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

Driving on wet roads in Connecticut can be extremely hazardous, even deadly, especially on leaf-covered roads in autumn. Just recently, a three-car accident in West Hartford occurred on a wet road on Avon Mountain. And last year, wet road conditions contributed to a 50-car pile up in which 46 people were injured on Route 110 in Shelton.

Each year, wet road conditions cause 1,170,000 car accidents or 75 percent of all weather-related vehicle accidents. The numbers are even more staggering for injuries in car accidents: 81 percent or 544,700 of all injuries in weather-related accidents are caused by wet road conditions. And in terms of fatalities, 5,700 deaths or 77 percent of all people killed in weather-related accidents can be traced back to wet roads.

What can you do to avoid an accident on wet roads? Here’s some tips to stay safe this fall and all year long.

• Slow down. Driving at or below the speed limit on wet roads will give you more time to stop or slow down.
• Keep a safe distance between your car and other vehicles. 3 seconds minimum. Even more if the roads are extremely wet.
• Drive in the middle lane. Water sometimes pools near the side of the road.
• Avoid using your breaks. If you need to slow down, take your foot off the accelerator.

Even so, even the safest driver can still be involved in an accident. What would you do? Who would you turn to for help? You need someone who knows how to help victims of weather related accidents. You need someone you trust to fight for your rights. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

Our skilled lawyers have years of experience defending people injured in weather-related car accidents. We know how to successfully navigate through such complicated cases. Don’t be a victim. Take action. Contact Salomone & Morelli today.

Starting a new school year can be an exciting time in a child’s life. New teacher. New subjects. Maybe even new friends or a new school.

That’s why everyone needs to remember to keep an eye out for kids on their way to school. Children sometimes get caught up in the excitement of seeing a friend and forget to look both ways when they cross the street. That’s when a pedestrian accident can occur.

Sadly, a staggering number of pedestrians injured and killed are under 15 years old. In 2008, pedestrians sustained 69,000 injuries and 4,378 deaths in accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those statistics include 15,000 injured and 316 killed under 15 years old.

But the statistics are even more startling for bicycle injuries and deaths for children. Cyclists under 14 years old account 24 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and 50 percent of all bicycle-related injuries.

Why do so many accidents happen? Sometimes, children aren’t paying attention while walking to their bus stop, riding a bike or walking to school. Other times, it’s the driver doing something else besides driving. Texting while driving, talking on cell phones, fiddling with the radio – all of these activities distract drivers and put everyone at risk.

Accidents happen. Everyone feels sorry. But actions have consequences. Don’t let someone else’s irresponsible behavior ruin your family’s lives. Turn to the team you can trust to fight for your child’s rights. Turn to the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

Serving clients throughout Connecticut, Salomone & Morelli have years of experience representing families traumatized by accidents involving school children. We know how precious children are to parents. And we will do everything in our power to right any wrongs done to them.

Get back your peace of mind. Contact Salomone & Morelli. We’re on your side.

What would you do if you were injured in a motorcycle accident? Sound far fetched? Sadly, motorcycle accidents are far too common. In the last decade, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents has more than doubled. In 1998, motorcycle accidents killed 2,294 people and injured more than 49,000 nationwide. In 2008, 5,290 died and more than 96,000 people were injured in motorcycle accidents.

Why the increase in motorcycle accidents? Experts have cited the recent rise in the number of motorcycles on the road. In 1998, there were 3.8 million motorcycles on the road. By 2008, that number had skyrocketed to 7.7 million motorcycles. But there may be another reason for this increase. During the same time period, many states relaxed their motorcycle helmet laws.

Helmets drastically reduce the likelihood of dying in a motorcycle accident. Riders wearing helmets are 37 percent less likely to die in a crash than riders without helmets, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s why many states still require motorcyclists to wear helmets. In Connecticut, motorcyclists 17 years old and younger are required by law to wear helmets.

Unfortunately, accidents happen. In Connecticut, a total of 50 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2008.  Just recently, a 25-year-old Milford, Connecticut motorcyclist was killed in an accident in North Haven, Connecticut.

What would you do if you were injured in a motorcycle accident? Who would you trust? You need someone in your corner that will fight for your rights. You need someone who will work tirelessly to make sure you’re fully compensated for your injuries. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

The Law Offices of Salomone & Morelli have years of experience defending the rights of motorcycle accident victims in Connecticut. We understand the law and know how to get results. We also realize insurance companies often blame motorcyclists for causing the accident, even if it wasn’t their fault.

Don’t leave your future to chance. Take action. Contact Salomone & Morelli today. We’re on your side.

No one who receives hip replacement surgery wants to go through a second operation. But a stunningly high number of people with hip replacement products manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. are in need of a second procedure due to the failure of the products.

DePuy, a division of Johnson & Johnson, is recalling two of its hip implant products because they are prone to early failure: ASR XL Acetabular System (launched in 2004) and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing system (launched in 2003).

