Winter weather causes copius accidents in Connecticut

Winter weather made Connecticut roads slick and dangerous yesterday. Numerous car accidents, including a crash in Hartford involving a commuter bus that left nine passengers hospitalized, are being blamed on the poor driving conditions.

According to WWLP News, freezing rain on Tuesday morning led to more than a dozen accidents in Connecticut, requiring parts of Interstates 91, 84 and 691 to be shut down. By mid-morning, temperatures had risen and road conditions improved, WWLP reported. 

Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of the winter season, and what could be a messy time of year on Connecticut’s roads. 

As we discussed in a previous post, drivers need to be prepared to take extra safety precautions on the roads this winter in order to avoid accidents, including reducing speeds and leaving enough space between the car ahead.

When accidents do occur because of weather or some other reason, it’s important to take the following general steps:

Report the accident to police. Try not to move your car until police arrive.

Exchange information with the other driver. Get the other driver’s name, contact information and insurance information.

Don’t talk about fault with the other driver. However, if the other driver admits fault, listen carefully and take notes, if possible.

Take pictures of the scene and talk to witnesses. Use your phone’s camera to take pictures, and ask any witnesses about what they saw and for their contact information.

Get medical treatment. Explain any symptoms you are having to the doctor. Even if you do not think you were seriously injured in the accident, it’s best to get a medical evaluation.

Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Since your insurance company will have its own best interests in mind, it’s important to have someone fighting for the compensation your deserve.