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Motor Vehicle Accident

• Can’t stand up straight? You may have a broken back.
  Apr 30, 2011

  Too many women attribute a loss of height or a hunched upper back as an inevitable part of aging.  However, it has become clear that too many women are suffering needlessly.  The cause, many times, is a spinal fracture.  These fractures, most common in older women with osteoporosis, can lead to other fractures, compounding the likelihood of loss of height and a stooped posture. 

  Car accidents are likely to cause these compression fractures, yet they the injury is often not diagnosed.  This leaves the accident victim at serious risk for chronic back pain, immobility and even death.

  What can be done about spinal fractures? Though common treatments include pain killers, braces, bed rest, physical therapy or major surgery, a new treatment is making waves.  Balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive therapy during which a balloon is inserted into the fractured vertebrae.  The balloon is inflated until the bone height is restored.  Then cement is injected in the void created by the balloon, thereby strengthening the bone.

  Doctors and patients alike are hopeful that the new procedure will help those suffering with spinal fractures return to a normal, active, pain free life.

  The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren have seen the lives of too many Connecticut accident victims damaged by the long terms effects of an undiagnosed spinal fracture.  If you have been in an accident and suspect you may have a spinal fracture please see your doctor.  

• Turkeys Play Chicken With Connecticut Drivers
  Apr 29, 2011

  Road hazards in Connecticut are not limited to potholes, slick roads and distracted drivers.  In the past few weeks wild turkeys have been responsible for at least two accidents.  Local auto glass technician, Jamie Page of Auto Glass Dynamics, sees an average of five windshields a year with turkey damage.  However, he believes that the turkeys can do more than just shatter windows.

  "Oh yeah it can come right on your lap.  I've heard of people getting killed from it," says Page. 

  Fortunately for Kristen Pechout, she was not injured during her recent car/turkey accident on I-95 in Groton, Conn. 

  "I didn't think it was actually going to walk in the road, let alone take flight and hit my windshield," Pechout stated. 

  Pechout was able to maintain control of her vehicle and get to the side of the road.  However, under the right conditions a driver could very well lose control of their vehicle and crash.  The last driver whose car was struck by a turkey had to be taken to the hospital and treated for injuries caused by the accident. 

  The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren have reported on the dangers of migrating deer, and now we must also be on the lookout for turkeys.  Keeping your eyes on the road and not allowing yourself to drive distracted may be the key to preventing the majority of accidents; turkey related or not.    

• Driver Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Hit and Run Accident in Hartford
  Mar 31, 2011

  March 16, 2011, Hartford, CT, - Ian Carter-Sullivan, the man accused of a fatal hit and run accident that killed a man last December, has pleaded not guilty, Courant.com has reported.
  
  Carter-Sullivan announced his plea in Superior Court on March 15^th. He is still in custody and his bail is set at $750,000. His next court date is scheduled for April 19^th. Carter-Sullivan had been arraigned in Manchester, but his case was handed over to Part A in Hartford, which handles weighty felonies.
  
  He was arrested on January 20^th, for the car crash that occurred December 3^rd in Glastonbury claiming the life of Christopher Blanchard, 43.
  
  The hit and run accident happened near Route 2 on Hebron Avenue shortly before 8 p.m. Carter-Sullivan was driving his mother's car, a Ford Taurus. According to the warrant, police said Carter-Sullivan stated that he took his eyes off the road to check the speedometer and when he looked up he saw someone. He then stated that he heard a noise when the collision occurred.
  
  He reportedly told police that he regrets not stopping to offer assistance. Although Carter-Sullivan acknowledged hitting someone, he stated only a few details which did not include how he arrived at home so soon after the fatal hit and run accident. He did, however, recall that he had a panic attack once at home.
  
  He contacted the police the next day, after he was made aware that Blanchard had died.
  
  According to crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 223 fatalities in 2009 because of traffic accidents in Connecticut.
  
  As a service to the residents of Connecticut, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents occurring in Connecticut that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
  
  Common accidents in Connecticut include, but are not limited to: 

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

  If you have been named in this blog posting or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like it removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

• Canaan Man Dies After Pickup Truck Runs Off the Road in Torrington
  Mar 30, 2011

  March 16, 2011, Torrington, CT. - A Canaan man died on March 15^th when his pickup truck ran off the road and crashed into a culvert in Torrington, Courant.com has reported.
  
  According to police, the fatal pickup truck accident that claimed the life of 52-year-old Terrance Morgan occurred on South Main Street. He was the sole occupant in the 2002 Toyota Tacoma.
  
