Connecticut Personal Injury Law Blog

Being attacked by a dog is a scary experience. Every year, there are dog bite victims in Connecticut. Some may suffer minor injuries, and others may experience severe injuries that have a lifelong effect on them. Regardless of the severity of the injury, when a dog bites you, it is essential to seek the proper medical care to prevent the bite from becoming a serious health issue.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first thing you should do is wash the dog bite with soap and water. This helps to remove debris, bacteria and anything else that could cause infection. It also allows you to properly assess the bite. If it is bleeding, apply pressure until it stops. You can then apply antibacterial cream and a bandage.

Under the legal doctrine of premises liability, a Connecticut property owner has the responsibility of keeping the property safe for anyone who happens to visit the premises. In the event a person is injured on the property and the cause was something that the property owner should have foreseen or was otherwise caused by negligence, the owner could be liable for the injuries.

So what makes a property unsafe? There are several factors, as Forbes explains, that contribute to making a property hazardous. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

At the law office of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, L.L.C., we know that many hazards confront drivers in Connecticut, from adverse weather conditions to distracted and drunk drivers. We also know that teenagers can be at risk, and they may also cause dangerous situations for anyone sharing the road.

The week of October 21 is designated as National Teen Driver Safety Week, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of death for teenagers in the U.S., above all other types of injury or illness. You might help your teens understand their risks and avoid accidents by reiterating the following safety tips:

• Always wear a seatbelt in the car.
• Don’t be distracted by the cellphone, food, music or friends.
• Never get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or accept a ride from a friend who has been drinking.
• Obey the rules of the road, including not speeding or tailgating, stopping at red lights and stop signs and driving courteously.

The basic elements of any civil action initiated in Connecticut are a plaintiff and a defendant. The plaintiff is needed to supply the complaint, while the defendant is needed to answer for it. It is important to remember, however, that either side of a civil case need not necessarily be individuals; both can be represented by a legal entity or organization. For example, in cases where one of the parties to such a matter is deceased, an action may be initiated by (or responded to) by their estate. 

A car accident that recently occurred in New Haven serves as an example of where this might happen. A high-speed collision on Interstate 91 claimed the life of a Hamden woman and put a New Haven man in the hospital with serious injuries. The accident occurred as the man was driving home after completing his shift for the local police department. His vehicle ended up being struck by that of the woman, who was driving the wrong way. Both vehicles were damaged so severely that the drivers had to be extracted by first responders. Investigators are still trying to determine why the woman was driving the wrong way on the freeway.