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

Japanese Auto Part Maker Takata Implicated in Massive Airbag Recall

June 29, 2014 By

Japanese automotive airbag manufacturer Takata is once again in the news for mistakes in its manufacturing processes.

In 1995 it was discovered that safety belts they manufactured did not close properly, leading to over eight million vehicles being recalled in the U.S.

More errors surfaced in April 2000 when it was discovered that the device which is supposed to inflate their airbag was too powerful and not only inflated the bag, but also fired pieces of metal at break neck speed towards the passenger.

Since then Takata has had a series of problems with U.S. law enforcement due to corruption amongst some of its executives resulting in fines and jail sentences. The corruption involved price fixing of safety belts sold in the United States.

And now, having thought they had fixed the problem with the airbags, it appears not to be the case that Takata airbags are still responsible for throwing “shrapnel” upon deployment, leading to yet another major vehicle recall. Major auto manufacturers, such as Toyota and Honda, are involved in the recall. Honda has announced that it has reports of injuries, and even deaths, which have resulted from the defect.

Recall

If you, or someone you know, have an injured in a serious accident involving a defective vehicle or part, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480.

Filed Under: Auto recalls

Drowsy and Fatigued Drivers an Increasing Hazard on U.S. Roads

June 22, 2014 By

Most people in the United States have probably operated a vehicle while fatigued or drowsy. This dangerous practice has been shown by researchers to be every bit as hazardous, if not more so, as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. One of the reasons people drive while drowsy is probably because they believe safe operation of their automobiles in such a condition comes down to a matter of willpower. They believe that they can control their drowsiness, if only they exercise enough personal effort.

As can be seen in the following video of drowsy driving automobile accidents, the consequences of driving while drowsy can be devastating. In one sequence an elderly person apparently falls asleep at the wheel and causes a horrific automobile accident. In another sequence a police cruiser is broadsided by a car driven by a person who was reportedly driving while drowsy. Thankfully everyone survived both crashes.

According to the video, drowsy drivers cause approximately 40,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths per year. Though the practice of driving while drowsy has not received nearly as much publicity as driving while distracted or drunken driving, and it can be every bit as deadly, as seen in the video below.

If you or someone you know have an injured in a serious accident in Waterbury involving a drowsy or fatigued driver, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident

Driving Hazards Increase for Teens in the Summer

June 15, 2014 By

Car accidents involving teenagers have long been a problem in the United States regardless of the time of year that they occur. But the summer is without a doubt a much more dangerous time for teens and for pedestrians who are out in increasing numbers during these mid-year months.

With the advent of cell phones, more and more teenagers are falling victim to the temptation to text and email while driving. This has proven to be a deadly combination across the country for just about every age group but teenagers are particularly vulnerable since they are already prone to socializing with greater frequency than those in other age groups. The warm weather during the summer means more people in general are out and about and drivers and pedestrians means more opportunities for accidents.

Teens tend to take on summer jobs during the break which gives them money and freedom. They tend to lose focus on the road when driving and are more prone to causing a crash. Emergency personnel admit seeing a spike in car accident victims during the summer months and advise parents to talk with their teenage children about the dangers of driving while texting and the need to exercise extra caution when driving during the summer.

If you or someone you know have an injured in a serious accident in Waterbury, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480.

Filed Under: Waterbury Accident

Baby Proofing Your Waterbury Home -video-

June 8, 2014 By

While many people worry about what could go wrong on the roads, the truth is that the vast majority of fatal accidents occur in the home. The surprising statistic is that every 16 minutes a person is killed in a fatal accident in the home. The most vulnerable of all in any home are the infants which may live there. These babies, as they first begin to navigate the world around them, tend to get into all kinds of trouble and dangerous situations. For this reason parents are recommended to baby proof their homes.

Here we present a video which gives you tips on how to baby proof your home:

Some of the top causes for injury among infants are:

  • Drowning or partial drowning
  • Burns
  • Choking
  • Falling down stairwells
  • Head injuries
  • Poisoning

We recommend that all parents take every reasonable step necessary to secure their homes for their infants. Remember that even such items as refrigerator magnets may seem enticing to children. Remove all identifiable hazards and allow your baby to explore the home safely. If you or someone you know have an injured in a serious accident in Waterbury, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Waterbury Accident

Murder Convict Thought Responsible for Last Week’s Building Crash

June 1, 2014 By

Police believe that a man who was convicted of being part of a group which committed a double murder in 1978 was also involved in driving a car into an Ansonia building last week. The accident sent all of the car’s passengers to the hospital, one with serious injuries.

According to police, Stanley J. Chenkus, a Waterbury resident, was the driver of the 2002 Buick LeSabre which went off the road at the Route 8 exit ramp at Division Street in the mid-morning hours on May 20. The car collided with a parked car, knocked over a telephone pole, and finally crashed into a Westfield Ave doctor’s office. No one in the office was reported to have been injured in the accident.

Police say that the incident is still under investigation but that no one has been arrested in connection with the crashed as of yet. The victims, a 28 year-old male, a 51 year-old female, and a 47 year-old female, were all taken to area hospitals as a result of the accident. Published reports indicate that all the victims were released from the hospital by Friday, May 23, with the exception of the 28 year old male, who remained hospitalized for the treatment of serious arm and leg injuries.

If you or someone you know have an injured in a serious accident in Waterbury, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480

 

Filed Under: waterbury car accident

Waterbury Drivers: Avoid these Bad Habits for a Safer Commute

May 25, 2014 By

 

No driver is perfect. But all drivers have a sense for the difference between good driving habits and bad driving habits. The problem with bad habits is that over time people question them less and less, until they eventually become our standard methods of operation. When it comes to driving, these bad habits can be deadly, which is why it is a good idea to point them out from time to time. Here we will take a look at some of the worst driving habits of Waterbury drivers.

