Car accidents happen every day in Connecticut just like elsewhere in the United States. Each year, more than two million people are treated for injuries from car accidents across the country. The causes of car accidents vary but include drunken driving, distracted driving and improper vehicular maintenance.

In one recent incident in Hamden, two drivers and a high school student suffered injuries when the driver of a car was apparently distracted and collided with the back of a school bus that was parked on Goodrich Street close to Gem Street to pick up students on their way to New Haven Academy High School. A 17-year-old female student and the driver of the car and the bus all sustained minor injuries. All three were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Approximately 15 students were on the bus at the time of the car accident.

The 31-year-old driver of the vehicle later confessed to police that he was not paying attention “for a second” and by the time he had looked up his car was striking the school bus. He was arrested on grounds of not keeping a safe distance and failing to carry a license. Most likely the accident was a result of distracted driving. This is considered negligence because drivers are not completely focused on the road and traffic around them, making them susceptible to accidents.

Any car accident victim in Connecticut should remember that state law allows victims to recover compensation from negligent drivers as well as their insurance companies. Any money received can help victims recover financial losses that result from the accident, including medical costs and lost wages.

Source: NBC Connecticut, “Drivers, students injured when car crashes into school bus”, LeAnne Gendreau and Jessie Sawyer, May, 19, 2014