Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP - 58 Post Road Danbury, CT 06810

Driving while Drowsy Needs More Attention in Danbury

April 15, 2014 By

The warnings against drunk driving have been sounding on television and radio for years.  By now, the vast majority of Danbury residents are well aware of the dangers involved with drinking and driving, and even driving while under the influence of prescription medication.  But, many people continue to be woefully indifferent to the dangers of driving while drowsy.  This kind of impaired driving has received some attention in the form of public service announcements over the years, but recent events indicate that drivers still have yet to fully get the message.

Perhaps one of the reasons people drive while drowsy is because they feel that proper operation of a motor vehicle under such conditions is a matter of will power. After all, we have all experienced situations in which we were drowsy one moment and fully awake the next.  But operating a motor vehicle is too serious a responsibility to be left to chance.  Considering the fact that driving while drowsy can cause the driver to be as impaired, or even more so, as a drunken driver, this dangerous practice should be avoided at all costs.

One of the best ways to avoid driving while drowsy is to pull off the road when sleep seems to begin overtaking you.  All too often drivers actually doze off while driving, and instead of pulling over at the closest rest stop, they decide to continue going.  To this kind of decision has led to numerous fatal accidents, accidents which could have been avoided.  The next time you feel an intensely sleepiness as you drive, remember that at least one recent case of train derailment is thought to have happened due to the train’s operator having fallen asleep.  That is not the kind of situation you want to find yourself in, and you have complete control over avoiding the negative consequences of driving while drowsy.

The Danbury accident attorneys  at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP encourage you and your family to always driver safely. Remember, if is better to arrive safely and late, than to suffer a devastating car accident while trying to make good time.

 Danbury accident attorneys  at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP58 Post Road Danbury, CT 06810    (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: Danbury Driver Safety

I-95 Closed After Crash Involving Tractor Trailer

April 7, 2014 By

Northbound Interstate 95 was the scene of an accident on Friday which reportedly involved a tractor trailer and several other vehicles.

I-95 was closed between northbound exit 30 and exit 31 as a result of a multiple vehicle crash, involving a tractor trailer, on Friday afternoon. No one was killed in the accident, according to state police, but there were at least five people injured which required visits to the hospital.
According to initial reports a ladder fell from a pickup truck which caused other cars on the roadway to swerve. The ensuing commotion resulted in at least five vehicles being involved in multiple crashes, and two of those vehicles running into the cement median.

Though thankfully there were no fatalities in this serious situation, this multi-car accident does continue to underscore the fact that drivers must always remain alert and focused when behind the wheel on the road. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a designation which is meant to call drivers’ attention to the importance of avoiding all distractions while driving. We support these efforts, and would like to encourage all Danbury drivers to actively participate in this important awareness campaign.

Danbury accident attorneys – Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP – 58 Post Road Danbury, CT 06810    (888) 244-5480

Filed Under: danbury accidents

Distracted Drivers – A Problem In Danbury and Across North America

March 31, 2014 By

Distracted driving is one of the most significant threats to motorists on the road today.  Those who drive while talking on their cell phones, sending text messages, putting on makeup, eating, and even reading books, not only put themselves in grave danger, but also pose a threat to those with whom they share the roads.

Take a look at these shocking statistics related to driving while distracted:

  • According to a report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009 84% of all driving related deaths came as a result of carelessness or inattentiveness
  • Distracted drivers are at least three times more likely to be involved in a crash than attentive drivers
  • Every year more than four million auto accidents occur in North America as a result of distracted drivers
  • Researchers have found that distracted drivers may be as dangerous as drunken drivers

It is very important when driving that you maintain your focus and attention on the road at all times.  This is the best way to ensure your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of the other motorists on the roads, and ensure that you all arrive alive.

As accident attorneys, we have seen the tragic results of people in Danbury driving while distracted.  We strongly recommend that you always drive with your attention focused solely on the road.  If you or anyone you know has been the victim of a person who was driving while distracted give us a call now at (888) 244-5480, for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Are Crashworthiness Regulations Going Out the Window?

January 5, 2014 By

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering a very dangerous trade-off; one that would allow automakers to save money. The NHTSA wants to encourage automakers to install devices which will force vehicle occupants to buckle up. As an incentive, it is considering relaxing crashworthiness regulations for vehicles equipped with a seat belt interlock device.

Crashworthiness

Crashworthiness is a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in the event of an accident. The trade-off could allow automakers to reduce the amount of structural steel, now required to protect vehicle occupants, and would allow them to skip certain crash tests. Many of the crashworthiness features that are now required to protect unbelted passengers, could be left out of vehicles.

The Problem

As accident attorneys, we know that seat belts can save lives, and we know all too well that seat belts can malfunction and fail. Seat belt interlock devices may increase seat belt use, and decrease serious injuries and fatalities, but does that justify compromising the structural integrity of vehicles and removing crashworthiness features already in place to protect drivers and passengers?

Would this trade-off actually save lives, or does it just save the automakers money?

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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