Trying to catch a yellow light – Sitting in traffic can be painful. Often times those in front of you do not move quickly enough, and when you’re running late or just feeling impatient, it can be tempting to try to speed through a yellow light in order to make up for lost time. Of course, this practice has led to countless thousands of traffic accidents, injuries, and even deaths over the years. It is never recommended that you speed up to go through a yellow light.

Speeding – Everyone has done it. Speeding is probably as American as apple pie, but that that does not make it right. Especially in residential zones, commercial areas, and school zones, speeding can be particularly deadly. One way to avoid speeding is to remember that you’ll get better gas mileage at lower speeds. Leave from your destination a little early in order to give yourself more time to arrive. And remember that getting a speeding ticket not only costs you the fine, but can also cost you in terms of higher insurance premiums.

Distractions – Some driving distractions may be unavoidable, such as the actions of passengers in the car with you. But, many driving distractions, such as eating, using a smart phone, and playing with your pets, are not only avoidable, but are unnecessary. Remember that the road deserves your undivided attention, and leave the distractions for after the drive.

If you or someone you know have an injured in a serious accident in Waterbury, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480

 

Filed Under: Waterbury driver safety

How to Handle a Tire Blowout and Defective Tires in Waterbury -video-

May 16, 2014 By

It’s every driver’s worst nightmare: traveling along the highway and suddenly suffering a catastrophic tire blowout. Images of car the violently swerving and winding up in oncoming traffic or in a ditch come to mind when thinking about the scenario. But, despite these possibilities, is also possible to react to a blowout in a levelheaded manner, and give yourself the best chance of walking away without injury. The following video gives you tips about what to do in the case of a tire blowout.

One important fact to remember is that, especially with respect to newer tires, tires should not simply blow out. There is currently a significant amount of investigation surrounding the tire industry, with experts saying that up to four million of the five million tires which have been recalled since the year 2000 are still on the nation’s roads. Additionally, as can be seen in the following video, though a tire may be very little used, its age may play a role in its reliability.

If you suffer a tire blowout be sure to keep the tire and check it against national recall registries. If you or someone you know have an injured as a result of a tire blowout call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: Waterbury driver safety

-video- How Waterbury Residents Can Properly Install and Use a Child Seat

May 8, 2014 By

Every parent knows that the most precious occupant who will ever into their car is their child. Over the years, states across the country have adopted increasingly stringent regulations which are meant to protect children while they are passengers in vehicles on the nation’s roads. Children are the most vulnerable among us when it comes to the injuries sustained in an auto accident. Because of this, every parent and every person who accepts the responsibility of transporting a child in an automobile should familiarize himself or herself with how to properly install and operate a car seat.

Here we present a healthful instructional video which will give you insightful tips on how to install a car seat:

Not only is it the law that all the infants be properly secured in a car seat when traveling on Waterbury roads, but it’s also good common sense. Many people believe that they can simply sit a child on their laps, and in the event of an accident that the child can be easily restrained. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Considering the fact that millions of adults are injured every year in auto accidents, it should be clear that the force of an automobile collision can only reasonably be mitigated by seatbelt and car seat use.

If you have been injured in a serious auto accident, please contact the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP immediately.

 89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: Waterbury driver safety

Waterbury Residents and Safe Motorcycle Riding

April 29, 2014 By

Motorcycle riders in Waterbury enjoy taking to their bikes on a warm spring or summer day in order to enjoy the unique rising experience that only a motorcycle can deliver.  But while it is common knowledge that motorcycle riding is inherently more dangerous than riding in a car, most people are probably not aware of the extent of the danger.

Consider the following statistics:

  • Between 2000 and 2007 motorcycle deaths in the United States increased by an alarming 78%, from 2897 to 5154.
  • A study by the University of Southern California indicates that the number one reason motorcyclists survive crashes is due to helmet use.
  • According to U.S. motor vehicle statistics, motorcycles account for just 3% of all registered vehicles in the country.  But 17% of all traffic fatalities in the United States in 2007 involved motorcycle riders.
  • Motorcycle riders are 35 times more likely to die in an auto accident when judged on a per mile basis.
  • On a per registered vehicle basis motorcycle drivers and their passengers over five times more likely to die in an auto accident than those traveling in cars.
  • The effectiveness of motorcycle helmets is rated at approximately 37%.  This means that out of 100 crashes which would result in death if no helmet were used, 37 lives could be saved by using helmets of helmets were worn.

We consider motorcycle riding a valuable past time for many Waterbury area residents.  We encourage all Waterbury motorcycle enthusiasts to always use helmets when on area roads, and always operate their bikes with extreme caution.

 

The Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: waterbruy motorcycle safety

Waterbury Woman Recovering After Nearly 60 Foot Drop in Car

April 22, 2014 By

A woman was rescued by Waterbury firefighters recently after she drove off an embankment in her car, and then tumbled in her car several feet before striking a tree.

Waterbury Police Deputy Chief Christopher Corbett reports that an elderly female driver was driving through the parking lot of a local Rite Aid when she accidentally drove off of an embankment, and suffered a potentially deadly drop, before the car came to a rest on its roof.  Firefighters were called to the scene and were able to help the woman out of the car, after the nearly 60 foot drop, which occurred near 1030 Wolcott Road.

Pictures of the firefighters wrestling the woman from the car were shared on the Internet in the days following incident, depicting the woman being pulled from her car which seemed to have stopped after striking a tree.

The woman was transported to an area hospital where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

 

The Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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