Most Connecticut drivers know the dangers of speeding, but some motorists still do it. However, you may not know that Connecticut was a leader in trying to slow cars down.
The first automobile speed limit law in the United States passed in Connecticut in 1901. At the time, motor vehicles were limited to 12 miles per hour (mph) in cities and 15 mph outside of the city.
Motorcyclists don't have the protections of the frame of a vehicle to help protect them in a crash. This means that they will feel the raw impact of the wreck, which can lead to very serious injuries. Many motorcyclists count on other drivers to help them remain safe on the roads. When the other drivers opt not to drive safely or pay attention to the road, the bikers are the ones who might suffer.
One particular hazard for motorcyclists is drivers who are distracted. These drivers might overlook the motorcycles because of the small profile of these two-wheel vehicles. The only way that this can be prevented is if all drivers avoid paying attention to things like their cellphone or other distractions.
Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day are right around the corner. These holidays often involve massive parties that can include alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, this means that drivers might get behind the wheel while they are impaired. This could lead to crashes that claim innocent lives or cause injuries to people who were just going about their normal day.
For the drunk drivers, the likelihood of criminal charges is great in these cases. What they might not realize is that the victims also have the option of filing a case against the driver in civil court. These are completely different systems, so even if they are found not guilty in the criminal case, they can still be found liable in the civil court system.
Semitruck crashes that involve other vehicles are particularly dangerous. There is a chance that individuals who are victims of these will suffer catastrophic injuries. There are several reasons why these types of wrecks are dangerous.
The size of the semitrucks is one of these reasons. By definition, a semitruck is one that has a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds. This is much heavier than the normal passenger vehicle, so the smaller cars are automatically at a disadvantage. The semitruck is also much larger with some spanning up to 65 feet long, which is much longer than regular cars.
As motorcyclists are heading out to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, it's imperative that all drivers remember that motorcyclists have the right to remain safe. When everyone on the roads follows the traffic laws, all can make it to their destinations. Sadly, some motorcyclists still get struck by other vehicles. Some of those bikers might end up very seriously injured.
Most motorcycle collisions can be prevented. Around two-thirds of crashes involving a motorcycle and another vehicle are the fault of the other driver for not yielding the right of way to the motorcyclist. It can be difficult to think that your accident could have been avoided if the other driver was following safety laws.
Car wrecks are one event that nobody hopes they will ever experience. When you do, you have to set your priorities for handling everything related to the wreck. One of the most important things to do is to make sure that you have all injuries evaluated by a medical professional so that you can get a treatment plan set. You have to place your focus on healing.
The cost of medical care you receive can be considerable. More serious injuries will result in higher costs, so be prepared for this if you have something catastrophic like a traumatic brain injury or a damaged spinal cord. In reality, there isn't any conceivable reason why the victim in the crash should be the one who has to cover these expenses. You do have the option of seeking compensation for the injuries if the accident was caused by negligent actions on the part of the other driver.
At the time of a spinal cord injury, the medical professionals who treat you have to ensure that you are stabilized before they move on to other aspects of your care. This begins at the scene of the accident because the emergency responders have to be sure that your spine is immobilized, that you are breathing and that you have an adequate blood pressure.
Once they do these, you will be brought to an emergency room or trauma center. There are a lot of things that will happen when you get there. You will undergo further stabilization, which might even include being placed on a ventilator to breathe for you if your injury was high enough on the spine to impact your breathing. You will likely also have imaging tests so the treatment team can see what is going on with your spine.
A semitruck accident can be devastating to the occupants of the vehicle that are struck. Unfortunately, these are sometimes fatal. When they aren't deadly, they might result in catastrophic injuries. The emotional toll of these matters can be devastating for the victims, but that isn't the limit to how the situation can impact them.
The physical injuries that occur in these cases can cause lifelong issues for the victim. Spinal cord injuries might lead to paralysis. Brain injuries can lead to difficulties with being able to function in normal situations. All of these can come with significant medical and life care needs, which come with a considerable cost.
One of the biggest problems with drunk driving isn't just that drunk drivers make mistakes, but that they cannot react properly when something happens on the road that they don't expect.
An example could be traffic slowing down on the freeway for a construction zone. A sober, attentive driver spots the reduction in speed with plenty of time to slow down appropriately. A drunk driver does not notice it as quickly and is slower to physically react -- by hitting the brakes -- even when they do. This can lead to an avoidable rear-end accident.
Motorcycle crashes come from many different factors that aren't always easy to spot. There are some options that motorcyclists have to try to remain as safe as possible. Around 80 percent of crashes that involve a motorcycle lead to death or injury. Improving that statistic is something that is going to have to be done by motorcyclists and motorists alike.
On the part of the motorcyclist, safety starts before you get on the motorcycle. You need to make sure that you have a helmet that is less than five years old and that hasn't ever been in a crash. It should be approved by the Department of Transportation to provide you with full protection. Not wearing a helmet means you are twice as likely to suffer a head injury in a crash.
For a no-cost consultation about your accident or personal injury case, call our office or complete the brief online form. We have three locations, in Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport, to conveniently serve our clients with day or evening appointments.
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Stamford Office
1111 Summer St., 6th Floor
Stamford,
CT
06905
Toll Free:
877-570-9733
Fax:
203-569-9610
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Bridgeport Office
3296 Main Street
Bridgeport,
CT
06606
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Norwalk Office
10 Wall Street
Norwalk,
CT
06854
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