New Haven Personal Injury Law Blog

What should you do if your child is bitten by a dog?

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Dog Bites on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Connecticut residents often coexist with dogs, whether they belong to your neighbors, visiting family members, or friends. Unfortunately, dog attacks can happen to anyone at any time, even if you don't have a dog. Children are particularly susceptible. Loughlin FitzGerald, attorneys at law, are here to help you through the aftermath in the unfortunate event that your child is attacked by a dog.

First of all, children are much more likely to suffer from severe injury than an adult. This is largely due to both the size difference and a child's inability to fight back. If they are attacked or bitten by even a medium or small dog, they could still end up with multiple painful injuries.

Safety tips for the new driver in the family

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

One of the scariest times in a parent's life is watching as their child drives away in a car for the first time. To ease your fear as a parent with a new driver in the house and to help reduce your child's risk of a car accident, it is important to practice and discuss safe driving techniques. For instance, new drivers need to be aware of how to safely make turns, handle bad weather and drive through the school parking lot.

To be a good driver, your child will need to have safe driving habits. Even basic things like always wearing a seat belt and remaining alert can make a huge difference when it comes to staying safe behind the wheel. Talk with your teen driver about these general driving tips.

How can you protect yourself from night driving dangers?

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, September 14, 2018.

Even knowing the dangers of driving at night, some Connecticut drivers still need to tackle the roads during these hours anyway. Knowing how to combat some of the dangers you face is going to be one of your best potential defenses.

According to Popular Mechanics, there are several things you can do to make your night drive a safer one. Most revolve around improving your ability to see, and improving your ability to react to sudden obstacles that appear. For example, you should always try to wear antireflective prescription glasses if you need vision correction. Contact lenses will also allow more light to enter your eye, improving your sight.

What are the primary dangers of night driving?

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, September 7, 2018.

As a resident of Connecticut, you know that it is sometimes impossible to avoid having to drive at night. So what do you do in those situations where night driving can't be avoided? Being prepared for the most dangerous scenarios is a good place to start.

When you're dealing with night driving, there are a few common issues you're going to run into no matter where you are on the road. This includes poor visual conditions, other drivers and their behaviors, and your own driving capabilities. As the National Safety Council says, many of the problems that come from night driving are unavoidable and are simply a result of the time of day. Elevated issues include:

Poor visibility
Limited sight range
Driver fatigue
DUI-related incidents
Reckless driving behaviors

Can you help your child avoid dog bites?

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Dog Bites on Friday, August 31, 2018.

When you hear that a child has been bitten by a dog in Connecticut, you may wonder how you can make sure your own child is always safe around animals. It is a good idea to teach your child how to behave around animals so you can prevent dog bites before they happen.

When many young children see dogs, they may want to run up to the dog and pet it. According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, children should typically ask people if they can pet their dog. It is a good idea for you to emphasize that your child should ask the owner even if you know the dog. Young children may also not realize that sometimes dogs do not want to play. Because of this, it is important to explain to your child that he or she should not run after a dog when it walks away. Additionally, it is a good idea to teach kids that when a dog goes to a crate or dog bed, the animal does not want to play.

How does poor lighting affect your safety?

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Slip-And-Fall Accidents on Friday, August 24, 2018.

Businesses in Connecticut have a responsibility toward you, the customer, to make their property as safe as possible. This means providing adequate lighting so that you don't trip, slip, or fall on any surfaces leading into the building in question.

FindLaw contributes inadequate lighting as a big factor in accidents related to slipping, tripping or falling. Inadequate lighting simply refers to any area in which you wouldn't be able to see clearly in order to dodge or maneuver your way around certain dangers. This can include stairs, slopes, and curbs. It can also include defects in the pavement like cracks, holes, or uneven foundation.

Hit-and-run accidents can worry parents at start of school

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Sunday, August 19, 2018.

With school starting up again, parents have a lot to think about. Your list may include purchasing school supplies, double-checking your children’s schedules, registering them for the bus route and talking to them about safety. At Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., we understand that you might worry about your children’s safety if they walk to school or the bus stop. Connecticut children are at risk of being harmed by negligent drivers, some of whom may flee the scene if they strike a child with their vehicle.

A frightening incident that occurred last June in Waterbury may highlight this concern for you. WTNH News reported that a driver didn’t stop for a school bus’s warning signal and struck a 7-year-old boy walking to the bus stop. Fortunately, the boy was treated for minor injuries and was expected to recover. However, authorities continued searching for the driver who fled the scene.

How to react to an office party injury

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

When we think of getting injured at work, we usually think about the risks associated with fulfilling work duties, such as driving or lifting heavy items. However, it is possible to become injured when not actually working, but when attending an office party or team-building activity.

Many workplaces arrange team-building activities in the summer months. While these activities can be fun and engaging, they also have the potential to cause accidents. When injuries occur during office parties and activities, the affected person might need to pay for costly medical bills and even lose wages as a result of needing to take unpaid leave during the recovery period.

Fatal motorcycle crash in North Haven illustrates biker risks

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Motorcycle accidents have long been a concern for motorcyclists in Connecticut and throughout the country. As this blog has explained in other posts, bikers are at risk of serious injuries or worse when they are in accidents with other drivers or alone.

A recent accident that culminated in the death of a motorcyclist highlights this point. As WTNH News 8 reported, in early August, a motorcycle lost control on Interstate 91 in North Haven. The biker collided with the center median guide rail and lost his life. Authorities were yet unsure of the circumstances that caused him to lose control, but the tragedy shows how quickly and easily it can be for a biker to crash with little warning.

What are good ways to say no and avoid a social host liability?

On behalf of Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. posted in Social Host Liability on Monday, August 6, 2018.

As you may know, it can be hard to say no to a lot of things. You might have grown up learning that you can only be successful and well-liked if you agree to do what is asked of you, even if you feel pressured into doing something you find morally or legally wrong. However, you and other Connecticut residents can get into trouble if you don’t learn to say no to some things, especially when it comes to alcohol.

You’ve decided to host a party for your work associates, and alcohol is on the menu. While this doesn’t necessarily mean trouble, the night can turn sour if you allow your guests to drive away intoxicated or serve alcohol to co-workers you know aren’t yet 21. If one of your guests got into a drunk driving accident or authorities were called and found out you were serving alcohol to minors, you could be held responsible. Even so, it can be hard to stand your ground and take the keys from intoxicated guests or insist your younger co-workers stick to soda. Psych Central recommends the following ways to say no:

Explain your rules at the beginning of the party.
Recruit a friend to help you stay assertive and enforce the rules.
Keep your answer simple and to the point – no alcohol for minors, and you will call an Uber or arrange a sober ride home for drunk guests.
Suggest a compromise – guests may drink as much as they want but you will have a cutoff time a couple hours before the party’s end, and you can provide mixed virgin drinks for minors.