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

Young Drivers Still Least Likely to Buckle Up

April 15, 2014 By

Seat belts save lives.  This is a simple and powerful fact that has been proven time and time again in studies and in real life across the country.  Though the vast majority of adults routinely buckle up, the younger crowd has a much lower rate of seat belt use, and also a much higher propensity for injury causing car wrecks.  The fact that they fail to buckle up in the same numbers as the more mature population has resulted in young adults being the most likely to suffer serious injury in a car crash.

In order to turn the tide parents, in Waterbury should instill in their young children a habit of always using their seat belts.  This habit will hopefully continue into young adulthood and help protect your child in the unfortunate event of an automobile accident.

Many young people avoid putting on their seat belts as a result of poor judgment.  They may believe that seat belt use is unnecessary if they are only expecting to travel a short distance.  Or, they may believe that wearing a seat belt makes them seem “nerdy” in the eyes of their peers.  Another reason young people may not wear their seatbelts is due to the fact that they often move around in the vehicle.  Teens and young adults can often be seen dancing and roughhousing while in a moving vehicle.  In their minds, wearing a seatbelt restricts their abilities to move freely about the car.

Of course, mature adults realize that seat belt use is about safety, not making a fashion statement.  But getting this point across to young adults can be difficult.  This is why it is recommended that parents lead by example, and always buckle up.  And parents are also recommended to always enforce a policy of buckling up when traveling with their children.

The Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP encourages all parents to talk to their children about buckling up. We can be reached at  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515   (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: Waterbury driver safety

Waterbury Celebrates National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April 7, 2014 By

In recent years Waterbury, Connecticut residents, along with residents in countless other neighborhoods across the country, have learned about the dangers of distracted driving.  In previous years passengers and pets were the primary distractions to Waterbury drivers.  But now, with the advent of smart phones, residents in many Connecticut towns are facing an epidemic of drivers who are physically present behind the wheel, but mentally more engaged in their technology than paying attention to the roads.

The state of Connecticut has strict laws against people using their smart phones while driving.  However, the laws have not entirely eliminated the practice.  It is with this in mind that the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was created.  Governments across the country will be simultaneously cracking down on distracted driving and educating the populace about its dangers and how to avoid it.

As part of the program the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be expanding a program which was originally piloted in Connecticut (and other states) between 2010 and 2013.  The program, which was called “Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other,” saw a reduction in the number of distracted driving cases in Connecticut, and was considered a success.

In doing our part we would like to encourage Waterbury residents to participate in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month by making a pledge to avoid distracted driving this month. Once you see how easy it is, hopefully you will make it a permanent practice.

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How the Toyota and General Motors Recalls Affect You

March 31, 2014 By

As far back as 2003, General Motors manufactured cars which had a very particular and lethal defect.  The cars suffered from a power issue which caused them to spontaneously lose power to the power steering system and the air bags.  As a result of the defect over a dozen people lost their lives, and hundreds more were likely injured, all while General Motors failed to recall the defective vehicles.

In 2014 General Motors finally recalled 2.6 million vehicles which suffered from the defect.  In the wake of the record $1.6 billion settlement the U.S. government just reached with Toyota, a company which was also found to have failed to recall defective vehicles, it is likely that General Motors will also see a significant settlement with federal authorities.

Additionally, those who have been injured as a result of General Motors’ failure to recall the defective vehicles, and the loved ones of those who lost their lives due to the faulty cars, are likely to take the company to task for failing to properly protect those who purchased and used their products.

Major car manufacturers have a duty to not only produce safe machines, but also to warn the public when something has gone wrong.  General Motors and Toyota both failed to give the public timely notice that their vehicles suffered from deadly malfunctions.  If you, or anyone you know, has been a victim of a General Motors or Toyota vehicle, please call us today at (888) 244-5480 for a free case evaluation.

Filed Under: Auto recalls, Uncategorized

Texting While Driving Facts

February 6, 2014 By

Texting while driving is to this decade what drunk driving was to the 1980’s. While the laws against it are very lax at this point, and the stigma is still minimal, we can only hope that both will grow to the proportions they have reached for drinking and driving, because the tragic consequences are just as real and deadly. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was texting, our Waterbury accident attorneys are here to help.

More and more attention is being paid to texting and driving as the cause of serious accidents. Legislation is being proposed and passed in many states. At Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, we sue distracted drivers. We take this seriously because we know that it is all too common and we need to do everything we can to discourage it.

Texting While Driving Statistics and Penalties

A recent article on the Mother Jones website gave some interesting insights on texting while driving laws. According to the article, the median fine for the offense in the U.S. is a mere $100. Some states have no law against it. The smallest fine is $20.

Alaska leads the nation in taking texting while driving seriously, with a $10,000 fine and one year of jail time for a first offense. The fine here in Connecticut is $150.

The real consequences are much more serious, an unfortunately innocent victims are often the ones who pay the price, with their lives. Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to crash.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Connecticut – regardless of whether you were driving another vehicle or a pedestrian, you may have a claim for damages. Your claim is stronger if the other driver was texting while driving. Please call us today at (888) 244-5480 for a free case evaluation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized
« Previous Page