Norwich Personal Injury Law Blog

Have you been bitten by a dog in Connecticut?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Animal Bites on Friday, November 16, 2018.

As a resident in Connecticut, you likely run into dogs several times a day, even if you aren't a pet-owner yourself. Whether it's a neighbor's dog, a family dog, or just the dog of a stranger passing by on the street, there are plenty of canines and canine lovers in the state. That also means there are plenty of chances for a dog attack, unfortunately.

The Connecticut General Assembly displays the state leash and dog bite laws, which may be relevant to you in your current situation. The first thing to note is that if you are the victim of a dog bite attack in this state, you're immune from both criminal and civil liabilities if you end up killing the dog during the attack.

On-call jobs and the risk of a traffic collision

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Car Accidents on Friday, November 9, 2018.

Auto accidents may be especially likely to occur under a variety of circumstances, but some people face unique risks that lead to a higher chance of becoming involved in a car wreck. For example, someone who has an on-call job may be more likely to speed in order to get to work on time or respond to an emergency. Unfortunately, this can make their life incredibly hard, as well as the lives of other people on the road who become involved in the collision as well.

There are many people who have jobs that require them to respond with little notice, such as medical professionals and emergency personnel. Someone with a job that requires them to respond to calls immediately may be woken from their sleep, which could lead to drowsy driving. Or, they may find themselves driving over the speed limit in an attempt to respond to an emergency situation in time. In fact, a driver may even be distracted when receiving such a call while they are already on the road.

Making sense of home sale and mortgage documents in Connecticut

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Real Estate on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Buying a home is a complicated process that often seems simple on the surface. You may have already obtained pre-approval for a mortgage and likely know the kind of home you want to purchase. Once you begin the house-hunting process, you may quickly learn that there is much more you need to do beyond deciding on a price.

In fact, making an offer can be a difficult process, as the paperwork required often spans dozens of pages. With such an important decision and major investment, you need the right help. If you don't understand the documents you plan to execute, that can leave you in a legally vulnerable position.

What are signs of nursing home abuse or neglect?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Medical Malpractice on Saturday, November 3, 2018.

While you expect Connecticut nursing homes to provide top-quality care to your loved one, it’s unfortunately true that some facilities are not what they seem. As a result, it’s important for you to be aware of common red flags so you can address any issues as soon as they arise. In order to help you do this, NextAvenue.com offers the following advice on signs of a neglectful or abusive nursing home.

Poor nutrition

How many crashes are single-vehicle accidents?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Car Accidents on Friday, October 12, 2018.

When people think about a car crash, they may picture two vehicles colliding with each other, such as a head-on collision or one car slamming into the side of another vehicle. While many of these accidents do occur, it is very important for drivers to be aware that many lives have been lost and countless people have been hurt due to single-vehicle accidents. Moreover, you may find yourself in a single-car accident because of someone else’s negligence, even if they were not involved in the collision.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that in 2016, 22 percent of all deadly accidents were single-vehicle crashes. It is important to realize that these statistics include non-motorized vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. Furthermore, single-vehicle wrecks accounted for 14 percent of all traffic accidents which caused injuries over the course of 2016.

Do your elderly relatives have powers of attorney?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Estate Planning, Wills & Probate on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

Most people understand the importance of having a will. For young parents, it can provide them peace of mind that a trusted friend or loved one can step in as guardians of their children. Older individuals will want to determine who will receive their assets and resources once they have passed on.

But there is a frequently overlooked, yet quite essential, document that many people never get around to drafting - a power of attorney.

What debts can you discharge through Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Bankruptcy on Thursday, October 4, 2018.

Every month, people across the state of Connecticut find themselves falling behind on their bills. Financial issues can arise for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, getting into a car accident can leave you unable to work while you also have to deal with medical bills. For other people, the sudden loss of a job could mean financial woes are in their future. Divorce or diagnosis with a serious medical condition, like cancer, can also result in financial hardship.

Regardless of what happened, once you find yourself unable to make minimum monthly payments on all of your outstanding accounts, your creditors will likely start to become aggressive. You might start getting threatening phone calls or ominous letters. In some cases, your creditors could even initiate civil lawsuits against you to garnish your wages or otherwise obtain a judgment for repayment.

Riding a motorcycle while drunk

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Saturday, September 29, 2018.

Often, when people hear of drunk driving, they think of someone operating a vehicle such as a car or truck. However, there are other types of vehicles that people operate while they are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, such as a scooter or a motorcycle. When motorcyclists are drunk, their safety is particularly threatened and they not only put their own life on the line but pose serious risks to others who are on the road. Sadly, motorcyclists in Connecticut and across the U.S. continue to ride while they are inebriated.

A motorcyclist may take to the road while they are over the legal limit or intoxicated due to taking illegal drugs or prescription medications. They may be returning home after celebrating a holiday or hanging out with friends or they may struggle with a chronic addiction. Either way, intoxication on the road is a very concerning problem, especially for motorcyclists. A drunk motorcyclist may lose control of their motorcycle and slam into a tree or wipe out while heading around a turn, injuring themselves or even passing away.

How can drivers stay safe while pulling a trailer?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Car Accidents on Friday, September 14, 2018.

There are many different reasons why drivers need to pull trailers. Some may bring their boat to or from a body of water, while others may need to haul material or equipment for work or move furniture. Some drivers may be very experienced when it comes to pulling a trailer, while others may be driving with a trailer for the first time. Either way, it can be dangerous to drive with a trailer and there are many ways in which accidents can happen, which highlights the importance of reviewing safety tips.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, there are a number of strategies that can help drivers avoid a traffic accident while pulling a trailer. For example, drivers should give themselves more space when coming to a stop, make sure that they use their signals early before trying to switch lanes and drive at a moderate speed. Drivers should make their turns wider and they should avoid coming to a stop abruptly. It is also important to check and make sure that brake lights and turn signals are working before taking to the road. These are just some of the safety tips that should be in the mind of those pulling a trailer.

Are bikers more likely to be hurt than motor vehicle occupants?

On behalf of Dan Beebe of Beebe and O'Neil posted in Car Accidents on Sunday, September 2, 2018.

On the road, anyone who is involved in a collision faces serious risks, such as becoming hurt or even losing their life. However, some people, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, may be especially vulnerable in this regard. If you ride a bicycle to work, or just for fun or to get some exercise, it is critical to be aware of the threats that you face and do what you can to avoid a crash. Likewise, the drivers of all vehicles should look out for bicyclists at all times.

According to statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bicyclists are more likely to become hurt in a traffic collision than motor vehicle occupants. Moreover, bicyclists also face a greater chance of losing their life in an accident. During 2015 alone, nearly 467,000 bicycle accident injuries occurred, and more than 1,000 bicyclists lost their lives. Tragically, these accidents will inevitably claim more lives in the coming days and leave many more bicyclists with injuries.