  Police were notified of the single vehicle accident shortly after 7:30 a.m. Based on a preliminary investigation, they believe Morgan was driving northbound on South Main around Bogue Road. It's possible that Morgan started veering left, although the road curves to the right.
  
  Police said he went across the center line, crashed through guardrails, and slammed into the culvert. Authorities pronounced him dead at the accident scene. He had been wearing a seat belt and the pickup truck's airbags had deployed.
  
  It's not known however how much time had passed before anyone noticed the single vehicle accident because the culvert is located underneath the roadway.
  
  Anyone who has information pertaining to this fatal car accident is urged to call Torrington police: 860-489-2008 or 860-489-2070. The accident is still under investigation.
  
  According to crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 223 fatalities in 2009 because of traffic accidents in Connecticut.
  
  As a service to the residents of Connecticut, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents occurring in Connecticut that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
  
  Common accidents in Connecticut include, but are not limited to: 

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving.

  
  If you have been named in this blog posting, or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like it removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

• Darien Man Seriously Injured After Crashing into Utility Pole, Wall in Connecticut
  Mar 29, 2011

  March 16, 2011 - Darien, CT. - A 19-year-old suffered serious injuries on the morning of March 12^th when his car slammed into a utility pole and then hit a wall before ramming several trees, Courant.com has reported.
  
  According to police, the driver, whose identity has not been disclosed to the public, was traveling north on Brookside Road around Granaston Lane. It was around 2:30 a.m. when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle and struck a utility pole. The impact caused the man's car to collide with a stone wall and then hit some trees, said Jeremiah P. Marron Jr., a police sergeant.
  
  The driver, who resides in Darien, was transported to Stamford Hospital. At the time of this posting, his condition was unknown.
  
  Brookside Road had to be closed from Granaston Lane to Appletree Road as investigators studied the car accident scene. Connecticut Light and Power also had to replace the utility pole.
  
  Anyone who has information regarding this single vehicle accident is urged to call police: 203-662-5300.
  
  If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else's negligence, you might be eligible to file a Connecticut personal injury claim to recover damages including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and property damage.
  
  According to crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 223 fatalities in 2009 because of traffic accidents in Connecticut.
  
  As a service to the residents of Connecticut, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents occurring in Connecticut that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
  
  Common accidents in Connecticut include, but are not limited to: 

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
    accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving. 

  
  If you have been named in this blog posting, or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like it removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

• Connecticut State Trooper Faces DUI Charge after I-84 Crash
  Mar 23, 2011

  March 23, 2011, Hartford, CT - A Connecticut police trooper faces drunk driving charges in connection with a DUI accident that occurred in February, Courant.com has reported.
  
  According to published reports, 47-year-old Timothy Kradas, a lieutenant, had been suspended indefinitely after he apparently lost control of his patrol car and collided with a box truck while he was driving on Interstate 84.
  
  On March 9, Kradas turned himself in at Troop H headquarters in Hartford, according to police. He was released on $2,500 bail and has a court appearance scheduled for March 28 in Manchester.
  
  The state trooper's arrest involves a DUI accident reported on February 2. Kradas was working that day, police said, when he was traveling east on I-84. His cruiser crashed into the box truck close to exit 59 and he suffered multiple injuries so severe he had to undergo surgery at Hartford Hospital.
  
  Police who responded to the scene found empty beer cans littering the cruiser as well as a container with tomato juice and alcohol, sources said.
  
  Kradas has been charged with driving under the influence, following too closely, littering, and not wearing a seatbelt.
  
  The box truck driver, 61-year-old Lambert Williams of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was not injured and has not been charged in connection with the DUI accident.
  
  According to crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 223 fatalities in 2009 because of traffic accidents in Connecticut.
  
  As a service to the residents of Connecticut, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents occurring in Connecticut that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
  
  Common accidents in Connecticut include, but are not limited to: 

  • single-car accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by distracted drivers or aggressive driving. 

  If you have been named in this blog posting or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like it removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

• Fatal Head-On Collision in Guilford Kills 1, Injures 2 on Durham Road
  Mar 11, 2011

  March 10, 2011 - Guilford, CT - A fatal car accident on Durham Road on March 2 left one man dead and 2 others injured after a head-on collision.
  
  WFSP Hartford News reports that a 35-year-old female driver was traveling northbound on Durham road late afternoon on Wednesday. She and her 14-year- old passenger were struck by a vehicle driven by John Murphy, 67. Murphy's vehicle was traveling southbound at the time when it swerved into the northbound lane, striking the other vehicle head on.
  
