Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP - 89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515

New Systems If you Have an Accident Driving a Car

February 29, 2016 By

When you are driving a car, if you have an accident you know there are certain things you need to do such as call 911 and, if you can ensure the vehicle is safe.

However there may be situations when you cannot do this because you are unconscious, or injured, or trapped in your vehicle and unable to move.

Now and in the future, more and more vehicles are being programmed to be able to handle an emergency situation on your behalf. For example, Daimler Chrysler has what they call an Enhanced Accident Emergency System or EARS which, in the event of an accident when the airbag deploys, turns on the interior lighting, unlocks the doors and shuts off the fuel. Volkswagen has a similar system which also switches on the hazard lights and disconnects the battery terminal from the alternator.

GM and BMW in addition have a system which automatically alerts their response centers, OnStar in the case of GM and Assist for BMW. Once the response center has the information they pass it on to the emergency responders.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury driver safety

Person Hit and Killed by Car in Manchester

January 30, 2016 By

On Friday night, January 15, a person was hit and killed by a car on Main Street, Manchester.

According to police, the accident happened at around 7.35 p.m. when a vehicle traveling southbound on Main Street hit a pedestrian crossing at the intersection with Pearl Street.

The as yet unidentified male victim was taken to Hartford Hospital with serious injuries and he passed away. The name has not been released pending notification of family members. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and the name has not yet been released.

The Manchester Police Traffic Unit and Metro Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team are asking for witnesses to come forward.

At this time, it is unknown if any criminal charges will be filed against the operator of the vehicle.
There are many pedestrians in the area where the accident happened, due to the large number of bars, restaurants and shops.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident

Electrical Appliances Safety in the Home

December 31, 2015 By

Did you know that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends inspecting electrical appliances and products in your home every 6 months?

Many of us regularly check our smoke detectors but all electrical items should be given equal consideration, after all approximately 400 people are electrocuted in the U.S. each year and there are more than 51,000 electrical fires in the home. Here are some basic safety checks you can do to prevent electrocution and fire.

In all rooms, check each light is fitted with the correct wattage for the fixture. A bulb with a higher wattage than recommended could cause the light fixture to overheat leading to a fire. Check any portable heating equipment; the heater should be at least three feet from anything that can catch fire such as drapes or paper. The heater should of course be in good working order with no strange smells, sparks or smoke and be placed in a stable location where it will not be tipped over. We all have quite a lot of entertainment equipment, TVs, DVD players, games consoles, computers and these should all be checked to ensure the cord is not frayed, cracked or damaged. In the kitchen make sure that all counter top appliances are unplugged when not in use and that all cords are positioned so that they will not come in to contact with a hot surface and lastly ensure that all appliances are located away from the sink, you don’t want to mix electricity and water!

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury Safety

Man Killed In Single Vehicle Crash On I84

November 30, 2015 By

On Saturday night, November 7 a man was killed in a single vehicle crash when his vehicle struck a concrete barrier along Interstate 84 in Waterbury.

According to state police the accident happened at approximately 10 p.m. when 60 year old Richard Hyman, of Towantic Hill Road in Oxford, was driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma Hyman and traveling in the right hand land along Interstate 84 westbound between exits 23 and 22. For reasons unknown, Hyman appears to have lost control of his vehicle striking the concrete barrier in the right shoulder several times before his vehicle came to a stop against the barrier, just before exit 22. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries.

There were no other vehicles involved in the incident and State Police are currently investigating what could have caused with crash as the road conditions were dry, the weather clear and only a moderate amount of traffic on the road.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: waterbury car accident

How to Control a Skid

October 31, 2015 By

It is important to know how to control a skid. Firstly keep both hands on the steering wheel and try not to panic. Ease off the accelerator and look where you want your car to go and keep your focus there even if your car starts to spin. Eye-hand coordination is incredibly important.

For a rear wheel or all wheel skid in which your car starts to spin out of line, steer into the skid, which basically means that you steer to the same side as the back end of the car is sliding towards. This can be difficult as your instinct is to steer in the opposite direction to the skid. If you find yourself in a front wheel skid straighten the steering wheel.

Almost all vehicles are now fitted with ABS (assisted brake steering) and don’t be afraid to follow the “stomp and steer” advice. ABS is not designed to help you to stop sooner it is a mechanism that allows you to keep steering while breaking and can make a tremendous difference. If you feel the brake pedal vibrating or trembling under your foot or a faint tapping noise while you are braking it is just the ABS doing its job. Keep on with the ABS until you bring the vehicle under control.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury driver safety

Mother and Young Son were Killed in an Accident

September 30, 2015 By

On Monday, September 21, a mother and her young son were killed in an accident.

