Everyone should be able to use the road safely, whether they are inside a motor vehicle, on foot, or using other forms of transportation. In recent years, the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians has been a concern due to an increase in the number of pedestrian and bicycle accidents. The state of Connecticut has attempted to address this issue by passing a new law that is meant to provide additional protection for people who are crossing the street or riding bicycles or other forms of transportation near parked vehicles. This law went into effect on October 1, 2021.

New Requirements for Yielding to Pedestrians

Connecticut drivers are required to yield to pedestrians who are crossing the road at a crosswalk. Previously, this requirement applied once a pedestrian had stepped off of a curb or entered a crosswalk. Under the new law, a pedestrian is considered to be crossing the road if they are within any portion of a crosswalk, if they have stepped to the edge of a curb and indicated their intent to cross the road by raising their hand or arm, or if they move any part of their body or an extension of their body into a crosswalk. An extension of a pedestrian’s body may include a cane, crutch, wheelchair, bicycle, stroller, or cart, as well as a dog that is on a leash or using a harness.

Drivers are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are crossing in crosswalks, including slowing down or stopping as necessary to ensure that a person can cross the road safely. If a vehicle has stopped to grant the right of way to pedestrians, any vehicles approaching from the rear are prohibited from passing the vehicle that is stopped.

Most Americans rely on motor vehicles to go about their daily lives. According to the Pew Research Center, around 88 percent of American households have at least one car. While cars are one of the best inventions in modern history, they also bring with them certain dangers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that there were more than 7.2 million police-reported traffic accidents in 2016 alone.

After a car accident, you will typically want to file a claim with the insurance company of the driver who was at fault, and it may be necessary to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries. Sometimes, liability is not always immediately obvious, and it is important to gather evidence that will demonstrate who was at fault for the accident. A skilled personal injury can help obtain the necessary evidence, including:

Photographs

Photos are often the most compelling pieces of evidence in a car accident liability case. Photographs are regarded as hard evidence and can showcase many aspects of an accident scene. After an accident, you should try to get photos of:

In case we were not convinced, the last few days has proven that winter has officially arrived in New England. As you probably realize, sub-freezing temperatures, along with the ice and snow that typically accompany them, can present a variety of dangers. Icy roads make car accidents more likely, and snow-covered walkways can lead to serious slip-and-fall injuries. Sometimes, snow can contribute to an accident by hiding other hazards, such broken sidewalk slabs or black ice. Such was allegedly the case for a former Vernon resident who recently settled an injury claim against the apartment complex where he once lived.

A Dangerous Combination

According to court records, the incident took place in January 2015 after a snowfall. A 41-year-old man fell on the walkway of his apartment complex on West Main Street in Vernon. The man claimed that the walkway was cracked and uneven, but that snow and ice covered up the walkway’s poor condition. He reportedly suffered injuries to his left leg, knee, and hip, and surgery was required to put hardware in his leg.

In October 2017, the injured man filed a lawsuit against the owners of the apartment complex for negligence related to the incident. The suit alleged that the owners knew or should have known that the sidewalk was in a state of disrepair and that residents would be walking on it but did nothing to address the problem. The original claim sought $450,000 in damages, including $100,000 in medical bills.

The group that owns Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard was found to be negligent in a premises liability case involving an 8-year-old boy who fell from the stands during a hockey game. A Bridgeport Superior Court jury has ordered the group to pay $200,000 in damages to the boy who is still reportedly suffering from post-concussion syndrome more than five years later.

An Unfortunate Event

The incident occurred in October 2013 while the then 8-year-old and his family were attending the Bridgeport Sound Tigers game at Webster Bank Arena. Before the game started, the boy was leaning against a railing at the edge of the spectator area attempting to give high-fives to the players as they emerged from the locker room on their way to the ice. According to court documents, spectators—especially children—were not only allowed to greet the players at the railing but they were actively encouraged to do so.

As the boy greeted the players, the railing upon which he was leaning gave way. The boy fell and hit his head on the floor below, suffering a concussion, shoulder strain, and other injuries. Fortunately, he was the only person injured by the failure of the rail.

According to the calendar, winter is still two weeks away, but many parts of the country have already experienced snowfalls. With winter weather, of course, comes the danger of snow and ice on the roadways. Local municipalities often struggle to keep the roads clear for safe travel. At the state level, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is responsible for clearing state highways and interstates. Unfortunately, however, accidents are not uncommon when roads are covered by snow or ice. Under Connecticut law, it is possible to take legal action against CTDOT for negligence, but a ruling by the state Supreme Court recently limited how far the Department’s liability extends.

A Weather-Related Accident

In 2011, a man was seriously hurt in an early-morning accident on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge between New London and Groton. The pickup truck he was driving slid on ice, rolled, and crashed into the structure of the bridge. The man’s accident was just one of many that day.

Court records indicate that the state police had started making calls to CTDOT an hour before the man’s crash, requesting a salt truck from the department’s fleet. With the salt truck still about an hour away, the state police did not shut down the bridge until later that morning—after the man was injured.