  All 3 vehicle occupants were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital where Murphy was pronounced dead. The female driver of the other vehicle was listed in critical condition while her younger passenger was treated for minor bumps and bruises. There is no word yet on whether or not charges will be filed as police are still investigating the cause of the fatal car accident.
  
  Head-on collisions can result in serious, often fatal injuries that can lead to permanent disability and life-altering changes for your family. When you or a loved one has been injured or you have lost a loved one in a serious head-on collision you should speak with a Connecticut car accident attorney for help in filing a Connecticut personal injury claim.
  
  You should not have to deal with the medical expenses and financial losses of a serious car accident alone. A Connecticut car accident attorney can help you file a Connecticut personal injury claim to seek the damages you are entitled to. This will allow you and your family to focus on recovery from this traumatic turn of events.
  
  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System there were 223 fatalities in 2009 as a result of vehicle accidents in Connecticut.
  
  As a service to the residents of Rocky Hill and the surrounding areas, our firm will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Connecticut that may result in serious injury or traffic fatalities.
  
  Common accidents include, but are not limited to: 
  single-car accidents;

  • hit-and-run accidents;
  • accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
  • accidents caused by aggressive driving or distracted drivers.

  If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.

• Could Red Light Cameras Reduce Accidents in Connecticut?
  Feb 15, 2011

  According to a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the answer is yes.  During the study, 99 U.S. cities with populations over 200,000 were examined.  It was found that during the study period red light cameras had the potential to save 815 lives.  In 2009 676 people were killed and 113,000 injured in intersection accidents. 

  Though even the biggest cities in Connecticut, Hartford and Bridgeport, were not included in the study, our state may want to take heed.  The Governors Highway Safety Association, who published the study, has been encouraging states to implement not only red light camera systems but programs such as Stop Red Light Running.

  Victims of red light running are not just drivers and their passengers.  Pedestrians and bicyclists are also at high risk for being injured or killed during an accident at a stoplight.  Though police know that this type of intersection is dangerous, enforcement in these zones carries a risk to police officers and others.  Red light cameras are most often the safest and most effective way to prevent red light running and the accidents that it causes. 

  The staff and attorneys at the Connecticut personal injury law firm of Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren hope that through prevention measures and public awareness the numbers of red light intersection accidents decreases, helping the GHSA reach its goal of zero highway fatalities. 

• Can a Tissue Box Help Prevent a CT Distracted Driving Accident?
  Feb 10, 2011

  One Connecticut mother hopes that it will.  A mother of three, tired of the constant search and reach for a tissue to clean up her child passengers, has invented a tissue dispenser that fits neatly into a cars cup holder.  Parents are notorious for distracted driving.  Between reaching for toys, snacks and attempting to referee back seat shenanigans, moms and dads are among the most distracted drivers.

  According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), an action such as searching for a box of tissues requires a driver to take their eyes, hands and attention off of the road.  These types of driver distraction lead to over 5,400 deaths and half a million injuries each year. 

  Though we often blame cell phone use as a primary contributor to distracted driving, parents are, arguably, the most distracted drivers on the road.  Though a tissue holder that fits into a cars cup holder, easily accessible, seems like a small step, any effort to prevent driver distraction should be applauded. 

  The staff and attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren hope that more people spend some time thinking of how they too can prevent distracted driving, a major cause of preventable car accidents in Connecticut.       

• Snow and Ice Contribute to Over 100 CT Car Accidents
  Feb 02, 2011

  Ice, snow and wind are being named as major contributing factors to over 100 accidents in Connecticut.  Connecticut State Police were kept very busy, responding to accidents both serious and minor over the last two days. In addition to the 145 accidents, state authorities have responded to over 1,700 calls for assistance.  These calls vary and include drivers who are stuck and have run out of gas and others stuck in snow banks.

  Ice, more than snow, was a major danger to drivers across the state.  Ice on the roadways, either black ice or that hidden by blowing snow, caused many of the accidents.  However, police know that if drivers would slow down and avoid driving too fast for conditions, the number of accidents during a winter storm would decrease. 

  Along with the dangerous road conditions across Conn. there were more than 7,000 power outages reported, half of these in Norwalk and thousands of others in Bridgeport and Fairfield. 

  The personal injury accident attorneys at Glass, Lebovitz, Kasheta & Bren encourage you to do your best to drive slowly, carefully or not at all during our numerous winter storms.          

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