DePuy has informed the Food and Drug Administration of the recall, which involves removing the dangerous devicesFDA also has warned DePuy that the firm was marketing the TruMatch Personalized Solutions System and the Corail Hip System without the required marketing clearance or approval, in violation of FDA rules. from hospital shelves. Johnson & Johnson has had 11 recalls since September, according to reports. The

How does a recall work with a device already implanted in the body? DePuy recommends patients speak with the orthopedic surgeon who implanted the device. A doctor can scan or X-ray the hip to see how the device is performing. A blood test may be required to look at any metal particles that may indicate a problem. If a serious problem is detected, surgery may be required to replace the defective medical equipment.

DePuy has posted an FAQ about the recall on its website.

The implant may be loose or there may be a bone fracture around the device or dislocation of the implant’s ball and socket. Signs that your hip replacement device may be failing include the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Difficulty walking
• Swelling in the hip area

About 12 percent of people getting the hip resurfacing system and 13 percent getting the Acetabular System needed corrective surgery within five years. Women are more likely to need surgery than men, according to reports. DePuy says no more than five percent of patients should need a replacement within five years.

Did you or a loved one receive hip replacement surgery since 2003? If a doctor implanted one of the DePuy products in your body, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone and Morelli for a free and confidential consultation. A delay may affect your rights.

Serving clients in Hartford, New Haven, and throughout Connecticut, the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone and Morelli fights relentlessly for victims injured by defective medical devices. Choose a firm with experience and resources. Tell them you mean business!

August is the deadliest month to go boating, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2008, more people (112 total) died in boating accidents in August nationwide than any other month of the year. Certain days and times are also much more dangerous than others. The deadliest day of the week was Saturday: 208 deaths. And the deadliest time of day was between 4:31 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., when 112 deaths occurred.

But any time any day, the risk of being killed or injured in a boating accident is real. Just recently, two people were hospitalized after a 19-year-old Connecticut boater collided into another boat and fled the scene of the accident. Deadly boating accidents on Long Island Sound occur all too often as well.  In addition, special maritime rules may apply to accidents and injuries which occur on the water, regardless of the size of the body of water or the size of the vessel upon which an injured party is operating or a passenger.

Sometimes, you don’t even have to be on a boat to sustain an injury. People often get hurt when they slip and fall on a wet dock or boat ramp.

Overall, 709 people died, 3,331 were injured and $54.2 million worth of damage was caused by boating accidents nationwide in 2008. In Connecticut, boating accidents killed 11 people, injured 31 and caused $1,133,366 worth of damage in 2008. And in nearly half the cases (four deaths) of the 11 people killed in Connecticut in boating accidents that year, alcohol was a contributing factor.

Don’t let someone else’s reckless behavior ruin your family’s lives. If you or someone in your family has been injured or killed in a boating accident, you deserve justice. You need someone who will stand up for you and defend your rights. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. When you choose us, you get experienced, dedicated lawyers who will vigorously fight to get you the compensation you’re legally entitled to for your boating injury.

Don’t leave your future to chance. Take action. Contact Salomone & Morelli today. We mean business.

The flight attendant who famously quit recently by sliding out of the plane down its inflatable slide with several beers in his hands has been all over the news. Who doesn’t sometimes fantasize about storming out of the office on a bad day and telling an annoying customer or boss to take a hike? But as funny as this situation was, the incident also reminds us of the real risk of workplace violence.

Before Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater stormed off the airplane on the runway at Kennedy International Airport in New York, a passenger struck Slater on the head with a suitcase. Workplace violence is a serious health hazard that affects the lives of people across the country. Sometimes, it’s a funny incident like the one on the Jet Blue airplane. Other times, it’s sadly much more serious, like the fatal shootings recently at a beer distribution facility in Manchester, Conn.

Are you a victim of workplace violence? Has someone made going to work a nightmare for you? Take action. Take back your life. The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli know how to fight for people just like you.

Serving clients throughout Connecticut, our tough-minded attorneys know how to get results. We have years of experience helping victims of workplace violence get the justice they deserve. Don’t leave your future to chance. Contact Salomone & Morelli today. We mean business.

As is evidenced by the tragedy in Manchester, Conn., we hear news reports on an increasingly frequent basis about workplace violence resulting in injury or death to coworkers of a disgruntled employee. Workplace violence is a serious safety and health issue, which has been studied and resulted in the compilation of several strategies and warning signs of which employers are, or should be, aware to minimize the risk to all employees in the workplace. While there is no way to guarantee that an employee will not eventually become disgruntled and become dangerous to fellow employees, there are several steps which an employer must take to minimize the risk.