According to police the accident happened shortly before 6:15 p.m. at 130 South Main Street in Terryville when for reasons as yet unknown a car drove into a house.

The car was being driven by 29 year old Melissa Odelius and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her five year old son George who was also in the car was airlifted to Hartford hospital where he passed away soon after.

The three year old, Thomas was taken to Waterbury Hospital and later transferred to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford where he was listed in to be serious but stable condition, and was due to be discharged shortly.

Melissa Odelius grew up in West Hartford and graduated from Hall High School. She and the boys recently moved from Hartford to Terryville.

Plymouth police are continuing to investigate the crash.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: waterbury car accident

Waterbury Judge in Favor of Suing a Yale Fraternity

August 23, 2015 By

A Waterbury judge has ruled in favor of suing a Yale fraternity, following a crash in 2011 which killed one woman and injured two more.

According to police, back in November 2011, members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity from Yale University were driving to a tailgating event for a Yale versus Harvard football game. They were traveling in a U Haul truck which was carrying kegs, when the driver, Brendon Ross, lost control and sped into a crowd of pedestrians and then went on to hit another truck.

Graduate student Nancy Barry was killed and two others, including Sarah Short, were seriously injured.

The week of August 15 this year, a judge from Waterbury has ruled in favor of the families of Barry and Short who filed a lawsuit against the fraternity, holding them fully responsible for the actions of the driver, Ross, back in 2013.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident

Young Girl Was Killed in Waterbury

July 31, 2015 By

On Wednesday, July 1 a young girl was killed in Waterbury.

According to police, the accident happened shortly after 2 a.m. when a 16 year old boy was driving a stolen Nissan Maxima at a high rate of speed. He lost control and then crashed into a utility pole close to 541 Wolcott Street. The impact was so great, the car split in two and both of the passengers were ejected.

However, following the accident the front part of the Nissan was hit by another stolen car, this time a 2012 Subaru Legacy. Then the drivers of the Nissan and the Subaru fled the scene in another vehicle. A passenger in the Nissan, 15 year old Sajenae Winfrey, died on arrival at hospital and an unidentified 13 year old boy from Waterbury, also a passenger in the Nissan, was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center with critical injuries.

The same night, the driver of the Maxima was arrested and has been charged with manslaughter, evading responsibility, and larceny.

Police are continuing to investigate accident and expect to make more arrests.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident

School Bus Crashed and Student Seriously Injured

June 30, 2015 By

On Monday, June 8, a school bus crashed resulting in serious injuries to a middle school boy.

According to the police, the accident happened shortly after 2.30 p.m. on Todd Road, when the school bus, being driven by 57 year old Mark Hudobenko, swerved and hit a tree. Hudobenko said he was forced to swerve as another vehicle came into his lane and this was verified by one of the passengers on the bus. All of the students on the bus were wearing seatbelts but one of them, who attended the middle school, suffered serious injuries and was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury and then was airlifted to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. He is currently in a serious but stable condition.

Two other students were taken to St. Mary’s hospital and released later and Hudobenko was uninjured.

Police are now investigating the driver, who it appears had not been drinking alcohol and now toxicology is awaited to see if he had any other substance in his blood. They are also seeking a search warrant to check Hudobenko’s phone records to see if he was on the phone at the time of the crash. He has a clean record having driven school buses for 10 years.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident

A Motorcycle Rider was Critically Injured

May 29, 2015 By

On Tuesday afternoon, May 12, a motorcycle rider was critically injured in an accident in Hartford.

According to Hartford police, the accident occurred around 1.30 in the afternoon near 110 Brainard Road.

A motorcycle, which was being operated by James D. Luksic, of Plymouth was heading north on Brainard Road. At the same time, a pickup truck driven by Brian Aronson, of West Haven was heading south on the same road. The pickup truck was attempting to turn into a Mobil Station and then both vehicles collided.

Luksic suffered critical injuries and was taken to Hartford hospital and Aronson suffered minor injuries.

The roadway in the area was closed for several hours as police started to investigate the accident, which was also captured on a nearby video surveillance camera.

The investigation is ongoing and so far no citations have been issued.

If you have been injured in a serious automobile accident,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation. For an immediate and cost-free case evaluation and consultation please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident
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