negligently initiated?
• Should the pursuit have been terminated earlier?

These are elements that could serve to bolster claims of negligence on the part of the department and the officer.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, we have handled cases like the one described above for many years. We know how a serious injury can have a devastating impact that may result in significant losses. Our dedicated attorneys aggressively pursue compensation for clients. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, or a loved one was killed due to someone’s reckless behavior, let an experienced Connecticut personal injury lawyer protect your rights and fight for you.

Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, by calling  1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or at 100 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.

Insurance companies are big business in Connecticut. Some of the nation’s leading insurance providers are based here in the state. Many people like to think their insurance company is looking out for their best interests. We want to believe if we have an accident, our insurance company will be there to help us get back on our feet.

Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Instead, your insurance company might be more concerned with its bottom line. As a result, they will sometimes go to extreme lengths to avoid paying people injured in an auto accident.

In some cases, your insurance company may be more concerned about the other driver in an auto accident. Now imagine your insurance company went to court and defended the other driver who caused the accident. Sounds crazy? Absolutely. But that’s exactly what one insurance company did after a driver killed a 24-year-old woman driving another car. The woman’s insurance company defended the other driver in court, even though the other driver had a suspended license.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, a Connecticut auto accident attorney at our law firm can work with you if you’ve been injured in an auto accident. We know what’s legal or against the law in Connecticut.

We also realize that no two accidents are the same. Every one is unique – just like you. That’s why we can work with you and design a strategy that fits your specific legal needs. Sometimes, you may need to file an auto accident lawsuit in Connecticut. We can help you sort through all your options.

In the case of the 24-year-old woman who died in an auto accident, her insurance company initially didn’t want to pay her family the full amount. “I think they thought that we would just turn our tails down behind us and walk away,” the 24-year-old’s mother told The New York Times.

The woman’s family took her insurance company to court and won. Taking on insurance companies in court can be a daunting task for many people. They don’t scare us. We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to get you the money you rightfully deserve. Contact a Connecticut auto accident lawyer who will fight for your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, 100 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.

You can always count on the Center for Disease Control to shed a bright light on issues and statistics that are important but that many of us rarely consider. Take motor vehicle accidents, for instance. The average person naturally considers them solely in personal terms—how they affect us and our families, accident injury recovery, accident medical expenses.  But the CDC has done a study on motorcycle accidents that looks at the big picture, entirely in terms of dollars. From 2008 to 2010 they examined biker accidents across the nation in order to establish how much each state saves when motorcycle riders and passengers wear helmets. The numbers are staggering.

According to the study, over $3 billion was saved in 2010 alone, with total costs saved due to helmet use ranging from $2.6 million in New Mexico to $394 million in California. Economic costs saved from helmet use per registered motorcycle ranged from $48 in New Mexico to $1,627 in North Carolina, with a median of $286. In Connecticut, the savings was approximately $300 per registered motorcycle. Since motorcycle accident liability is typically attributed to reckless driving or inattentive driving by those operating cars and trucks, it makes sense for Connecticut bikers to wear helmets, even though Connecticut law only requires them for bikers under 18 year old.

Connecticut personal injury attorneys Salomone & Morelli know that the most important message in the CDC study is that lives are saved and motorcycle accident injuries are reduced thanks to helmet use. Even bikers with helmets do not have a guarantee of motorcycle safety, however. “Unfortunately, even when bikers have protective gear,” the firms attests, “they risk serious injury or death each time they get on their motorcycles. Helmets and heavy-duty clothing are supposed to protect riders and passengers from getting hurt, but often these precautions do not go far enough.”

Nationally, says the CDC, helmets lowered deaths by 37 percent for motorcycle drivers and 41 percent for passengers, and that meant 1,544 fewer motorcyclist fatalities in 2010. Over 40 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents between 2008 and 2010 were not wearing a helmet, says the CDC report. In states where helmets are not required, 79 percent of the motorcyclists killed were not wearing one, compared to 12 percent in states where helmets are the law.

The key point to take from this study is that helmets are good not just for motorcyclists but for the entire community. They keep bikers and bike passengers safer and, because of the lives they save each year, they funnel more funds into our state’s economy by reducing hospital, medical and municipal costs related to motorcycle accidents.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, we can help if you or a loved one suffered motorcycle accident injuries of any kind, with or without a helmet. Call a personal injury lawyer in the Hartford and New Haven Connecticut area today. Call us at 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Salomone & Morelli

100 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105

Driving in New England can be challenging any time of year. Sudden blizzards or violent rainstorms. Aggressive drivers on Interstate 84. Confusing street patterns created by Colonial settlers based on chaotic cow paths.

Add to the list the dramatic differences in state traffic laws throughout New England. What’s legal in Massachusetts can often be against the law in Rhode Island or Vermont. Here are some of the highlights from a recent article published by The Boston Globe.

Take Connecticut’s confusing traffic laws. Connecticut is a hands-free state in terms of cell phones. This means you need a headset if you want to make calls on the road. Talking on a cell phone without a headset while driving can result in a $125 fine. The same fine applies to texting while driving in Connecticut.

Connecticut has a “primary” seat belt law, which means a police officer can pull you over and fine you whenever an officer sees someone unbelted in either front seat. As for passengers riding in the back seat, Connecticut’s seat belt laws only require passengers under 16 years old to buckle up.