These start with simple steps such as thorough pre-employment screening to avoid hiring potentially violent people in the first place, to implementation of Progressive Disciplinary systems and performance evaluations which allow the employee to address and rectify issues before they become a larger problem. In predictably stressful situations, such as disciplinary hearings or terminations proceedings, employers should consider holding such meetings off site and with the presence of security in order to lessen the risk of violence. When an employer is or should be aware of the confrontational tendencies of an employee, yet does not address or take steps to enforce company anti-violence policies, that employer may be liable to injured co-workers who become innocent victims.

In order to avoid becoming a victim twice, workers and families of victims of workplace violence should seek legal advice to explore all options available to them. Reporting to work for an honest day’s wages should not be a life and death choice.

What would you do if a car hit you while crossing the street? Sound far fetched? Pedestrian accidents happen every day. Actually, every 8 minutes, to be exact, a pedestrian sustains an injury in a traffic accident in America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s more than 69,000 injuries each year. Just recently, a Connecticut teenager was seriously injured while crossing the street in Simsbury.

Even worse, such accidents are sometimes fatal. In 2008, 4,378 pedestrians were killed in accidents nationwide. That figure has fallen every year since 1998, when 5,228 pedestrians were killed in America. But every death counts.

What can you do to protect yourself? Know the facts. Here’s who, when and where pedestrians are most often killed nationwide, according to statistics.

• Men be cautious – more than 70 percent of pedestrians killed are men.
• Be careful at night – 70 percent of pedestrian accidents happen after dark.
• Urban areas higher risk – 72 percent of accidents happen there.
• Weather not a factor – 89 percent of all pedestrian accidents happen during normal weather conditions.

That’s why the NHTSA recommends taking these steps to keep pedestrians safe.

• Cross the street at a designated crosswalk.
• Be careful at intersections. Drivers may fail to yield to pedestrians.
• Increase your visibility at night. Carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing.
• Walk on a sidewalk or, if you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.

Know the facts. Be aware. Pedestrian accidents are serious. If you’re a victim of a pedestrian accident, you need an aggressive law firm that means business. You need The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

Pedestrian accidents can change your life forever. This may be your only shot at getting the justice you deserve. Don’t leave your future to chance. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

Who isn’t busy these days with family, work and other responsibilities? If you suffered a personal injury because of someone’s negligence, you may be tempted to put off taking any immediate legal action.  But it’s important to be aware that your rights may be affected if you wait too long to file a lawsuit for any type of wrongful conduct, from an auto accident to a workplace injury or a slip and fall. You may be unable to seek justice in your case because time has run out under the statute of limitations.

In personal injury law, the statute of limitations refers to the window of time you have to file a lawsuit after wrongful conduct has caused you harm. In general, the time period runs from the date the accident occurs, or when it was “discovered,” which could be later, to the date the time expires to file a lawsuit.  If you are injured and try to file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations expiration date, a court may dismiss the lawsuit entirely.

The time period on statute of limitations varies from state to state and from claim to claim. Because it can be difficult to keep track of the various statutes and exceptions, it’s wise to contact a qualified attorney who can tell you how the statute of limitations might apply to your specific case.

The following are examples of different types of cases and how the statute of limitations would apply to them in Connecticut. There may be some exceptions:

• Personal injury: 2 years
• Medical malpractice: Generally 2 years from the date the injury was discovered

Don’t delay filing your case beyond the time period outlined in the statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you may lose your rights. If you or a loved one was injured due to another’s negligence, contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli today. An experienced attorney can provide a free and confidential consultation and answer any questions you have about your case and the statute of limitations. Get in touch with us today before it’s too late. We vigorously defend the rights of our clients and pursue the full compensation entitled to them under state law.

What day is the deadliest one on American highways? Sadly, it’s July 4^th. On average, 161 people are killed each year on this day in car accidents nationwide, making Independence Day the deadliest day on America’s highways. And right behind it, July 3^rd ranks as the second deadliest day of the year to drive.  But fatal accidents can happen at any moment, especially on busy highways like Connecticut’s Interstate 84.

The July 4^th holiday also ranks near the top for alcohol sales each year nationwide. Statistically, this holiday ranks number one – ahead of Labor Day, New Year’s Eve and Memorial Day – for beer consumption nationwide.

Not surprisingly, drunk driving can be a serious hazard facing people on the road any day in Connecticut and especially this holiday weekend. What can you do to protect yourself? How will you stay safe on the road this July 4^th?

Here’s some suggested tips aimed to keep you safe.

• Stay off the road if you don’t have to travel on July 4^th.
• If you must travel to get to your holiday destination, travel on days other than July 3^rd or 4^th.
• Drive during daylight hours. Statistically, fatal accidents involving drunk drivers are more than four times as likely to occur at night versus during the day.

Drunk drivers wreak havoc on the roads across the country. Don’t become another statistic. If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, take action. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. Our experienced lawyers will vigorously fight for your rights and the justice you deserve.

Don’t let someone else’s reckless behavior ruin your life. Contact Salomone & Morelli today. We’re on your side.