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New Haven Connecticut Legal Blog

Driving distractions lead to dangerous truck accidents

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in Personal Injury on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Life is busy and is filled with distractions. According to data provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 71% of crashes involving large trucks happen because the trucks' drivers were distracted. Just like the drivers of smaller vehicles, truck drivers can lose focus on their driving tasks when cell phone use, eating, speaking to dispatch services and other distractions take precedent over their operating responsibilities. When these lapses in focus happen, it is often the unfortunate result that innocent parties on the roads with the trucks suffer harm and losses.

Truck drivers should not allow external or internal distractions take their focus away from driving. External stimuli like billboards, road signs, interesting vehicles and others can cause drivers to look away from their roads they are driving on, and in a matter of seconds, they may collide with other vehicles and cause serious roadway accidents.

Understanding the significance of a traumatic brain injury

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in Personal Injury on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Over the last decade, a number of stories have been published regarding the serious condition of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. This is also referred to as CTE. This condition results when individuals suffer ongoing trauma to their brains and has appeared in football players, soldiers and others who suffer repeated trauma to their heads. While CTE is a major problem for individuals who work in physically demanding fields, anyone can suffer brain injuries and damage when they are involved in accidents.

In fact, a Connecticut resident may suffer a concussion from what may appear to be a minor bump to the head. When they slip on a store's wet floor, hit their head on their steering wheel during a car crash or suffer a head injury in another way, the impact of hitting their head may be enough to trigger damage in the brain. Harm to the brain can be classified as traumatic and traumatic brain injuries can require long-term treatment and care.

Can a victim sue a store where they slipped and fell?

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, May 2, 2019.

Despite the fact that many Connecticut residents do an abundance of shopping online, most people still have to visit brick and mortar stores from time to time. When they do, they are subjected to potential risks and existing hazards that are present therein. Accidents like slips and falls can happen in retail centers when store owners fail to exercise their duty of care to their patrons.

One common hazard that shoppers may encounter in stores is wetness on floors. In the winter, individuals may track in snow and ice that melts into slippery wetness, and in some stores, broken products may leak onto floors and cause hazards. When shoppers step on wet surfaces, slip, fall and suffer injuries, they may have rights to pursue personal injury claims.

Traumatic brain injuries have serious, long-term consequences

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Injuries to the brain can cause significant problems for the long-term health and wellness of a Connecticut resident. That is because the human brain is the control center of the body, and its functionality impacts the way that practically all other parts of the body operate. When it is damaged due to an impact or penetration injury, the damage can be considered traumatic and the consequences can be dire.

Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe. A mild traumatic brain injury may result in the temporary loss of consciousness, pain and disorientation, nausea, light sensitivity and other transient symptoms. These symptoms may improve with treatment and time.

Road rage incident leaves motorcyclist with serious injuries

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Driving in New Haven can be frustrating, especially when it seems as though no one else is paying attention to what they are doing on the road. Distracted drivers can put others in harm's way, and heavy traffic can slow the progress of individuals who just want to get home after work. With all of the problems that can develop on the streets and highways around the city, it is not surprising that from time to time a person's temper rises.

Road rage happens when a person allows their frustration to manifest in unsafe driving practices. Recently, a road rage incident happened in Orange between a vehicle driver and a motorcyclist. The pair of drivers allegedly exchanged words while operating their vehicles when the automobile driver swerved into the motorcyclist and drove off.

What to do after a workers' comp claim is denied

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in workers' compensation on Friday, April 12, 2019.

It's important to understand that valid workers' compensation claims are commonly denied by workers' compensation boards across the country. Many of these insurers would rather keep a profit from your employer than pay out for your medical costs if they can help it.

However, a denied workers' compensation claim doesn't necessarily mean that your injury can't be covered. Here's what to do to get the benefits you deserve.

What types of burns can Connecticut workers suffer?

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

A minor burn can be an irritation that a person must live with until it heals. Some people suffer burns when they stay in the sun for too long without skin protection, and others have made the painful mistake of grabbing hot pans without pads for their hands. Burns can be suffered in many different ways, and workers are susceptible to burns from many different sources.

The most commonly recognized burns come from touching hot surfaces. Workers can suffer these painful injuries whether they work in industrial facilities, restaurants or even manufacturing. In addition to hot surfaces, burns can arise when individuals have contact with hot liquids or steam.

Extra care is required near child pedestrians

On behalf of Gillis Law Firm posted in Personal Injury on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Ask any New Haven parent and they will tell you that living with a child is an adventure. Though their emotions can be strong and their impulses can be unpredictable, children are generally full of joy and easy to love. However, all children can find themselves in dangerous situations when they are on or near local roads. Children that are pedestrians can be hurt or even killed when drivers fail to take extra precautions in their presence.

There are several reasons that child pedestrians are often the victims of collisions with automobiles. One reason is that they are small and often hard for drivers to see. A child who does not stand higher than the hood of a vehicle may be difficult for a driver to view if they run out into a street. Drivers who operate their vehicles while distracted can put children in danger since they are even less likely to see the kids.

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