Connecticut’s child safety restraint laws are also unique. Children under 7 years old or less than 60 pounds must sit in either a child booster or car seat that’s belted into place. All others must be buckled up. Meanwhile in Massachusetts, children must be strapped into a car safety seat until they are either 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, a Connecticut auto accident attorney at our law firm can work with you if you’re dealing with a car accident. We know what’s legal or against the law in Connecticut.

That might sound simple. But keeping up with Connecticut’s constantly changing laws can be complicated. Allow us to help you cut through the red tape and decide what’s the best thing for you to do, including whether to file an auto accident lawsuit in Connecticut.

Don’t let Connecticut’s complex laws prevent you from getting the justice you rightfully deserve. Contact a Connecticut car accident lawyer who will fight for your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, 100 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.

Fatal auto accidents in Connecticut sadly happen far too often. Some of the nation’s busiest highways, including Interstate 95, pass right through Connecticut. Just recently, three people died in auto accidents on Thanksgiving weekend in Connecticut.

What would your family do if you lost a loved one in a fatal auto accident? How would you pay your bills? What if your insurance company refused to cooperate? You need a hard-working Connecticut fatal accident attorney in your corner. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. Serving clients throughout Connecticut, our experienced Hartford fatal auto accident attorneys work tirelessly for people to get them the compensation they rightfully deserve. We understand how to investigate accidents. We know what information to look for to build a solid case. We believe the needs of a client should always come first. No exceptions, no excuses!

So many factors can contribute to a fatal auto accident. Was the driver drunk? Were they distracted by a cell phone? Were they asleep at the wheel? Was it a hit-and-run accident?

Whatever the reason, the financial impact of a fatal auto accident can be devastating on Connecticut families. A recent startling study revealed the shocking price tag of an auto accident. In 2009, the cost of a single motor vehicle fatality exceeded $6 million nationwide, according to federal accident data analyzed by AAA. That figure is 85 percent – or $2.76 million – higher compared to 2005, when the estimated cost of a single motor vehicle fatality was $3.24 million.

In 2009, there were 223 fatal auto accidents in Connecticut, according to government accident statistics. That’s a potential lost of more than $1.3 billion for Connecticut families based on the study done by AAA.

Don’t settle for second best. Put your family in the driver’s seat. Contact a Connecticut fatal auto accident attorney who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

Connecticut has some of the toughest texting while driving laws in the country. It’s illegal to text and operate a handheld cell phone while driving. School bus drivers statewide cannot text or use a cell phone for any reason on the road. Even so, many people think they can safely do both things at the same time. Think again. A recent study revealed some startling statistics about the effect of texting on drivers’ reaction time. According to the study, drivers react twice as slow while texting. That may explain why 5,474 people died in 2009 in America in distracted driving accidents and thousands more were injured.

One false move can instantly lead to a serious, life-altering accident. What would you do if texting driver in Connecticut injured you? Who would you trust? You need an aggressive Connecticut texting accident lawyer on your side. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. Serving clients throughout Connecticut, an experienced Connecticut distracted driving attorney at our firm can give your case the attention it deserves. We regularly scour accident records, medical reports and other essential documents. We then use this information to build a rock-solid case with one goal in mind: to get you the maximum compensation you rightfully deserve.

Texting accidents happen fast. Knowing what to do afterwards can be a nightmare. We can help. At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, helping auto accident victims drives everything we do. We understand how chaotic a crash can be, especially when it was caused by someone else’s reckless behavior. We have seen how uncooperative insurance companies can sometimes be after an accident. They don’t deter us. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and demand justice for our clients.

Contact a Connecticut texting accident attorney who will fight for your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. We mean business!

Confused about what’s the right thing to do after an auto accident in Connecticut? You’re not alone. A recent article published by MSN.com details many of the common mistakes – and helpful advice on what to do – after you’ve been involved in an auto accident. This surprising story reveals the secrets of car insurance adjusters. One secret you might not know – “Offering less than fair replacement value if the car is totaled” is a common practice for insurance adjusters, the author writes.

Get the facts. And get a Connecticut personal injury attorney who can help you get the settlement you rightfully deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. Serving clients throughout Connecticut, our experienced Hartford personal injury attorneys have seen all the tricks insurance companies use to try to avoid paying for accidents. They don’t scare us. If you’re serious about securing a fair settlement after your accident, you need a Connecticut personal injury lawyer focused on results. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

The advice offered in the MSN article includes numerous helpful hints. If you have been in an auto accident, say as little as possible afterwards. Claims adjusters often use what you say in the heat of the moment after an accident to avoid paying customers a fair settlement. And if you have been injured, report your injuries. Another tip – avoid answering insurance adjusters’ “psychologically loaded questions.” These questions are designed to confuse you and make you say the wrong thing. And even though you may want a fast settlement, don’t rush. That’s exactly what many insurance companies want you to do so you’ll be willing to settle for far less than you deserve.

Auto accidents shouldn’t be a major financial burden. That’s why people have auto insurance. What people forget is insurance companies often don’t put their customer’s interests first. Insurance companies are focused on the bottom line.

Level the playing field. Get the money you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. We mean business!